Nic Costa

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "{Hewson is} a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ There's no rest for the wicked . . . Whilst Sara Farnese pores over ancient texts in the silent Vatican reading room, a brutal murder is taking place in a nearby church. Then suddenly a crazed man enters the Vatican carrying a bloodied bag. He walks up to Sara's desk. He has something he would like her to see . . . Soon Sara is inextricably linked to a series of horrific and cunning murders, each one representative of the death of a martyr of the Church. Thrust into the case is Nic Costa, an up-and-coming detective in Rome's police force, whose mission is both to track down the killer and protect Sara from the horrors he is capable of. For it seems that at any time she could be the next chosen sacrifice - if, that is, she's as innocent as she first appears. Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR A SEASON FOR THE DEAD: "Richly enjoyable, sophisticated and beguiling entertainment" Sunday Times "Keeps the reader guessing . . . relentlessly tightening the suspense until the end" Daily Telegraph "A Season for the Dead, like The Da Vinci Code, is a thriller that takes an unflattering look at the Catholic Church, but it is better written and more sophisticated than Dan Brown's phenomenal bestseller" Washington Post "A delicious and compelling view of the public art of Rome and the private intrigue of the Vatican. Recommended" Library Journal "A complex story and an abundance of historical detail . . . {an} engrossing book" Publishers Weekly "It was very hard to put this one down . . . {Nic is} a fascinating young police detective who, refreshingly, fits none of the usual fictional stereotypes" Sheila B., 5* GoodReads review "I've found another must read author. I loved the descriptions of Rome & he made the city come alive" Janet, 5* GoodReads review "Compelling from beginning to end" Stephen, 5* GoodReads review "David Hewson knows how to write a mystery/thriller and keeps the tension high . . . Strap in for an exciting (and creepy) read!" Scott N., 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "{Hewson is} a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ An ancient ritual. A modern-day crime. When a young woman turns up dead in a peat bog near the banks of the River Tiber, Teresa Lupo, a maverick pathologist, thinks she's got the victim of an ancient Roman ritual on her hands. She's wrong. Detective Nic Costa, of Rome's police force, knows this case is recent history and the horror is still very much alive. So begins an investigation that will take the police deep into the dark underworld of modern-day Rome's most disturbing and sinister secrets, all the while battling their own demons. Nic Costa is trying to stay off the drink, and his new partner, Gianni Peroni, used to work vice . . . until he was caught in one of his own department's stings. As the investigation progresses, it soon becomes clear: someone is trying very hard to kill the pathologist. And then another beautiful young woman goes missing, and the clock starts ticking in earnest . . . Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR THE VILLA OF MYSTERIES: "Riveting and fast-paced . . . complex and satisfying" Booklist "Entertaining stuff, with a literate style and an appealing cast" Kirkus Reviews "Atmospheric . . . steeped in dark ritual" Publishers Weekly "Hewson's inventiveness never flags" Sunday Times "Taut and exciting" San Francisco Chronicle "If you love a good mystery and you've ever been to Rome, David Hewson's books are a must read" Johnston, 5* GoodReads review "I judge a good book by one that I read in every spare moment, and this one is one of those" Alan W., 5* GoodReads review "David Hewson is quickly becoming my favorite author" Karen, 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

A horrific murder pitches Nic Costa and his team into a collision with US agents – and a secret that has festered for fifteen years. The snow is falling on the ancient streets of Rome. And in the heart of the city, under the Pantheon's great dome, a woman's body lies on the marble floor, carefully positioned with a gruesome carving on her back. Arriving at the scene, Detective Nic Costa is unprepared for what he finds, nor for the intervention of US agents with a take-no-prisoners style and a shocking story to tell: the killer has struck before, in monuments all over the world, leaving the same cryptic message carved onto the bodies of the victims. As the murder leads to more grisly slayings and the team of veteran Roman cops clash with the Americans, Nic is pulled into a harrowing search for the truth...a search that will take him into a shocking conspiracy – and a dark episode in a nation's long-forgotten past.

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "{Hewson is} a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ In Venice, the world's most beguiling city, someone has made an art of murder. In exile in Venice, after offending people they shouldn't have, Detective Nic Costa and his partner Gianni Peroni are offered a chance to return to Rome. All they have to do is wrap up an apparently open-and-shut murder case on the island of Murano, where a glassmaker killed his wife and subsequently died himself when his furnace exploded. The pair investigate, but as they dig more deeply into the insular glass-making community and the strange Arcangeli family, things don't quite add up. With increasing pressure from above to come to a conclusion the detectives are increasingly sure is a cover-up, events spiral quickly out of control - with devastating consequences . . . Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR THE LIZARD'S BITE: "Wonderfully complex and finely paced . . . Newcomers as well as series fans will be enthralled" Publishers Weekly Starred Review "Superb" Booklist "Part spaghetti Western, part buddy movie . . . and more engaging than a Venetian sunset" Rocky Mountain News "The series goes from strength to strength . . . another outstanding Nic Costa tale from David Hewson" Alan W., 5* GoodReads review "I read it in two days!" Jeanette T., 5* GoodReads review "Many interesting characters and much intrigue" David S., 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "[Hewson is] a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ A horrifying crime linked to an ancient Roman cult. A merciless act of revenge. A cold case thought dead and buried forever . . . Giorgio Bramante, a charismatic Roman archaeology professor, was considered master of the labyrinth of dank catacombs that lie beneath the Eternal City - until the day his seven-year-old son, Alessio, vanished into them. The matter was never solved, in part because - inexplicably - Giorgio was left alone with the prime suspect . . . and in his frenzied rage, he beat the man to death. Released from prison fourteen years later, Giorgio is bent upon a terrifying revenge on all those he blames for the loss of his son. One by one, those connected to the boy's disappearance are dying. And Detective Nic Costa's maverick boss, Inspector Leo Falcone, was a member of the original investigating team . . . As Costa and his team scramble to find Giorgio, they quickly realize that the only way to put this cold case to bed once and for all is to finally solve the unanswered question: what really happened to little Alessio Bramante all those years ago, and why was his body never found? Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR THE SEVENTH SACRAMENT: "The interplay between Hewson's three cops and between them and the especially rich supporting cast lift this novel far above the plot-driven Da Vinci Code and its many imitators. A superb mix of history, mystery, and humanity" Booklist Starred Review "Intricate . . . [with a] poignant resolution few readers will anticipate" Publishers Weekly "The plot was full of suspense that had me completely in thrall from beginning to end" Sonja, 5* GoodReads review "Cleverly plotted and heartbreakingly real" A.M., 5* GoodReads review "Non-stop suspense, and a surprise ending. Don't start this book at bedtime unless you have tomorrow off" Blair M., 5* GoodReads review "This book had me from the very first page" Karolina, 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "[Hewson is] a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ A grisly discovery in the heart of Rome. A desperate chase. An untouchable prime suspect . . . Inside a deserted studio, in a seedy area of Rome best known for prostitution, an art expert from the Louvre is found dead in front of one of the most beautiful paintings that Detective Nic Costa has ever seen - an unknown Caravaggio masterpiece. This death is just the start. Before long, tragedy strikes Costa far closer to home . . . and the hunt to find the killer becomes deeply personal. But while the main suspect's identity is known, he remains untouchable - protected in his grand palazzo by a fleet of lawyers and a sinister cult known as the Ekstasists. Teaming with an art expert, Costa follows clues hidden in the mysterious Caravaggio canvas. As he moves through a maze of history, he begins to make stunning connections to the present case. And each discovery brings him closer and closer to a terrifying conspiracy dating back four hundred years - and to men who will stop at nothing to protect their own private garden of evil. Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR THE GARDEN OF EVIL: "Opens with a shocker that will have series fans reeling . . . Arturo P�rez-Reverte has long set the gold standard for mixing history, mystery, and modern life into literary stews of mouthwatering flavor and incredible subtlety, but it's time to agree that Hewson now shares that position-and is on the verge of claiming it outright" Booklist Starred Review "A dark jewel of a thriller" Publishers Weekly Starred Review "A thought-provoking blend of art history and mystery, The Garden of Evil is [. . .] a treat for readers who like their entertainment literate" Richmond Times-Dispatch "If this book has a weakness, I was unable to find it. Brilliant" K.B. H., 5* GoodReads review "This one took my breath away . . . Worth a read if you love art, history, the renaissance or police procedurals, especially if you love a mixture of all three" Kirsten M., 5* GoodReads review "I could not recommend a book in this genre more highly. For me it is right up there with Donna Leon's wonderful series featuring Venetian Detective, Guido Brunetti" Blair M., 5* GoodReads review "I've enjoyed all of Hewson's Nic Costa series but this one proved to be my favourite so far" Vivienne, 5* GoodReads review "One of the best crime series out there, and this volume, to date, is the best of the series" Linda, 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "[Hewson is] a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ A star-studded movie premier in Rome. A horrific discovery. Welcome to Dante's circles of hell . . . It's a warm, golden evening in Rome, and celebrities from around the world have gathered to attend the movie premiere of a blockbuster adaptation of Dante's Inferno. The poet's death mask is to be exhibited as part of the evening's events, alongside other important historical relics. But at the grand unveiling, the priceless artefact is gone - replaced by a macabre death mask of the film's star, Allan Prime. A sick prank . . . or something worse? And to further throw the evening into chaos, another of the leading actors, the beautiful Maggie Flavier, is threatened, and her assailant killed. Nic Costa and his team are sidelined from the investigation in Rome, and instead tasked with ensuring the safety of the remaining relics at the movie's San Francisco premier. But in California confusing new clues suggest that there is more behind the dark events than a crazed Dante fan. With the authorities distracted by false leads, can Costa protect Maggie, find the truth and stop a killer - all before life imitates art? Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR DANTE'S NUMBERS: "Easily the best in a really terrific series" New York Times bestselling author Lee Child "Hewson is a daunting talent-a writer who is a master stylist, who respects his audience's intelligence, and who effortlessly keeps the thrills coming a mile a minute" New York Times bestselling author Jefferey Deaver "Dante's Numbers is politically wise, multi-dimensional, and psychologically intuitive. Action braids suspense on nearly every page, creating a reader's delight from beginning to end. A superb effort by a master storyteller" New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry "[A] fine crime novel" Publishers Weekly "Hewson never loses the reader's attention . . . [An] outstanding series" Booklist "The dialogue is crisp. The characters are strong . . . Fans of movie history, international mysteries and police procedurals will enjoy this" Jim, 5* GoodReads review "The sense of place is terrific, taking us from Rome to San Francisco and the mystery at the heart of the story is deeply satisfying" Maggie C., 5* GoodReads review "This series just keeps getting better and better. An excellent book for mystery lovers and movie lovers alike" Kandice, 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "[Hewson is] a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ In the Eternal City of Rome, sixteenth-century sins are echoing into present-day crimes . . . When British academic Malise Gabriel falls to his death from a Rome apartment, it seems like an unfortunate accident. But Detective Nic Costa rapidly comes to realise that not only is there more to the accident than he first thought, but Malise's family - mysterious and tragic daughter Mina, stoic wife Cecilia and troubled son Robert - may be keeping vital information hidden. The deeper Costa looks, the more he's disturbed by mysterious links between the case and a centuries-old crime: the murder of an Italian nobleman in 1599 by his own daughter, who was beheaded by the Vatican as punishment for her sins. And as the case unfolds, it becomes clear that something evil is circling Mina and her family. Something that's closing in fast for the kill. Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR THE NIC COSTA SERIES: "Once secrets begin to be revealed, there's no stopping them. Readers will have a lot of fun peeling away the book's many layers, right down to the final, closing twist" Publishers Weekly Starred Review "The writing is superior, and the characters engage" Kirkus Reviews "Perhaps [Hewson's] finest novel . . . It's hard to see how the author could have made his dark tale more fascinating, entertaining and yet entirely serious than he has" Washington Post "I love this series. I love how Hewson integrates modern-day events with an ancient city so we get to play armchair tourist as we follow the detectives through Rome's art and architecture as they work to solve the crime" Kathy D., 5* GoodReads review "Atmospheric and mesmerizing . . . As the story unfolds the sudden surprising twists make compelling reading" Lizzie H., 5* GoodReads review "So compelling that I couldn't go on to another book until I had left Nic, Gianni, Leo, and Mina behind" Beth, 5* GoodReads review "Hewson is a story teller par excellence. I could not recommend this author and this book more highly to lovers of the genre" Blair M., 5* GoodReads review THE NIC COSTA MYSTERIES, IN ORDER: 1. A Season for the Dead 2. The Villa of Mysteries 3. The Sacred Cut 4. The Lizard's Bite 5. The Seventh Sacrament 6. The Garden of Evil 7. Dante's Numbers (aka The Dante Killings) 8. City of Fear (aka The Blue Demon) 9. The Fallen Angel 10. The Savage Shore

Welcome to Italian police detective Nic Costa's Rome: the side of the city the tourist board does not want you to see. "Hewson does more than provide a thrilling read. He saves you the airfare to Italy. When you turn the last page, you'll think you've been there" LINWOOD BARCLAY "David Hewson's Rome is dark and tantalizing, seductive and dangerous, a place where present-day crimes ring with the echoes of history" TESS GERRITSEN "David Hewson is one of the finest thriller writers working today" STEVE BERRY "No author has ever brought Rome so alive for me - nor made it seem so sinister" PETER JAMES "[Hewson is] a master plot maker" BOOKLIST _______________________ Detective Nic Costa finds himself a stranger in a strange land when he's sent to infiltrate the mob in a remote part of southern Italy. The 'Ndrangheta is a ruthless mafia organisation, one of the richest and most powerful organised crime groups in the world. Completely impenetrable to outsiders, merciless when crossed, they run the savage Calabrian coast of Italy. And for reasons best known to himself, the head of this feared mob - known only by his nickname, Lo Spettro, the Ghost - has offered to turn state witness. Detective Nic Costa and his team are sent deep undercover into the mountains, to negotiate with Lo Spettro and bring him in. With Lo Spettro's help, Costa dons a new identity and becomes a member of the mafia family. It's a dangerous game, and a single slip up could mean an end not only to the operation, but to the lives of Costa and his team. As tensions rise, the detectives find themselves pitched as much against each other as the mob. Is Costa getting too close to the enemy for comfort . . . and is there a traitor in their midst? Fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti, Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano and Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen, as well as Louise Penny, Jeffey Siger and Martin Walker, will love this thrilling mystery series - perfect for readers who enjoy dark and complex character-led mysteries with multiple twists. PRAISE FOR THE SAVAGE SHORE: "An outstanding crime series" Booklist "Plenty of action, and the setting is vivid" Library Journal "The tale floats on a tide of dark threats, double-crosses, abrupt changes of heart, revelations that characters aren't as they seem, and indications that the best-kept secrets aren't secrets at all" Kirkus Reviews "Had me hooked from start to finish, even during the very tense moments when I could hardly bear to turn the pages, such was my dread of what was coming next" Elaine T., 5* GoodReads review "David Hewson is one of TripFiction's favourite authors. His books are extremely exciting, and extremely well and intelligently written. He also evokes a brilliant sense of location" TripFiction, 5* GoodReads review "The tension level runs high . . . I wanted to close my e-book and turn my head, but simultaneously keep reading to find out what happens next. I was completely blindsided by Hewson's clever plotting" Melissa D., 5* GoodReads review "I couldn't fail to be entranced by this book . . . David Hewson transported me to the Mezzogiorno and it's undoubtedly one of my favourite novels of the year" Karen K., 5* GoodReads review