Jonathan Holt – författare

Wiltshire is one of the best counties in Britain for architectural fancy, for the county’s residents have expressed their passion for building in a plethora of styles including Gothic, Rustic, classical, Monumental, Chinese, Indian, Italianate and Japanese. We can see their ingenuity and eccentricity in an equally wide variety of building types, including shell houses, grottoes, pagodas, towers, temples, summer houses, tea houses, gazebos, belvederes, lodges, gatehouses, pavilions, arches, loggias… the list is endless. The stories behind them are many and various – built out of passion, megalomania, showing off one’s wealth or to keep up with one’s neighbours or, in contrast, delicate artistry and finesse.Many are on well-known estates such as Stourhead and Bowood, but others are rarely seen by the public, tucked away in private grounds to which exclusive access has been gained for this book.

A superb conspiracy thriller set in Venice, from a Sunday Times bestseller. ********He died in the darkness, surrounded by friends. They found him at sunrise, on Venice's most popular beach. His throat had been cut, his tongue removed. Captain Kat Tapo suspects a Masonic ritualistic murder. She knows the brotherhood won't give up its secrets to a policewoman – but she's determined she won't give up the hunt. She'll use all the allies she has: friends, lovers, hackers, spies. But shocking truths about the case are about to come to light. And when they do, it will be a race against time to unlock the secrets of Italy's past – before Venice itself starts to burn... This is the final novel in a trilogy of stylish and intelligent thrillers set in Venice from Jonathan Holt who, under the name J.P. Delaney, is also the author of the Sunday Times bestselling psychological thrillers The Girl Before and The Perfect Wife. ********Reviews for The Carnivia Trilogy: 'Genuinely thrilling... An illuminating portrait of a particular world' Literary Review. 'Tense and mind-bending' Daily Telegraph. 'Breathtaking... A truly haunting glimpse into a mysterious shadow world' New York Times. 'Impressive... Venice is a magnificent backdrop for a story of secrets and lies' Daily Mail. 'A cracking, upmarket thriller... A rare entertainment for the thinking deckchair reader' Saga Magazine. What readers are saying about The Carnivia Trilogy: 'Superb – an exciting tale involving people smuggling, the Catholic Church and US intelligence operatives... A compelling story which will appeal to readers who enjoy a mix of conspiracy theory and cover-up' Amazon Reader. 'An unravelling of several interconnected plot strands with action and twists that never stop, but at a deeper level Holt also engages with human rights and gender issues... This is a "can't put it down" novel' Amazon Reader. 'The detailed reconstruction of the setting in Venice is fabulous and is equalled both by characterisation and plot... Gripping and thrilling... and distressingly possible' Amazon Reader. 'Fabulously descriptive, intriguing, fast paced... A must-read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller that is well researched and excellently written' Amazon Reader. 'Fast paced, good characters and interesting mix of plot strands. Each book in the trilogy can be read as a stand alone, but reading all of them rounds off the story strands nicely' Amazon Reader.