Fall of a Sparrow: Set in 1780, during the Great Siege of Gibraltar by Spain and France (1779-83). Gibraltar was defended successfully by the British garrison under General Eliott - the only British success in the American War of Independence, which saw the loss of the American colonies and the island of Minorca.
The recently formed Corps of Artificers (later the Royal Engineers) was responsible for excavating the Galleries to allow artillery to fire down on the besieging forces at the base of the Rock.
Abraham Hassan was the only civilian to volunteer for the army to defend the Rock (apart from Giovanni Bresciano, of course! A fellow soldier is murdered, then another, and Bresciano finds himself impelled to seek the killer)
The Pearls of Tangier: Set in 1789 in Tangier. The Governor of Gibraltar receives a request from Sultan Sidi Mohammed of Morocco, asking him to send a doctor to treat his son, Muley Absolem, who is losing his sight. Dr William Lempriere is sent (and is accompanied on the first leg of his journey, to Tangier, by Giovanni Bresciano, who gets involved in investigating murder, theft and abduction).
The Prince's Lady: Set in 1791, mainly in Southern Spain. Prince Edward, fourth son of King George III, is sent to Gibraltar to command a regiment there. He is accompanied by his mistress, the beautiful Baroness Julie de Fortisson (who disappears: but Bresciano is on the case!).
The Devil's Tongue: Set in 1793, in Gibraltar. Spain has closed the frontier (because of fear of plague, they say). The French wars are about to begin. (Giovanni Bresciano is about to be married to his Giulietta, when an old enemy appears, and Bresciano is suspected of his murder!)
Death in Paradise Ramp: It is 1802. There is a brief lull in the French Wars, and Prince Edward, now the Duke of Kent, returns to Gibraltar as Governor, accompanied by his beloved Julie. His brief is to impose discipline on the drunken and unruly troops of the Garrison. A mutiny is bound to occur. (Meanwhile, Giovanni Bresciano is asked to investigate a cold case - the body of a young girl is found in a cellar.)
The Murder in Whirligig Lane: 1813. The French are being driven out of Spain, but Gibraltar has other problems: A yellow fever epidemic has broken out, and the mortality is appalling. (Giovanni is appointed a District Medical Inspector, and has to investigate a death which does not appear to be from yellow fever).
Set in 1817...... The Dead Can't Paint: The French naval corvette Uranie arrives in Gibraltar, the first French vessel to call there voluntarily for over 30 years. (It is carrying two French artists, who disembark.....There's a murder, of course - and we discover a lot more about Giovanni!) With several added extras, including a short story told by Giovanni himself!
And that is the series completed.
The recently formed Corps of Artificers (later the Royal Engineers) was responsible for excavating the Galleries to allow artillery to fire down on the besieging forces at the base of the Rock.
Abraham Hassan was the only civilian to volunteer for the army to defend the Rock (apart from Giovanni Bresciano, of course! A fellow soldier is murdered, then another, and Bresciano finds himself impelled to seek the killer)
The Pearls of Tangier: Set in 1789 in Tangier. The Governor of Gibraltar receives a request from Sultan Sidi Mohammed of Morocco, asking him to send a doctor to treat his son, Muley Absolem, who is losing his sight. Dr William Lempriere is sent (and is accompanied on the first leg of his journey, to Tangier, by Giovanni Bresciano, who gets involved in investigating murder, theft and abduction).
The Prince's Lady: Set in 1791, mainly in Southern Spain. Prince Edward, fourth son of King George III, is sent to Gibraltar to command a regiment there. He is accompanied by his mistress, the beautiful Baroness Julie de Fortisson (who disappears: but Bresciano is on the case!).
The Devil's Tongue: Set in 1793, in Gibraltar. Spain has closed the frontier (because of fear of plague, they say). The French wars are about to begin. (Giovanni Bresciano is about to be married to his Giulietta, when an old enemy appears, and Bresciano is suspected of his murder!)
Death in Paradise Ramp: It is 1802. There is a brief lull in the French Wars, and Prince Edward, now the Duke of Kent, returns to Gibraltar as Governor, accompanied by his beloved Julie. His brief is to impose discipline on the drunken and unruly troops of the Garrison. A mutiny is bound to occur. (Meanwhile, Giovanni Bresciano is asked to investigate a cold case - the body of a young girl is found in a cellar.)
The Murder in Whirligig Lane: 1813. The French are being driven out of Spain, but Gibraltar has other problems: A yellow fever epidemic has broken out, and the mortality is appalling. (Giovanni is appointed a District Medical Inspector, and has to investigate a death which does not appear to be from yellow fever).
Set in 1817...... The Dead Can't Paint: The French naval corvette Uranie arrives in Gibraltar, the first French vessel to call there voluntarily for over 30 years. (It is carrying two French artists, who disembark.....There's a murder, of course - and we discover a lot more about Giovanni!) With several added extras, including a short story told by Giovanni himself!
And that is the series completed.
