It’s Tuscany in the winter of 1540. Travelling north into the hills above Florence, investigator Cesare Aldo seeks answers about his past.
The trail leads him to Ospedale de’ Pazzi, a secure institution for the criminally insane.
Soon after arriving a blizzard engulfs the area, trapping Aldo and his companion, Doctor Saul Orvieto.
Even more alarming, their cart driver is found dead. It looks like he fell over a nearby cliff in the whiteout – but Aldo suspects foul play.
When a brutal slaying occurs in the central courtyard, it becomes clear a killer lurks among them.
With the snowstorm sealing everyone in and a murderer hunting fresh victims, Aldo’s search for the truth proves deadlier than he could ever have imagined.
Shadow of Madness by DV Bishop is published on 9 July, 2026. It’s the sixth in his Cesare Aldo series.
For more new historical fiction, have a look at Historia’s list of over 170 books coming out in 2026.
You may enjoy these Historia features by DV Bishop:
Walking in the footsteps of Florentine history
The truth about nuns in 16th-century Florence
And an extract from Ritual of Fire by DV Bishop
