Book review - "The Mosaic Crimes" by Giulio Leoni

I’m not sure how to review this novel.  It was very well-written and its subject matter – historical mysteries – is a favorite of mine.  However, Giulio Leoni’s novel The Mosaic Crimes focuses a bit more on philosophical discussions than the murder investigation.

The main character in this novel is Dante Alighieri, who will eventually write The Inferno.  He is poet and prior of Florence, Italy in which the novel is set.  The year is 1300 and a mosaicist is found murdered in front of his work, constructing a mosaic in the stadium.  Dante meets seven scholars who have a keen interest in the stadium and all of them knew the murdered man. 

Here is where the novel veers off into intellectual discussion and philosophy.  Also, Leoni introduces other aspects of early fourteenth century Florence, such as a riot during the climax of the story.  Maybe I wasn’t following along as diligently as I should have but it was not an easy read. 

If one has an interest in or is knowledgeable in Italian history, perhaps this would be a more enjoyable took to read.