Giulia Tofana is the daughter of a skilled apothecary, but her mother refuses to take her as an apprentice. After her mother is arrested and executed for supplying poison for the Duke deVerde's failed murder, Giulia is forced to flee her home and live the life of a courtesan in her aunt's establishment in Naples. Vowing revenge on the Duke for her mother's death, she takes a job as an apothecary assistant to learn the trade while secretly studying her mother's book of poison recipes. Aqua Tofana is undetectable but will cause the victim to sicken and die over time. Now Giulia is helping women all over Naples to free themselves from abusive marriages.
I didn't realize until the author's note at the end that this was based on a true historical figure. Giulia Tofana confessed to killing 600 men with her poisons in Rome. The story was truly fascinating and had me riveted until the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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