The Venus of Salò by Ben Pastor
We’re thrilled to introduce our May Book of the Month: The Venus of Salò by Ben Pastor.
Transport yourself to the stunning backdrop of Salò as you dive into this captivating narrative. Set against the backdrop of World War II, The Venus of Salò weaves a tale of intrigue, love, and sacrifice amidst the turmoil of war-torn Italy.
Ben Pastor’s meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring to life the complexities of human emotion against the backdrop of historical upheaval. Delve into the lives of unforgettable characters as they navigate the moral ambiguities of war and the quest for redemption.
Discover why The Venus of Salò is a must-read for history buffs and fiction lovers alike. Immerse yourself in an exclusive preview and secure your copy of our May Book of the Month today!
Praise for the Martin Bora series
“Dark Song of Blood is historical crime fiction at its best.”
– Sunday Times“Tin Sky is the best crime novel of the month. This fine story is packed with tense moments and moral ambiguity.”
– The Times“And don’t miss Lumen. A Wehrmacht officer’s investigation is complicated by his compatriots’ cruelty and the Catholic Church’s secrecy. An interesting, original and melancholy tale.”
– Literary Review
About the book:
A spellbinding multi-layered crime novel set in the fascist Republic of Salò on Lake Garda just months before the end of the Second World War.
October 1944, in the Republic of Salò, a German puppet state in the north of Italy and the last fascist stronghold in the country. After months of ferocious fighting on the Gothic Line, Colonel Martin Bora of the Wehrmacht must investigate the theft of a precious painting of Venus by Titian, stolen with uncanny ease from a local residence. While Bora’s inquiry proceeds among many difficulties, the discovery of three dead bodies throws an even more sinister light on the scene.
Caught in an unforeseeable web of events, hounded by the Gestapo, hopelessly in love with an enigmatic, in-the-flesh “Venus,” Bora must summon all his courage and ability – not only in order to solve the mystery and expose the perpetrator, but also, in a breath-taking crescendo, to try to save himself from the firing squad.
About the author:
Ben Pastor was born in Italy and lived for thirty years in the United States, working as a university professor in Illinois, Ohio and Vermont, before returning to her native country. The Venus of Salò is the eighth in the Martin Bora series published by Bitter Lemon Press and follows on from the success of The Night of Shooting Stars, The Horseman’s Song, The Road to Ithaca, Tin Sky, A Dark Song of Blood, Liar Moon and Lumen. She is the author of other novels including the highly acclaimed The Water Thief and The Fire Waker, and is considered one of the most talented writers in the field of historical fiction. In 2008, she won the Premio Zaragoza for best historical fiction, and in 2018 she was awarded the prestigious Premio Internazionale di Letteratura Ennio Flaiano.
The May Book of the Month is brought to you by: Bitter Lemon Press
