Poison

Francesca's father served Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia as his poisoner before he was beaten to death by robbers. Francesca vows vengeance and poisons his replacement, thereby assuming the poisoner's position in the Borgia household. The cardinal aspires to be Pope, but the current Pope must die, and Francesca must decide whether to assist with his death. A glassblower, the cardinal's passionate son, and a Jewish warrior compete for Francesca's attention as she serves her patron and investigates her father's murder. She must also thwart a psychopathic priest intent on killing all the Jews in Christendom. The characters are well drawn, and the mores and machinations of powerful families are well described as Francesca seeks vengeance. Descriptions of Roman streets, the Basilica of St. Peter, and the outlandish entertainments of the nobility bring 15th-century Rome to life.