Barbara Marangon

Author of Mystery & Contemporary Romance with a Taste of History

Coming Soon…

The Body in the Malibran Theater

2024 RPLA Winner An ancient mummy is discovered by workmen in the old Malibran Theater in Venice, Italy. The dead woman is wearing a priceless Chinese tiara from the dynasty of Kublai Khan and has a diary in her clothing pocket. Detective Antonio Galimberti and Professor Francesca Pavan are called to the scene to find out the identity of the woman and how she died. The only clue they have—the theater was built centuries ago on the foundation of Marco Polo’s house.

Antonio and Francesca are attracted to each other from the moment they meet. A romance begins but they must overcome their emotional insecurities in order for their love story to survive. The tiara is mysteriously stolen from the forensic department, and three murders are connected to its disappearance.

While Antonio searches for the missing tiara and the killer, Francesca translates the diary recounting the voyage of the Princess Kokachin with Marco Polo—a story that could change the pages of history.

Francesca has her own secrets—powers of retro-cognition. She is able to see a murder in the past by holding an object belonging to the victim at the time of their death and can identify the killer.

Antonio must find the tiara and stop the assassin before Francesca becomes the next victim. When she is kidnapped by the murderer, Antonio’s only clue to her whereabouts are the bone-chilling words of the killer—some secrets should remain buried.

The Body in the Malibran Theater is based on a true story.