A couple years ago, I was on an author panel discussing different types of heroes, and when I mentioned Ms. Myers's castrato protagonist, Tito Amato, from 18th-century Venice, romance writers in the audience cringed and said, "Ewwwww!" I don't get the "Ewwwww." Tito is just as clever, interesting, and three-dimensional in this fifth book of the series as he was in the first four books. In this book, Tito has settled down to comfy married life and is being a good stepfather to his wife's little boy. Tito's role as a stepfather does figure in the climax of the book. But before that, he suffers the indignity of being the only witness of the murder of a courtesan -- on opening night of a new opera, and during his solo, no less. What's Tito to do but lead us on a fun romp through Venice in search of the murderer? I feel like I'm there. Ms. Myers nails the sights, tastes, and smells of 18th-c Venice, the caste and religious conflicts, the culture of the city of canals and gondolas. She also weaves in an interesting peek into the industry of the glass blowers. I sure hope we hear more about Tito after this book. ( )