The Book of Madness and Cures

Dr. Gabriella Mondini has possessed a deep passion for the art of physick ever since her father, a renowned Venetian doctor, gave her lessons as a child. Now a strong-willed, outspoken young woman, Gabriella follows his teachings and her own intuitive methods—which, in 1590, can raise the ire of the male-dominated establishment. When her father disappears on a mysterious journey, Gabriella and her practice come under threat. She must find him, and bring him back. Following clues—beautiful, thoughtful, sometimes torrid, and often enigmatic letters from his travels as her father researches his vast encyclopedia, The Book of Diseases—Gabriella sets off on a quest to find him. It is a daunting journey that will take her through great university cities, centers of medicine, and remote villages of Europe. She is determined not to veer from her course, despite the dangers of the road, new discoveries in the art of physick, and the allure of a stranger whose presence knocks her sideways. In seeking the father she believes she knows better than any other living soul, Gabriella will discover love—and the truth. Pulse-pounding and filled with wondrous details about medicine, food, science, and madness, The Book of Madness and Cures is an intoxicating and unforgettable debut.