The Advisor

Nico Argenti series book 2

Praise for Assignment Milan

“… The Advisor holds just the right blend of social inspection, psychological insight, and historical references to keep the story inviting, absorbing, and understandable from beginning to end.

By its physical and mental journeys and its ability to recreate Renaissance Italy’s ambiance, there’s much to love in a story that propels Nico into yet another level of growth and experience.       – Diane Donovan, Senior Editor  Midwest Book Review

Indie Reader Discovery Award Winner

Amazon Historical Mystery Best Seller

Amazon Historical Thriller Best Seller

               Book 2 of the Nico Argenti series

In Renaissance Italy, townspeople are threatened by a vindictive knight. They seek legal advice to challenge the knight’s authority, but they need much more. Can they be rescued before the knight unleashes his fury?

Young lawyer Nico Argenti is challenged to defeat the tyrant and win the town’s independence. Nico believes in the law, but he finds a legal decision alone is not enough to save the town.

To overcome the despot, Nico journeys far from his home city of Florence to track down refugees who fled the knight’s grasp and to uncover crucial documents from the Papal Archives.

Nico uses evidence to pursue a legal ruling, but what other steps must he take when the knight defies the court’s decision?

The Advisor: Intrigue in Tuscany is the second award-winning book in the Nico Argenti series. Discover why this exciting novel is a favorite of historical mystery fans. Get your copy now.

Free Giveaway

What was life like at a Renaissance university?

Find out in Nico’s Story,  memories from Nico’s youth and his time at the University of Bologna in his own words. Just sign up for our newsletter and download Nico’s Story today.

The Blackest Time discussion questions

 

How did the book change your assumptions about the time of the Black Plague?

Which aspects of the story relate to our time? Which don’t?

Was there a specific decision made by a character in the book that struck you as particularly admirable or foolish?

Which turning points in the story were under the control of characters? Which were unavoidable?

Of those who escaped the disease itself, how were people in the various classes of Florentine society affected by the plague?

What were Gino’s impressions of Florence when he first arrived in the city and how did they change over time?

What measures did Florentines use to protect themselves from the plague? How do they compare to the steps we took to protect ourselves from Covid?

Florentines were devout Christians who believed in the mythical goddess Fortuna and in witchcraft. How did those beliefs lead to various explanations of the plague? Do we have dual beliefs today?

Does Professor Vianello’s prediction based on planetary conjuctions differ from today’s belief in astrology?

Who cared for the poor in medieval times? How does that differ from our practices today?