Product guide

Venetian Vespers

Venetian Vespers is a novel set in Venice in the winter of 1899, where English writer Evelyn Dolman and his new wife encounter unsettling events at an ancestral palazzo. Its gothic mystery and literary style may appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric, psychologically uncertain fiction.

At a glance

Set in Venice in winter 1899 as a newly married couple arrive for a belated honeymoon.
The plot centres on eerie events at Palazzo Dioscuri and Evelyn's growing uncertainty about what is real.
The listing describes the novel as a Sunday Times and TLS Book of the Year and says it was shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025.

Price

£10.78Save 37%

Reference price: ~~£16.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

A clearly defined gothic setting and supernatural ambiguity give the story a strong atmospheric premise.
The 368-page length offers a substantial novel rather than a short-form read.

Cons

Customer feedback is divided on the prose and readability, with some finding the writing elegant and others describing it as pretentious.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Faber & Faber
Publication date	25 Sept. 2025
Edition	Main
Language	English
Print length	368 pages
ISBN-10	0571386636
ISBN-13	978-0571386635

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	474 g
Dimensions	13.51 x 1.93 x 21.62 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers looking for literary gothic fiction with an eerie Venice setting and an uncertain boundary between reality and the supernatural.
Readers who enjoy character-led stories and are comfortable with a prose style that may feel demanding.

Less suited to

Readers who prefer a clearly resolved plot, as customer feedback includes criticism of an abrupt and disappointing ending.

Customer reviews on Amazon

3.7 / 5 · 1,485 ratings

5 stars31%31%
4 stars34%34%
3 stars21%21%
2 stars8%8%
1 star6%6%

Customer feedback describes the book as engaging and praises its content, while reactions to the plot, writing, readability, vocabulary and character development are mixed. Some readers value the prose and intrigue, while others find the style pretentious, the characters unpleasant or the ending abrupt and disappointing. This makes it a more uncertain fit for readers seeking an easy read or a firmly resolved plot than for those drawn to atmospheric literary fiction.

Positive themes

Some customers describe the book as engaging and its content as compelling.

Negative themes

Some customers report that the ending feels abrupt and disappointing, and that the prose can seem pretentious.

Mixed feedback

Reactions differ on the plot, readability, vocabulary, mood and character development.

Frequently asked questions

What is Venetian Vespers about?

It follows English writer Evelyn Dolman and his wife Laura during a belated honeymoon in Venice, where strange events at Palazzo Dioscuri unsettle Evelyn.

When and where is the novel set?

The story begins in winter 1899 in Venice, as the new century approaches.

How long is the listed edition?

The product details list 368 pages.

Is the novel a straightforward mystery?

The description focuses on seemingly otherworldly occurrences and Evelyn's uncertain state of mind. Customer feedback is mixed on the plot and ending, so readers seeking a neatly resolved mystery may want to bear that in mind.