A Beautiful Crime is a 2020 crime fiction novel by the American writer and editor Christopher Bollen (pictured). It was first published in the United States by Harper on January 28, 2020. The story, which is set in Venice, centers on boyfriends Nick and Clay, who sell an inherited collection of forged silver antiques to a wealthy acquaintance from Clay's past. Their deception quickly leads to more serious crimes, as Clay attempts to sell an expensive property that he does not fully own and Nick murders a silver appraiser who threatened to expose their sale of forgeries. The novel explores the overtourism and depopulation of Venice, and the intersection of greed, moral ambiguity, and social inequality. Critics praised Bollen's depictions of Venice and the relationships between the characters but disagreed on the effectiveness of the narrative's pace. A Beautiful Crime has drawn comparisons to novels by Patricia Highsmith, particularly The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955).

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Crime

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1863:

American Indian Wars: The U.S. Army led by Patrick Edward Connor massacred Chief Bear Hunter and Shoshone forces at the Bear River Massacre in present-day Franklin County, Idaho. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_River_Massacre

1911:

Mexican Revolution: The Magonista rebellion began when Mexican Liberal Party troops captured the town of Mexicali. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magonista_rebellion_of_1911

1959:

The first Melodifestivalen, an annual Swedish music competition that determines the country's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, was held in Stockholm. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodifestivalen

2017:

A lone gunman carried out a mass shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada, killing six people and injuring nineteen others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_City_mosque_shooting

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Rafflesian: 1. Of or relating to Sir Stamford Raffles, a British colonial statesman known for his founding of modern Singapore and British Malaya. 2. (Singapore) Of or relating to an educational institution named after Sir Stamford Raffles. 3. (Singapore) A current or former student of an educational institution named after Sir Stamford Raffles. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rafflesian

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

A life of kindness is the primary meaning of divine worship.   --Emanuel Swedenborg https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Emanuel_Swedenborg