Scan barcode
8797999's review against another edition
4.0
I am enjoying reading these again, this one is a very interesting case involving a serial child killer and the murder of an associate of the Inspector. The characters are interesting and the plot intriguing also. Like most detective fiction the formula and elements are all present, whether it be characters, locations or actions.
It is nice reading these again after 4 years, I only wish that there was more with only 6 translated into English.
It is nice reading these again after 4 years, I only wish that there was more with only 6 translated into English.
merrysociopath's review against another edition
1.0
Il commissario Bordelli è il tipico poliziotto italiano, nel senso che ama la buona cucina, fuma e beve eccessivamente, tromba con almeno una, meglio se due belle donne, è malmostoso, continua ad avere flashback sulla seconda guerra mondiale, e fa cagare a fare il suo lavoro.
È troppo preso Bordelli a mangiare, fumare, bere, trombare e avere flahback sulla seconda guerra mondiale, ad esempio, da non rendersi conto di un dettaglio importante che accomuna gli omicidi su cui sta indagando (lo fa, ma al quarto, quando io che sono idiota ci ero arrivato al secondo). È troppo preso Bordelli a mangiare, fumare, bere, trombare e avere flashback sulla seconda guerra mondiale, che quando si rende conto di aver pisciato fuori dal vaso non gli resta che affidarsi a metodi dalla dubbia legalità.
Mai, leggendo un giallo (che giallo non è, in realtà, perché trattasi di poliziesco), mi ero ritrovato a fare il tifo per un assassino seriale di bambine. Ma il commissario Bordelli è riuscito a fare anche questo. Chapeau.
È troppo preso Bordelli a mangiare, fumare, bere, trombare e avere flahback sulla seconda guerra mondiale, ad esempio, da non rendersi conto di un dettaglio importante che accomuna gli omicidi su cui sta indagando (lo fa, ma al quarto, quando io che sono idiota ci ero arrivato al secondo). È troppo preso Bordelli a mangiare, fumare, bere, trombare e avere flashback sulla seconda guerra mondiale, che quando si rende conto di aver pisciato fuori dal vaso non gli resta che affidarsi a metodi dalla dubbia legalità.
Mai, leggendo un giallo (che giallo non è, in realtà, perché trattasi di poliziesco), mi ero ritrovato a fare il tifo per un assassino seriale di bambine. Ma il commissario Bordelli è riuscito a fare anche questo. Chapeau.
_aitor_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
raven88's review
4.0
Yes I know I have a gazillion books to read and review, but couldn’t resist reading this, having thoroughly enjoyed Vichi’s debut ‘Death In August’ featuring the wonderfully curmudgeonly Inspector Bordelli and I’m pleased to say that this is the equal of, or indeed even better, than the first book. Set in 1960‘s Florence, Vichi once again renders the location and atmosphere of Italy in this period perfectly, with an astute eye on the socio-political backdrop and the lasting shadows cast by Italy’s involvement in World War II, whilst neatly balancing a multi-layered plot of murder and retribution.
The pervasive nature of war is most cleverly portrayed by the flashbacks of Bordelli’s own experiences as a member of the San Marco resistance, and throughout the story there are perfectly placed vignettes of his, by turns, harrowing and life affirming, experiences during his service which have shaped to a large degree his sense of morality, tempered by a cynical attitude to the failings of his fellow man. Bordelli is not only seen as a dedicated police officer, but as a man determined to right what he sees as perceived wrongs, equally at home in the presence of his colleagues and members of the criminal classes and always prepared to defend the honour of both. In this multi-layered story, this becomes most evident in his investigation of the murder of Casimiro, a shady informant, but nevertheless a friend of Bordelli, which cleverly incorporates the activities of the White Dove, a post-war organisation investigating the whereabouts of Nazis who have escaped the punishments handed down by the Nuremburg trials. Bordelli finds himself at odds with the White Dove, despite his sympathies, to gain justice for the murder of his friend. Running alongside this arc of the story is Bordelli’s hunt for a child killer with a unique and macabre signature, which again reflects the theme of the inescapable shadows of war and proves to be an extremely testing case for our erstwhile hero.
Not only is the plotting razor sharp, but Vichi’s grasp of characterisation is excellent, evident throughout the book as he brings into sharp focus, Bordelli’s complicated relationships and his interaction with his colleagues. As in common in most crime books, Bordelli has little respect for his superiors and forges his own path throughout, aided and abetted by his relationship with the prickly pathologist, Dr Diotivede, and his police partner, Piras. His relationship with his surly Sardinian sidekick, Piras, is a joy, tempered by humour and pathos, and reveals itself as a touching, almost father/son relationship, during the course of the investigation. Bordelli, also has an interesting relationship with Rosa, the epitome of the ‘tart with a heart’ who acts as a sounding board and source of emotional comfort to the beleagured Inspector in his darkest hours, whilst he also embarks on an ill-fated affair with a beauty less than half his age, which brings another facet to his character, and his all too human weakness for the attentions of a pretty girl.
In the course of his books, Vichi has established himself as a joy to me personally, as both a reader and a bookseller, as I love the supremely controlled grasp he has on both the narrative form and his adept characterisation, and how easy it is to recommend his books to those who love Italian crime fiction. Vichi has created a central character the equal of the compelling Inspector Montalbano, and I’m sure there is much to be gained by fans of Camilleri, and other established Italian crime fiction writers in seeking out the excellent Vichi, if you haven’t already had the pleasure…
The pervasive nature of war is most cleverly portrayed by the flashbacks of Bordelli’s own experiences as a member of the San Marco resistance, and throughout the story there are perfectly placed vignettes of his, by turns, harrowing and life affirming, experiences during his service which have shaped to a large degree his sense of morality, tempered by a cynical attitude to the failings of his fellow man. Bordelli is not only seen as a dedicated police officer, but as a man determined to right what he sees as perceived wrongs, equally at home in the presence of his colleagues and members of the criminal classes and always prepared to defend the honour of both. In this multi-layered story, this becomes most evident in his investigation of the murder of Casimiro, a shady informant, but nevertheless a friend of Bordelli, which cleverly incorporates the activities of the White Dove, a post-war organisation investigating the whereabouts of Nazis who have escaped the punishments handed down by the Nuremburg trials. Bordelli finds himself at odds with the White Dove, despite his sympathies, to gain justice for the murder of his friend. Running alongside this arc of the story is Bordelli’s hunt for a child killer with a unique and macabre signature, which again reflects the theme of the inescapable shadows of war and proves to be an extremely testing case for our erstwhile hero.
Not only is the plotting razor sharp, but Vichi’s grasp of characterisation is excellent, evident throughout the book as he brings into sharp focus, Bordelli’s complicated relationships and his interaction with his colleagues. As in common in most crime books, Bordelli has little respect for his superiors and forges his own path throughout, aided and abetted by his relationship with the prickly pathologist, Dr Diotivede, and his police partner, Piras. His relationship with his surly Sardinian sidekick, Piras, is a joy, tempered by humour and pathos, and reveals itself as a touching, almost father/son relationship, during the course of the investigation. Bordelli, also has an interesting relationship with Rosa, the epitome of the ‘tart with a heart’ who acts as a sounding board and source of emotional comfort to the beleagured Inspector in his darkest hours, whilst he also embarks on an ill-fated affair with a beauty less than half his age, which brings another facet to his character, and his all too human weakness for the attentions of a pretty girl.
In the course of his books, Vichi has established himself as a joy to me personally, as both a reader and a bookseller, as I love the supremely controlled grasp he has on both the narrative form and his adept characterisation, and how easy it is to recommend his books to those who love Italian crime fiction. Vichi has created a central character the equal of the compelling Inspector Montalbano, and I’m sure there is much to be gained by fans of Camilleri, and other established Italian crime fiction writers in seeking out the excellent Vichi, if you haven’t already had the pleasure…
claudiaschneider's review against another edition
4.0
Buena historia policial. Entretenida, con una historia interesante tanto del protagonista como del crimen.
andrewrobins's review against another edition
3.0
As a rule, I don't really like crime fiction. It is a genre that strikes me as far too 'samey'. There is a limit to how many serial killers, urban psychopaths or child murderers I really want to read about, especially when the story arc is pretty much the same most of the time.
The thing about this genre which irritates me most, though, is the overuse of the 'cop with a quirk' approach. I'm not really interested if he's into Jags and real ale, if he's an alcoholic, if he's a jazz fanatic, or if he's got OCD. It just strikes me as an overused way to try to get a new slant onto what is essentially going to be the same story you've read a hundred times before.
Besides, it all just reminds me of the Fast Show 'Monkfish' sketches.
Having said that, the one thing that does occasionally sway me towards the genre is setting. So, I love Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther books, set as they are in Nazi Germany, and taking detours across occupied Europe and South America. Similarly, I love CJ Sansom's Shardlake series, set in Tudor England, with its rather gruesome approach to crime and, especially, punishment (yes, I know Shardlake, being a hunchback, has the mother of all quirks, but its not that, it's the setting, honest, guv).
Similarly, although to a lesser degree, I have enjoyed the Inspector Bordelli books I have read, of which this is the second, set as they are in 1960s Florence, a time when the Italian economic miracle was in full swing, and yet memories of the war were still fresh.
There's nothing really spectacular about the book, Bordelli scoots around Florence in a VW Beetle, smokes furiously, eats lovely sounding food (even the pork in milk and fennel sounded nice), drinks too much, drink drives way too much, consorts with criminals, has flashbacks to the war, hangs around with Nazi hunters for a bit, beds a glamourpuss 30 years his junior (as you do), and solves some crimes (although the ending regarding the main crime was glaringly obvious fifty pages in advance).
A likeable enough, quick read, and i'll probably keep an eye out for the next in the series.
The thing about this genre which irritates me most, though, is the overuse of the 'cop with a quirk' approach. I'm not really interested if he's into Jags and real ale, if he's an alcoholic, if he's a jazz fanatic, or if he's got OCD. It just strikes me as an overused way to try to get a new slant onto what is essentially going to be the same story you've read a hundred times before.
Besides, it all just reminds me of the Fast Show 'Monkfish' sketches.
Having said that, the one thing that does occasionally sway me towards the genre is setting. So, I love Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther books, set as they are in Nazi Germany, and taking detours across occupied Europe and South America. Similarly, I love CJ Sansom's Shardlake series, set in Tudor England, with its rather gruesome approach to crime and, especially, punishment (yes, I know Shardlake, being a hunchback, has the mother of all quirks, but its not that, it's the setting, honest, guv).
Similarly, although to a lesser degree, I have enjoyed the Inspector Bordelli books I have read, of which this is the second, set as they are in 1960s Florence, a time when the Italian economic miracle was in full swing, and yet memories of the war were still fresh.
There's nothing really spectacular about the book, Bordelli scoots around Florence in a VW Beetle, smokes furiously, eats lovely sounding food (even the pork in milk and fennel sounded nice), drinks too much, drink drives way too much, consorts with criminals, has flashbacks to the war, hangs around with Nazi hunters for a bit, beds a glamourpuss 30 years his junior (as you do), and solves some crimes (although the ending regarding the main crime was glaringly obvious fifty pages in advance).
A likeable enough, quick read, and i'll probably keep an eye out for the next in the series.
ceraunos's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
More...