The Venetian Sanctuary

By: Philip Gwynne Jones

Narrated by: Tim Bruce

'I devoured all Philip's novels and felt transported to Venice with a new intimacy' Val McDermid

'An unputdownable thriller' Gregory Dowling

'The plot is a masterwork of intrigue' Daily Mail

'Gwynne Jones's talent for evoking place and atmosphere is clear as ever' Literary Review

What lies beneath?


Venice, June 2020. The city has returned to the Venetians during a merciful pause in the Covid pandemic, and few overseas visitors are to be seen. Yet Dominic Vicari, a British private investigator haunted by loss, has travelled across Europe to the tiny island of San Francesco del Deserto. The ancient monastery there, it is said, was founded by St Francis himself in the 13th century. Its population now consists of five Franciscan brothers and three pilgrims on retreat. Or, rather, two pilgrims and a dead man.
Nathan Sutherland is called in when Vicari's broken body is found at the base of the campanile, his death seemingly nothing more than a terrible accident. But Nathan isn't so sure and sets out on an investigation that will reunite him with an old friend and an old adversary, and the discovery of a terrible secret hidden at the heart of the lagoon.

©2024 Philip Gwynne Jones (P)2024 Hachette Audio UK

Love reader and fine with story

I listened to this on as a freebie because I enjoy the reader’s voice. Not sure how I feel about the writing or mystery but it was good enough. If the price of the other books in series isn’t too steep, will most likely listen to them as the main character, the “detective” is fun and would like to see how he got into sleuthing.