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The Knife Maker of Venice
- Author
- David Gilman
- Narrator
- Ben Cura, David Gilman
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 13 August 2026
- Run Time
- 18 hours 31 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A young Englishman captured by slavers must survive the snakepit that is seventeenth-century Venice.
1604. As pirates seeking slaves to sell in the markets of North Africa terrorise the coasts of Europe, headstrong Richard Sheriff and his sister Elizabeth are torn from their Devonshire home and thrust into a waking nightmare.
Richard’s skills as a blacksmith see him fetch a high price, but the pirate captain has other plans for Elizabeth and once they are separated, Richard has no idea of his sister's fate. They must both learn to survive on a deadly voyage into the unknown.
Sold into servitude in Venice: glittering, vicious city of secrets, he is apprenticed to a knife maker. Richard’s talents soon win him renown... but haunted by his sister’s absence, he vows never to stop looking for her, knowing she would do the same for him.
First he must survive that city of ghosts. Will the siblings live to see each other again, or will they join the myriads lost to Venice, where life is cheap, profit is all, and escape nigh-on impossible?
A powerful historical adventure perfect for fans of Kate Mosse, Ken Follett and Robert Harris.
Reviews for THE KNIFE MAKER OF VENICE
'An unforgettable adventure' Clare Whitfield
'Relentless suspense against the backdrop of a stunningly realized Renaissance-era Venice' Boyd and Beth Morrison
'Fantastic... A dark, compelling story that cuts through like a blade [and] grips from the very first page.' S.W. Perry
Critics Review
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Fantastic... A dark and compelling story that cuts through like a blade, a razor-sharp tale that grips from the very first page. David has been extraordinarily skilful in making his change of period.
S.W. Perry
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I absolutely loved this. A proper edge-of-the-seat historical adventure novel – what a page-turner! I loved the characterisation and the feel of being there in the moment with the characters. The atmosphere was vivid and gripping. A superb novel.
Elizabeth Chadwick
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Utterly gripping! An absolute thriller. David Gilman is a master storyteller. The pace is breakneck, the narrative heart-wrenching. The breadth and depth of research is astonishing, the historical detail steely sharp, glistening with gems, studded with iron truths. Above all, Gilman understands humanity, his characters real, flawed, sometimes twisted. This is a novel that is impossible to put down.
Charles Cordell
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I absolutely loved it. Every page is thick with tension, ablaze with fear and thrilling action. Yet it is a story driven by a love so strong, I couldn’t look away. Gilman has created a mighty evocation of seventeenth-century Venice and paints its colours in vivid scarlets and deepest brutal black... A story that will stay with you for a long time.'
Kate Furnivall
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A page turner of the highest order, perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Dan Jones and Giles Kristian
Daily Express
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An immersive and compelling read
Trip Fiction
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- David Gilman
- Narrator
- Ben Cura, David Gilman
- Duration
- 18 hours 31 minutes
- Release Date
- 13 August 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035910397
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Historical fiction, Historical adventure fiction, Decorative metalwork
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Knife Maker of Venice by David Gilman read by Ben Cura and Davild Gilman, and featuring an exclusive interview between them.A young Englishman captured by slavers must survive the snakepit that is seventeenth-century Venice.1604. As pirates seeking slaves to sell in the markets of North Africa terrorise the coasts of Europe, headstrong Richard Sheriff and his sister Elizabeth are torn from their Devonshire home and thrust into a waking nightmare.Richard’s skills as a blacksmith see him fetch a high price, but the pirate captain has other plans for Elizabeth and once they are separated, Richard has no idea of his sister's fate. They must both learn to survive on a deadly voyage into the unknown.Sold into servitude in Venice: glittering, vicious city of secrets, he is apprenticed to a knife maker. Richard’s talents soon win him renown... but haunted by his sister’s absence, he vows never to stop looking for her, knowing she would do the same for him. First he must survive that city of ghosts. Will the siblings live to see each other again, or will they join the myriads lost to Venice, where life is cheap, profit is all, and escape nigh-on impossible?A powerful historical adventure perfect for fans of Kate Mosse, Ken Follett and Robert Harris.Reviews for THE KNIFE MAKER OF VENICE'An unforgettable adventure' Clare Whitfield'Relentless suspense against the backdrop of a stunningly realized Renaissance-era Venice' Boyd and Beth Morrison'Fantastic... A dark, compelling story that cuts through like a blade [and] grips from the very first page.' S.W. Perry
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