Key Confrontations
Italian Renaissance Mystery, No. 2
By M.E. Cooper

     One thing I enjoy about history mysteries is being plunged into a historical milieu while playing armchair sleuth. The most recent Italian Renaissance Mystery, Key Confrontations, takes one back to a well-known era to solve the murder of someone close to widowed locksmith Avisa Baglatoni. Immediately, Avisa is suspect and she prudently heads to a convent to await the conclusion of the investigation. She has her own theories and so will readers. Avisa and the blind solider married to her cherished friend leave nothing in the dust. When the air clears, there are plenty of suspects and the ending is absolutely shocking.

      Ms. Cooper is clever at plotting a mystery. She's an impressive storytelling and skilled in historical placement. She seems to be quite knowledgeable in the Italian Renaissance period. Historically, the atmosphere, the mystery, the characters, and the dialogue were all notable. Not once did I fall out of the era, which is often the case when an author comes up short in historical setting or slips into common dialogue.

      The Italian Renaissance series is one those small press works that shouldn't be underestimated. The series can hold its own against any of the bigger publishers. Highly recommended.