It’s Rome in 1659, and Girolama Spana lives west of the river Tiber in a house marked by a lily and a garden full of herbs.
Many women in Rome seek her help — although they would never admit it — eager for her mysterious balms, her love potions, and her ability to predict their futures.
Even against the splendour of the Eternal City, Giroloma’s secret recipes are the women’s most precious possessions — and their husbands’ most feared.
So when men are reported dying in unnatural numbers, the gaze of Stefano Bracchi, prosecutor for the papal authorities, falls quickly on Girolama and her suspected sorcery.
Soon she will face the greatest danger she has ever known.
But Girolama has always vowed that in life there are secrets we write down, secrets we pass on, and some that we carry to our deaths.
The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola is published in paperback on 11 July, 2024.
There’s more historical fiction in our round-up of over 180 books coming out this year.
