Novel set in SCOTLAND and ICELAND
A VENETIAN tale of murder, witchcraft, and dubious activity
2nd June 2026
The Devil in Dorsoduro by David Hewson – a Venetian tale of murder, witchcraft, and dubious activity
The Devil in Dorsoduro is the latest installment in David Hewson’s atmospheric mystery series featuring Arnold Clover. A retired English archivist, who relocated to Venice following the death of his wife, Arnold typically enjoys a quiet life – except, of course, when he is drawn into solving complex crimes. Alongside his two close friends, Capitano Valentina Fabbri of the Carabinieri and Luca Volpetti of the Venice Archivio, the trio forms a formidable team, blending intuition, local knowledge and historical expertise.
The mystery begins when Valentina asks Arnold for a favour. Neighbours have reported hearing late-night screams from the home of Celia Monteith, an eccentric elderly English expat. While an initial police check turns up nothing, the next morning a passerby notices Celia’s dachshund dog, Bruno, barking frantically at the gate. Knowing Arnold has previously minded the house and walked the dog when Celia was on her travels, the police call him in to help.
When Arnold and Valentina use his spare keys to enter the property, everything appears normal at first. However, Bruno leads them to a hidden door, behind which lies Celia’s body. Was it a natural death, or something far more sinister?
Arnold agrees to look after Bruno on a strictly temporary basis. This proves to be a brilliant plot device; the dog has an incredible memory for the locations he frequented with Celia, effectively leading Arnold on a trail of clues across the city.
As Arnold investigates, he discovers that Celia was far from the person he thought he knew. She was the centre of a small coven of older women who gathered at her house to dabble in witchcraft and devil worship. But was this eccentric hobby the only thing they were up to? The locations Bruno revisits suggest a much darker reality.
Hewson weaves an intricate plot that delves into the gritty underbelly of Venice – a side of the city regular tourists never see. The narrative seamlessly involves a seemingly ‘reformed’ gangster, a corrupt politician, a bent police officer, and a sophisticated drug-smuggling ring.
Naturally, with the combined efforts of Arnold’s meticulous research, Valentina’s official reach, and Luca’s archival skills, the mystery is unraveled and justice is served.
As always, David Hewson’s writing is – in TripFiction terms – absolutely brilliant for capturing the essence of Venice. He knows the city intimately, though this time he deliberately steers away from the typical tourist hotspots, guiding readers through its less fashionable, more authentic neighbourhoods.
And, in true Hewson style, there is a mouth-watering focus on the local cuisine and the restaurants Arnold frequents. He doesn’t just want you to read about Venice; he wants you to get right under its skin.
The Devil in Dorsoduro is an excellent, immersive read that will thoroughly excite and transport you to the canals of Venice.
Tony for the TripFiction Team
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