The Glass Dagger:Series: 1 The Glassmaker Series

Giam Bellini, rising star of Murano glassmaking falls in love with Lady Maria Morisini and lights the fuse of an explosive tale of betrayal and intrigue encompassing the corrupt world of Venetian and English politics. A fugitive from Venetian law, Giam uncovers the Maldini plot threatening the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England and Lady Maria. As a partner of the Crouched Friars Glass-works, Giam hopes to become Glassmaker to Queen Elizabeth, in competition with the Glass-Sellers Association, but Sir Richard Urie their leader has his partner assassinated. Recruited by Sir William Cecil, Giam begins a desperate race to thwart the Maldini plotters and rescue Maria from the clutches of the Venetian Envoy, his archrival, and betrayer Adrian Ragazoni.