A wily churchman will do anything to keep scandal from falling on his family.(Note: "The Cardinal's Blade" is a short story. It is also available in the author's 10-story collection, Daggyland #2.)* * *Renaissance Italy. The rebirth of learning.Everyone knows the Farnese family. They're rich, powerful, entrenched. They rule the military, the banks, and the church.But that isn't enough. If the family is to rule absolutely, they must control minds and souls as well.That means locking down every painting that hangs on a wall-and the people who make them.Watch yourself. This story cuts like a knife.It first appeared in the magazine Mystery Weekly.* * *"D'Agnese writes the most unusual and interesting books." -Bookviews Joseph D'Agnese is a journalist and author who has written for children and adults alike. He's been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Wired, Discover, and other national publications.In a career spanning more than twenty years, his work has been honored with awards in three vastly different areas-science journalism, children's literature, and mystery fiction.His science articles have twice appeared in the anthology Best American Science Writing.His children's book, Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci, was an honoree for the Mathical Book Prize-the first-ever prize for math-themed children's books.One of his crime stories won the 2015 Derringer Award for short mystery fiction. Another of his stories was selected by mega-bestselling author James Patterson for inclusion in the prestigious annual anthology, Best American Mystery Stories 2015.D'Agnese's crime fiction has appeared in Shotgun Honey, Plots with Guns, Beat to a Pulp, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.D'Agnese lives in North Carolina with his wife, the New York Times bestselling author Denise Kiernan (The Girls of Atomic City).
