Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Rizzio
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
9 posts | 8 read | 11 to read
From the multi-award-winning master of crime, Denise Mina delivers a radical new take on one of the darkest episodes in Scottish historythe bloody assassination of David Rizzo private secretary to Mary, Queen of Scots, in the queens chambers in Holyrood Palace. On the evening of March 9th, 1566, David Rizzio, the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots, was brutally murdered. Dragged from the chamber of the heavily pregnant Mary, Rizzio was stabbed fifty six times by a party of assassins. This breathtakingly tense novella dramatises the events that led up to that night, telling the infamous story as it has never been told before. A dark tale of sex, secrets and lies, Rizzio looks at a shocking historical murder through a modern lensand explores the lengths that men and women will go to in their search for love and power. Rizzio is nothing less than a provocative and thrilling new literary masterpiece.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
blurb
nitalibrarian
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image

I'm about halfway through this historical fiction novella. It takes place on the night Mary, Queen of Scots' private secretary, David Rizzio is assassinated.

review
DGRachel
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image
Pickpick

Book #2 of the McIlvanney Prize longlist done and it was a doozy. I know little of Tudor-era Scotland and England, but this novella brings to life the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Queen Mary Stuart‘s personal secretary, David Rizzio. Mina‘s prose is crisp and compelling and she crafts the story brilliantly. I did not want to put it down and I didn‘t want it to end.

mcctrish Ooo I read Conviction by her ( sometimes I‘m amazed at my brain just pooping these details into being 🤣🤣) I‘m keen to read this 2y
DGRachel @mcctrish I haven‘t read anything else of hers but now I really want to! 2y
mcctrish And I‘m sure I typed popping 🤣🤣 2y
DGRachel @mcctrish OMG! I didn‘t even notice. My brain autocorrected for you. 2y
33 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
JenniferdeBie
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
Pickpick

Written in tight, present-tense prose, this gut-punch of a novella peers over the shoulders and into the minds of conspirators, loyalists, pawns, and victims as the titular assassination of Rizzio and the attempted overthrow of the queen unfolds. As she has shown time and again with her other works, Mina is an author who knows how to captivate and keep her audience, and Rizzio is no exception.

review
jlhammar
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image
Pickpick

Whew, that was intense! Really enjoyed this gripping novella. Now I want to learn more about Mary, Queen of Scots. Illustration from History of England by Henry Tyrrell.

DrexEdit Stories about Tudors behaving badly? Yes, please! Stacked! 👍 3y
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
jlhammar
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image

#bookmail Read the first few pages of Rizzio. Good so far!

blurb
TheKidUpstairs
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image

#12Booksof2021 #October

October was a month of stand out novellas for me. Rizzio was my favourite: fast-paced, intense, political intrigue with a side of wit.

Honourable mentions:
📚 All Systems Red (Murderbot is awesome)
📚 A Spindle Splintered

review
Cinfhen
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image
Pickpick

Dark & Delicious and expertly narrated. On March 9, 1566 David Rizzio, personal secretary and friend of Mary,Queen of Scots is brutally murdered in a coup. This short novella puts you inside the royal palace as the crime unfolds. Using this for #Booked22 #AboutRoyalFamily would also work for #AboutReligion and #pop22 #OneSeatingRead Special shoutout to @TheKidUpstairs for putting this on my #ReadersRadar #Hoopla

TheKidUpstairs So glad you enjoyed! 3y
TrishB I love a bit of Mary! She led a very full and scandalous life 😁 3y
Cinfhen I think you‘d like this one @TrishB even if it‘s short 😉😘 3y
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen The audio narration was fabulous @TheKidUpstairs - I heard this is going to be part of a series of Scottish authors writing HF about Scotland‘s darker history 3y
TheKidUpstairs @Cinfhen ooh, I love the idea of this being a series. If other authors bring the same short, hyper-focused, intense "moment in time" feel. 3y
Cortg Fantastic! I haven‘t even started my #pop22 challenge yet 😂 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Interesting!! 3y
86 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
TheKidUpstairs
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image
Pickpick

A fast paced, intense novella about the assassination of David Rizzio, Private Secretary to Mary Queen of Scots. Full of intrigue, blood, and a healthy dose of wit. I needed to shake things up with something gripping and satisfying and this one totally fit the bill. Highly recommended!

#Booked2021 - #Newin2021 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Cinfhen #stacked - this might come in handy for #Booked2022 😉#JustSayin 3y
62 likes1 stack add1 comment
quote
TheKidUpstairs
Rizzio: A Novella | Denise Mina
post image

"In a courtly world where the placement of a kerchief has a special symbolic meaning, Ruthven's outfit resembles confusion screamed in high C by a panicked goat."

???

Lindy 😂 3y
59 likes1 stack add1 comment