A Novel of Art & Intrigue
Renaissance of Evil
Two haunted souls. One restorer whose gift is prized far too much.
The Novel
About Renaissance of Evil
When Piero, a reclusive British screenwriter who specializes in adapting Shakespearean plays for film, seeks escape from a crumbling personal life, he finds unexpected refuge at a secluded country estate in America. His reluctant hostess, Serena Howard, a widowed art restoration specialist still grieving the loss of her husband, is unprepared for the disruption his presence brings to her carefully curated solitude.
At first, their connection is chilly—he, brooding and irascible; she, fiercely independent and guarded. But as spring unfolds into summer and their lives begin to entwine amidst lush gardens and shared moments, a tentative bond forms. Beneath the surface, each harbors pain and secrets that refuse to stay buried. When an international art syndicate escalates its demands for Serena’s skills, fear invades their everyday lives, and Interpol becomes involved. Her expertise in the meticulous restoration of World War II looted artworks is prized—too much. Serena is terrorized, and the desire for safety takes them on unexpected journeys far afield.
Set against a richly drawn pastoral backdrop, Renaissance of Evil is a sensuous and layered tale of trauma, emotional reawakening, suspense, and redemption. With lyrical prose and cinematic detail, Alex Orsini crafts an intimate portrait of two haunted souls colliding in a world filled with beauty and insidious danger.
- Genre
- Romantic suspense
- Themes
- Art restoration & WWII looted art
- Setting
- An American country estate, and beyond
- Series
- Book One — Serena & Piero
The Author
Alex Orsini
Alex is an EMS helicopter pilot who has “seen everything,” and holds a master’s degree in art history from the Sorbonne in Paris.
A lifelong devotee of Dutch Golden Age painting, restoration and the looting of art during World War II, she has followed her research into the hard questions of restitution. Her studies have given her intense pleasure, and the impetus to keep writing about these fascinating and meaningful areas of inquiry.
Next up: a lost Caravaggio in The Bad Boy’s Bad Boys, where Serena, Piero and François continue their collaboration.
- Sorbonne, ParisMaster’s in Art History
- EMS Helicopter PilotHas “seen everything”
- Her ResearchDutch Golden Age, restoration & restitution
Her Muses
The Worlds Within the Pages
Art History
Dutch Golden Age masters, painstaking restoration and the hunt for what was taken.
Travel
Journeys far afield, from quiet country estates to cities best seen at dusk.
Romance
Two guarded hearts, a slow thaw and a bond neither expected.
Espionage
Art syndicates, Interpol and the fear that follows a rare talent.
Horses
Dawn rides, old stables and the wild grace of the animal.
Begin the Story
Beauty, Danger & a Second Chance
Step into the gardens, the galleries and the long shadow of looted art. Renaissance of Evil is available now.