描述
A frightening sea monster with a huge head, glowing eyes and sharp teeth is sited in a river leaving behind the mangled bodies of its unsuspecting victims.
The Arno Serpent is the sixth in a series of eight historical mysteries which follows the life of Leonardo da Vinci from his residency in the Sforza Castle in Milan, The comedy of Murders and ending with his death in France, Labyrinth.
All Italy seems to be at war: Pope Julius II is fighting to regain control of the Romagna from Ceasare Borgia, the son of a previous Pope Alexander VI; The French have taken over Milan and given Naples to the Spanish; The Orsini are leading Venetian armies against the Pope and Pisa is at war with Florence. Leonardo is commissioned to devise a plan to divert the Arno River cutting Pisa of from the sea and thereby protecting Florence.
The social and political climate in Florence is dangerous for Leonardo and he is encouraged to accept the invitation of the French King to come to Milan. While there an assassin is sent to kill him. Niccolo of Pavia, a Bergamini courtier and friend to Leonardo (See “A Comedy of Murders” first book in the series) is visiting when word comes that Florence is demanding Leonardo return to complete work on the Arno project and solve the mystery of a terrible serpent that is killing the workers. Leonardo uses a device of his own to “snare the monster” but this disturbs another serpent of less imposing size but no less lethal. To trap Leonardo, Niccolo’s wife, Donna Elenora is abducted by the Viper and held in a castle. The plan to rescue her includes the commedia dell’ arte troupe I Comici Buffoni.
The Arno Serpent is the sixth in a series of eight historical mysteries which follows the life of Leonardo da Vinci from his residency in the Sforza Castle in Milan, The comedy of Murders and ending with his death in France, Labyrinth.
All Italy seems to be at war: Pope Julius II is fighting to regain control of the Romagna from Ceasare Borgia, the son of a previous Pope Alexander VI; The French have taken over Milan and given Naples to the Spanish; The Orsini are leading Venetian armies against the Pope and Pisa is at war with Florence. Leonardo is commissioned to devise a plan to divert the Arno River cutting Pisa of from the sea and thereby protecting Florence.
The social and political climate in Florence is dangerous for Leonardo and he is encouraged to accept the invitation of the French King to come to Milan. While there an assassin is sent to kill him. Niccolo of Pavia, a Bergamini courtier and friend to Leonardo (See “A Comedy of Murders” first book in the series) is visiting when word comes that Florence is demanding Leonardo return to complete work on the Arno project and solve the mystery of a terrible serpent that is killing the workers. Leonardo uses a device of his own to “snare the monster” but this disturbs another serpent of less imposing size but no less lethal. To trap Leonardo, Niccolo’s wife, Donna Elenora is abducted by the Viper and held in a castle. The plan to rescue her includes the commedia dell’ arte troupe I Comici Buffoni.