I do love the Giordano Bruno series by Parris and have read most of them including now, these three short stories showing how he came to be shaped as the detecting monk.

The Secret Dead shows us Bruno entering the monastery and becoming a part of the infirmary where his consistent questions are not rebuffed but tolerated. Here he takes part in a disection of a young woman murdered in the monastery so that the mysteries of a woman’s body may be discovered.

In the Academy of Secrets we discover more about Bruno’s intellect and curiosity for the questions that used to be answered invoking the will of God. Here he meets a group of people who read the books that discuss science and philosophy and who realise there is more than religion as an explanation for the world.

A Christmas Requiem sees Bruno invited to see the Pope to share his memory games but of course the Pope has more in mind as does the city and its temptations.

I still prefer the novels although these stories were entertaining but a little repetitive about the business of Naples and what it was like to live in the city in those days.