Picture a Welsh storyteller who swapped IT desks for the shadowy canals of Venice—meet Philip Gwynne Jones! Born in South Wales in 1966, this bestselling author has captivated readers with his Venice-set mystery series, starring the charming translator-turned-sleuth Nathan Sutherland. With a knack for weaving intricate plots and vivid Venetian life, Jones has become one of Wales’s most celebrated novelists, bringing La Serenissima’s secrets to the page.
From his first visit to Venice in 1994, Jones fell under the city’s spell, eventually making it his home. His novels, drenched in Venetian culture, art, and history, offer readers a thrilling escape into a world of masked revelers, lost manuscripts, and dark conspiracies. Let’s dive into the life and works of this master of mystery!
The Making of Philip Gwynne Jones
Born in Swansea, Philip Gwynne Jones grew up in South Wales before embarking on a global journey, living in Holland, Germany, and Scotland. His first brush with Italy came in 1994 while working for the European Space Agency in Frascati—a job he found less thrilling than expected. After two decades in the IT industry, Jones realized he was ‘congenitally unsuited’ to it and pivoted to teaching, writing, and translating. His move to Venice with his wife, Caroline, sparked a creative awakening, inspired by the city’s haunting beauty and rich history.
Jones’s love for classical music, opera, and art permeates his work. He’s even sung bass with Venice’s Cantori Veneziani, blending his passions into a unique storytelling voice. His debut, The Venice Project (2013), a travelogue, hit number one on Amazon’s Italian Travel list, setting the stage for his breakout Nathan Sutherland series.
Philip Gwynne Jones’s Unforgettable Stories
The Nathan Sutherland series, launched with The Venetian Game (2017), introduces Nathan, a British honorary consul and translator of Italian DIY manuals who stumbles into murder mysteries. In this debut, Nathan’s quiet life unravels when he’s tasked with guarding a package containing a priceless prayer book, only to be drawn into a decades-long art theft scheme. The novel’s blend of humor, history, and suspense earned it a spot in The Times’ Top 5 bestsellers.
Vengeance in Venice (2018) sees Nathan at the Venice Biennale, where an art critic’s death sparks a deadly trail of postcards and deceit. The Venetian Masquerade (2019) unfolds during Carnevale, with a murder at La Fenice opera house leading Nathan to a lost Monteverdi opera. The Venetian Sanctuary (2024), set during Venice’s COVID lockdown, explores a mysterious death on a lagoon island. Jones’s style—witty, atmospheric, and steeped in Venetian culture—makes each book a love letter to the city, with plots that twist like its canals.
His non-fiction work, To Venice With Love (2019), a Reader’s Digest Book of the Month, chronicles his life in Venice with warmth and humor. Translated into Italian, German, and Bulgarian, Jones’s books resonate globally, offering readers a front-row seat to Venice’s allure and underbelly.
Why Philip Gwynne Jones Matters
Philip Gwynne Jones has carved a niche in crime fiction, blending the elegance of Venice with gritty mysteries. Unlike Donna Leon’s Inspector Brunetti series, Jones’s Nathan Sutherland is no cop but a reluctant hero, making his adventures accessible and fresh. His vivid settings—real restaurants, bars, and hidden islands—turn Venice into a character, inspiring readers to explore its lesser-known corners. As a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and Crime Cymru, Jones champions Welsh crime fiction, proving small-town roots can yield global stories.
His impact lies in his ability to transport readers, whether they’re armchair travelers or Venice devotees. With a new series, The Magus of Sicily, set for 2025, Jones continues to expand his storytelling horizon, cementing his legacy as a voice of place-driven mystery.
- Born: 1966, Swansea, South Wales
- Key Works: The Venetian Game, Vengeance in Venice, The Venetian Masquerade, To Venice With Love
- Notable: Times Top 5 bestseller, Reader’s Digest Book of the Month
Snag The Venetian Game and dive into Philip Gwynne Jones’s thrilling Venetian mysteries—your ticket to La Serenissima awaits!