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3.05 AVERAGE
3.05 AVERAGE
More of a howdunnit
Knocked off half a star for overwhelming toxic masculinity, especially the uncriticised childhood sexual assault.
Knocked off half a star for overwhelming toxic masculinity, especially the uncriticised childhood sexual assault.
An okay murder mystery set in Florence. Not good enough for me to want to read the rest of the series.
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The crime genre has been experiencing an influx of European writers that have been translated into English. Most of them have been from the Nordic countries and other Northern European countries. Now we've been treated to an Italian author who brings that mix of irony, cynicism and romanticism to the crime genre that seems to be part of the Italian tradition.
This is the first of three books the author has published in Italy and the first that was translated into English. We meet Inspector Bordelli, 53 years old, never married, anti Nazi fighter, devoted to his job, and lonely. It is 1963 in Florence. Italy is coming out of its post war depression, and young people are more concerned about things than they are about good government. Or at least that's what Bordelli thinks.
He gets into trouble with his boss who complains that he lets criminals go. He doesn't see the sense of arresting every petty thief when they are just trying to make a living. He hangs out with a prostitute,a burglar and a thief who happens to also be an amazing cook. Like most Italians, he appreciates good food.
When he is called to the home of a wealthy woman who, it appears, has died from an asthma attack, it is apparent that some things do not make sense. Why was her asthma medication closed yet there is apparently some trace of the medication in her mouth?
Her friend is insistent that she has been murdered and points the finger at her two good-for-nothing nephews. Unfortunately, they have an alibi.
In the meantime, we are treated to one of his "dinner parties" where the guests are the thief, the burglar, the pathologist and a young police officer. The meal sounds incredible of course. This is, after all, Italy. I really enjoyed this one. The ironies are delicious as is the food.
This is the first of three books the author has published in Italy and the first that was translated into English. We meet Inspector Bordelli, 53 years old, never married, anti Nazi fighter, devoted to his job, and lonely. It is 1963 in Florence. Italy is coming out of its post war depression, and young people are more concerned about things than they are about good government. Or at least that's what Bordelli thinks.
He gets into trouble with his boss who complains that he lets criminals go. He doesn't see the sense of arresting every petty thief when they are just trying to make a living. He hangs out with a prostitute,a burglar and a thief who happens to also be an amazing cook. Like most Italians, he appreciates good food.
When he is called to the home of a wealthy woman who, it appears, has died from an asthma attack, it is apparent that some things do not make sense. Why was her asthma medication closed yet there is apparently some trace of the medication in her mouth?
Her friend is insistent that she has been murdered and points the finger at her two good-for-nothing nephews. Unfortunately, they have an alibi.
In the meantime, we are treated to one of his "dinner parties" where the guests are the thief, the burglar, the pathologist and a young police officer. The meal sounds incredible of course. This is, after all, Italy. I really enjoyed this one. The ironies are delicious as is the food.
So this book (and the series) came highly recommended to us by a bookstore owner in Florence as the "local" read. His description seemed to build up the main protagonist, Inspector Bordelli, as the Tuscan equivalent of Poirot or Sherlock, and so buying a copy was inevitable.
However, I must confess I am a tad bit disappointed with this first book of the series, based in 1960s Florence. The crime itself was a very regular murder with no twists in the tale or investigation, and the narration seemed to focus more on the inspector, his motley group of friends and their life stories. It was good writing nevertheless, despite the translation, which made it more of a entertaining novel, than a crime investigation. Maybe, just maybe, this was in order to introduce and build up the characters for the rest of the series, so the plots might get better. I would still give it a 3/5 and recommend it for a quick read in the sunshine.
However, I must confess I am a tad bit disappointed with this first book of the series, based in 1960s Florence. The crime itself was a very regular murder with no twists in the tale or investigation, and the narration seemed to focus more on the inspector, his motley group of friends and their life stories. It was good writing nevertheless, despite the translation, which made it more of a entertaining novel, than a crime investigation. Maybe, just maybe, this was in order to introduce and build up the characters for the rest of the series, so the plots might get better. I would still give it a 3/5 and recommend it for a quick read in the sunshine.
It's a bit like the television version of murder mysteries - too much about the beautiful women, not enough of an actual story.
Set in Florence, in August, in 1963. I will never go to Florence in August; sounds like hell. However, this made me want to go back to wander the streets. The story is quite good but much slower than I expected. And cats...what's the deal with cats? lol
good story but it had no chapters which made it difficult to read
Like many detective series (Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, etc), the characters in this story are what make it memorable. The mystery is not particularly shocking, nor is the method the Inspector uses to arrive at the solution. However, I enjoyed reading about the characters Inspector Bordelli meets along the way, although Inspector Bordelli himself is a bit banal.
There were a few things that rankled with me: I found the sex scene unnecessary and borderline inappropriate. Also, there's a moment in the book where the mechanic takes a look at the engine of Bordelli's VW Beetle by opening the hood/bonnet, when the engine of a Beetle is notoriously in the trunk/boot. That kind of glaring error is very distracting in my opinion.
Overall, the book was okay, but not "award winning" in my estimation.
There were a few things that rankled with me: I found the sex scene unnecessary and borderline inappropriate. Also, there's a moment in the book where the mechanic takes a look at the engine of Bordelli's VW Beetle by opening the hood/bonnet, when the engine of a Beetle is notoriously in the trunk/boot. That kind of glaring error is very distracting in my opinion.
Overall, the book was okay, but not "award winning" in my estimation.