Villains' Reunion and its sequel Trikkster, written by Gary Smiley:

 

These are books written from within the world of ancient criminal society called The 30, based in Venice, yet has been involved in many events over the centuries.

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Matilde grew up in the society; so did her brother, Rui.

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She has no aspirations to be something in the society; he does. 

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She wants to reform the society and pulls together a group of friends, always wanting to help.

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Calie, an actress.

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Diamantino, an heir to a Port wine dynasty.

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Nuno, a grumpy vineyard owner.

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Gonçalo, his nerdy helper.

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Wes, her American boyfriend.

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And on occasion, Rui, her brother.

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Their adventures, while starting in Portugal, quickly become international.

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Stay tuned for more news.

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Since I turned the first novel into a series formatted for television, I envision it on that medium.

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Also, the brand lends itself to be used on wine and cachaça.

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You might have seen the page with the tours. These are mysteries tied to the locations in the novels, each with a guide, making it very different from usual walking tours. Tours also have a live theater and escape room component. The idea is that you, the tourist, go from merely being a spectator to jumping right into the action from the novel.

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About the author: Gary Smiley, a native of the United States, retired to Aveiro, Portugal, in July 2023. He has a PhD in Agricultural Sciences. He's also traveled to many corners of Portugal, researching for the novels. Recently, he returned from the wine area in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Below is a photo taken in 2025 at the Peterlongo estate.

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