Rizzio
Page turning
Vivid
Intense

Rizzio A Novella

Denise Mina2021
From the multi-award-winning master of crime, Denise Mina delivers a radical new take on one of the darkest episodes in Scottish history—the bloody assassination of David Rizzo private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots, in the queen’s chambers in Holyrood Palace. On the evening of March 9th, 1566, David Rizzio, the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, was brutally murdered. Dragged from the chamber of the heavily pregnant Mary, Rizzio was stabbed fifty six times by a party of assassins. This breathtakingly tense novella dramatises the events that led up to that night, telling the infamous story as it has never been told before. A dark tale of sex, secrets and lies, Rizzio looks at a shocking historical murder through a modern lens—and explores the lengths that men and women will go to in their search for love and power. Rizzio is nothing less than a provocative and thrilling new literary masterpiece.
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Reviews

Photo of mirin
mirin@mirin
4 stars
Mar 4, 2024

“he’s right. he won’t be the baby’s father. he’ll be murdered in two months. he won’t live long enough to be a father to anyone” slay mary get those men !

Photo of Laura Dobie
Laura Dobie@MovingToyshop
4.5 stars
Jan 30, 2022

This gripping novella had me spellbound on a flight this afternoon. A thriller that immerses you in its setting, evokes the inner life of its historical protagonists, and brings a 16th-century political plot and brutal murder to life.

+8
Photo of Cerys
Cerys@burntoutbookworm
4.5 stars
Jan 9, 2022

A really interesting novel surrounding the death of David Rizzio in 1566. This isn't like most historical fiction novels it reads more like a historical document in which it is recounting the tale of what happened to Rizzio and Mary within this short period of time. This novella is wonderfully written however if you're not into history I would not recommend reading this as it is taking place which places you historically at this moment. It is more historical than it is fiction but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

+4
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Dee@instantnoodlevibes
3 stars
Feb 13, 2023
Photo of James Haliburton
James Haliburton@jdhberlin
3.5 stars
Jan 28, 2022
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Morgan Thomas@moalthom91
4 stars
Apr 8, 2023
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Abbi Emens@abbiemens
4 stars
Feb 24, 2022
Photo of Samantha Wheeler
Samantha Wheeler@ballycumbered
4 stars
Feb 6, 2022