We are excited to welcome author Tiffany Parks (who also happened to grow up shopping in our store) to Island Books to discuss her new middle grade mystery novel, Midnight in the Piazza, an exciting race through Rome. Tiffany grew up in the glorious Pacific Northwest, but it didn’t take long before she heeded the call to roam. She studied opera in Boston and Montréal and eventually fulfilled her lifelong dream of moving to Rome, where she fell head over heels in love with the art of Caravaggio and Bernini. When she’s not writing children’s fiction, penning a travel article, or taping an episode for her podcast, The Bittersweet Life, she can usually be found exploring Rome’s monuments and museums with her Roman husband and son.
In Midnight in the Piazza, we meet Beatrice Archer, who loves history. Rome may be chock-full of it, but that doesn’t mean she wants to move there.
Too bad Beatrice’s father got a job as the head of the history department at the American Academy in Rome—now, Beatrice has no choice but to get used to the idea.
When she arrives in Rome she explores her new city as much as she can, but it isn’t until she hears talk of a strange neighborhood legend that Beatrice perks up. A centuries-old unsolved mystery about the beautiful turtle fountain outside her window? Sounds like fun!
Before Beatrice has a chance to explore, though, she sees a dark figure emerge from the shadows of the square in the middle of the night—and steal the famous turtle sculptures that give the fountain its name.
When no one believes her story, Beatrice knows that it’s up to her to solve the crime and restore the turtles to their rightful place. With the help of her new friend Marco, she navigates a world of unscrupulous ambassadors, tricky tutors, and international art thieves to unravel one of Roman history’s greatest dramas—before another priceless work of art is stolen.
Email or call for price
