Heather’s Bookshelf: The Venetian Lawyer
Author: Viktor Illovszky
Released: 12/09/25
Genre: Adult Mystery and Crime
“This was true. Victorio’s humor was like a special wine — only a few appreciate it.”
“The Venetian Lawyer”: A Victorio Falcone Story follows the title character, a lawyer living in Venice. Victorio’s less concerned about his client’s innocence and more about what can be proven in court.
When Sophia Moretti, an accountant and amateur painter is found killed, her boyfriend, Marco Bellini is accused and retains Victorio as his lawyer. Marco’s a sculptor…he’s also innocent.
Victorio soon realizes the evidence doesn't add up. He also knows the only way to save his client is to find the real culprit behind the murder. Calling upon his friend and co-worker, Chiara, the two set out to investigate the crime before it’s too late.
Will the killer’s motives be revealed? Will Chiara and Victoria find the real killer before the evidence convicts Marco? Or will they even survive the investigation?
Trigger Warning: violence, death
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Told through the POV of Victorio, the protagonist provides a clear and strong voice that guides the investigation. The narrative is written in a way that seems authentic to the character and how he would speak/think. I also enjoyed his interactions with his partner, Chiara. The two characters play off of each other well while also pushing forward the inquiry. The story takes place in Venice and provides a mysterious and dramatic backdrop for the murder. The descriptions of Venice highlighted many of the quirks and oddities of the city. I especially enjoyed the details about getting lost or walking in circles - which was absolutely my experience! The pacing of the tale was well-done and felt natural in both the investigation and the amount of detail in character and setting development. This was the type of mystery where you had to follow the investigation to learn the culprit, but this is also done in a way that makes sense and is revealing. However, the motive behind the murder and the how was not as well developed as the rest, which detracted from the overall effectiveness of the mystery. This is a book 1 and there was a quality that felt like an introduction for future installments.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A crime/mystery set in a mysterious and interesting setting that follows a strong protagonist along an investigation. Fast-paced and an easy read, the details of the truth seem a bit unresolved.
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Check out my interview with Viktor Illovszky
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Find it for purchase here
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