100 Pages A Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews

Isabella longs for nothing more than to sing in Monteverdi’s Choir, but in 17^th Century Venice, only men may sing in public, not fifteen-year-old young ladies.  Isabella’s vocal teacher, Margherita encourages her to keep singing in hopes that she will be able to perform in opera.  However, after one of Margherita’s performances Isabella finds her dead, strangled.  After Margherita is murdered, secrets about her life begin to surface.  The secrets affect Margherita’s handsome son, Rafaele, as well.  Rafaele kept Margherita’s saffron business alive, but now someone seems to want to kill Rafaele also.  After a botched attempt on his life, Rafaele is accused of murder and Isabella is determined to find out who killed her beloved vocal teacher and set Rafaele free. 

The Saffron Crocus is an intriguing young adult historical mystery that incorporates many historical aspects and people in 17^th Century Venice.  Isabella is young but determined, and while trying to solve the mystery of her teacher’s death, she matures and grows into a young woman.  Isabella is given many challenges to overcome, finding out who killed her teacher, a chance to sing in men’s clothing, and the opportunity to save the man she loves; by the end she is a woman I could connect with and respect.   The mystery is engaging, with a few twists and turns.  I was glad to see a lot of history of the time incorporated into the mystery also, such as saffron as a cure for the plague, the treatment of Jews in Venice as well as art, music and culture.  Overall, an interesting young adult historical mystery.