A #1 National Bestseller

“A lively tale involving love, blackmail, family, murder, plague, intercultural compassion, dramatic last-minute rescues and some very creative disguises. . . . Rich capably depicts the strength of women and the precariousness of their lives, regardless of status or religion.”
—The Globe and Mail

“A lavishly detailed historical novel.”
—ELLE

“Enticing. . . . An adventure filled with love, intrigue, murder and unbreakable loyalty in a renaissance city where exotic perfumes and foul odours almost seem to waft off the page.”
—Toronto Star

“A suspenseful tale. . . . The book is obviously well researched, and its descriptions of Venice and Malta are both fascinating and realistic.”
—Vancouver Sun

"Rich paints vivid imagery. . . . The Midwife of Venice offers much for readers to learn in the ways of Renaissance-era midwifery, the slave trade and even the diabolical tricks of 16th century courtesans."
—Winnipeg Free Press

“Intelligent, even elegant at times, it’s a page-turner . . . and an excellent exploration of the Jewish world in a time of Christian ascendancy.”
—The Sun Times

“A compelling and engaging novel, a well-researched high-stakes drama written with elegance and compassion: fascinating!”
—Sandra Gulland, author of The Josephine B. Trilogy and the Sun Court duet 

“An engrossing, well-written and fast-paced story about a fascinating period in history. The descriptions of sixteenth century Venice were so vivid, they were almost tangible.”
—Joy Fielding, author of The Housekeeper and See Jane Run

“A meticulously researched page-turner that evokes renaissance Venice with remarkable clarity, radiance, and vigour.”
—William Deverell, author of Mind Games and Stung

“Not only did Roberta Rich transport me to  sixteenth-century Venice, with its seductive tapestry of smells, sights, textures and beliefs, she involved me in a poignant story of seasoned love. I don’t know which I admired more — the wonderfully realized setting or the suspenseful story of Hannah and Isaac.”
—Katherine Ashenburg, author of Her Turn and Sofie & Cecilia

“Rich successfully captures the seedy side of 16th-century Venice—the Jewish ghetto, the plague, the confluence of religious and legal authority.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Entertainingly suspenseful. . . . [A] moving melodrama of steadfast love against all odds. . . . Rich’s fascinating historical details and her warm empathy for her protagonists will capture historical fiction fans and readers who enjoyed Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent.”
—Library Journal

“At 335 pages—all of them eminently turnable—it’s a classic melodrama with all the elements that rivet readers: conflict, romance, danger and tantalizing cliffhangers.”
—Georgia Straight

"Rich skillfully incorporates a wealth of historical detail into her riveting tale of a heroine who won't give up on her marriage.”
—Chicago Tribune

“The Midwife of Venice is one of the best novels to be written in the genre of historical fiction since The Girl with the Pearl Earring.”
—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“[A] cliffhanger-strewn debut. . . . Heavily researched.”
—Kirkus

“Roberta Rich plunges into the stench, intrigue and skulduggery of 16th-century plague-ridden Venice. . . . Rich revels in the details of light, smell, sound and larger-than-life characters.”
—More Magazine