70. Niccolo Rising

By Dorothy Dunnett
Rated ★★★★★

I began reading this with the DANTZ group but something came over me and the other day I just started reading and couldn't stop until I got to the end.

It's the first book in the House of Niccolo series where the reader is introduced to Claes, who is never what he appears to be or is really doing what he appears to be doing. Set in 13 century Bruges, it's filled with minute details of the time, and evocative imagery and scenes, such as an attempt on Nicholas' life involving fire and a barrel.

We also meet the women who will overshadow his life, the beautiful but extremely silly Katerina and wilful child Gelis, as well as a host of memorable characters. The imagery of Europe in the Middle Ages is almost overwhelming. Since this was another one of my rereads I was reading with a greater eye to detail than I did the first time. I also had the advantage of 20/20 hindsight and still I often found myself lost in the plot with no idea of where things were going. This is why reading these books with a group is so attractive to me.

Dunnett piles more into a paragraph than any other writer I have ever read. But I have learned that she is definitely an author where with a little effort and concentration you can tag along for the most thrilling ride through history ever written.