IN 1630 50,000 Venetians, a third of the population, died of the plague. Paolo, a younger son, thinks his whole family has perished but a tiny baby survives and is given a home by the sexton and his wife who have lost their own son.

His only link to his noble heritage is a bracelet which, after being pawned and sold, betrays his whereabouts. Is baby Giovanni's life now at risk from his vengeful uncle Paolo who is intent on claiming his inheritance?

There is plenty of interesting information in this novel (by the Echo's poetry editor) about Venetian life although the lack of editing of punctuation is distracting.

Frances Perkins