A Weekend Update and My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre

Well we've got a sunny weekend ahead of us. It's almost time for the Blue Jays second home game of the new season. They lost yesterday but there were some positives. They need to get some hits and runs if they want to win some games. Stating the obvious? Probably.

A new book arrived today from The Book Depository UK. I also finished a book yesterday. I hope to finish one more at least before the end of the month, maybe, just maybe two, but I'm not holding my breath on that.

I'll update the new book and the book I just finished and then I'll continue with my ongoing look at the Mystery genre with Part 10 of the American PI sub-genre.

New Book

1. Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny (SciFi / Fantasy). I have enjoyed other books by Zelazny; his Amber series and others.











"In a world half of light, half of darkness, where science and magic strive for dominance, there dwells a magical being who is friendly with neither side. Jack, of the realm of shadows, is a thief who is unjustly punished. So he embarks on a vendetta. He wanders through strange realms, encountering witches, vampires, and, finally, his worst enemy: the Lord of Bats. He consults his friend Morningstar, a great dark angel. He is pursued by a monstrous creature called the Borshin. But to reveal any more would be to spoil some of the mind-boggling surprises Jack of Shadows has in store. First published in 1971 and long out-of-print, Jack of Shadows is one of fantasy master Roger Zelazny's most profound and mysterious books."

Just Finished

1. The Death of Grass by John Christopher (SciFi / Dystopia).









"The Death Of Grass by John Christopher was written in 1956 and in some ways reminds me of John Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

It's a grim, tense dystopic story. A virus, the Chung Li virus, has affected the grasses (read rice, grass, etc) of China and other Asian countries. The story is told from Britain, where the main group that we will follow, track the disaster that is occurring from the comfort of their lives. 100's of millions are dying in China, there are riots, panic. John and David Custance and John's friend Roger Buckley follow the news and try to prepare for the future. Roger is a government spin doctor so has inside information and tries to guide John. David lives in a valley in northern England and wonders what to do with his grain crops.

Of course, efforts to contain the virus fail and threaten the whole world. This begins a journey by John and Roger and their families to get to David's sanctuary. For the shortness of the story, there is a lot of impact and Christopher packs a lot of punch into the story. The characters are transformed by the events and once again Christopher tries, and I think successfully, to show their attitudes and how they are forced to change them to the new situation.

Everything happens in a very short time frame once the disaster strikes but don't let that fool you. The story is tense, at times scary and will leave you somewhat uncomfortable. Very powerful and worth reading. (4.5 stars)"

My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American PI's Part 10
In my last entry I looked at Jane Haddam's Gregor Demarkian mystery series. In this entry I'll look at a new author and one of the classics of the noir genre.

Steve Hamilton

1. Steve Hamilton - Alex McKnight. American crime writer Hamilton was born in Michigan and is known for his Alex McKnight, an ex-cop who lives in northern Michigan, renting out cabins and is forced at times to act as a PI. I've not ready books in this 12 book series but I do have 3 on my bookshelves.

a. A Cold Day in Paradise (#1 / 1998).









"Other than the bullet lodged near his heart, former Detroit cop Alex McKnight thought he had put the nightmare of his partner’s death and his own near-fatal injury behind him. After all, the man convicted of the crimes has been locked away for years. But in the small town of Paradise, Michigan, where McKnight has traded his badge for a cabin in the woods, a murderer with the same unmistakable trademarks appears to be back. McKnight can’t understand who else would know the intimate details of the old murders. And it seems like it’ll be a frozen day in Hell before McKnight can unravel truth from deception in a town that’s anything but Paradise."

b. Winter of the Wolf Moon (#2 / 2000)












"Ex-cop and sometime-P.I. Alex McKnight endures the bitter winter of Michigan's Upper Peninsula in his log cabin with warm fires and cold Molsons. When Dorothy Parrish, a young Ojibwa woman asks him for shelter from her violent boyfriend, McKnight agrees. But after secreting her in one of his cabins, he finds her gone the next morning. McKnight suspects vicious, hockey-playing Lonnie Bruckman of abducting the woman, but his search for her brings on more suspects, bruising encounters, and a thickening web of crime, all obscured by the relentless whiplash of brutal snowstorms. From the secret world of the Ojibwa reservation to the Canadian border and deep into the silent woods, someone is out to kill--and McKnight is driving right into the line of fire..."

c. Blood is the Sky (#5 / 2004).












"Alex McKnight isn't a man with many friends, but the few he has know they're never alone in a fix. So when Vinnie LeBlanc asks for his help in taking a trip deep into Canada in search of his missing brother, he knows he can count on Alex. His brother had taken a job as a hunting guide for a rough crew of Detroit "businessmen." The group was due back days ago, yet there's been no sign of them, and there's mounting evidence of something odd about their disappearing act. The trackless forests of northern Ontario keep many secrets, but none more shocking than the one that Alex is about to uncover. And the more closely Alex looks for answers, the more questions there become."

The remaining books in this series are -
- The Hunting Wind (2002)
- North of Nowhere (2003)
- Blood is the Sky (2004)
- Ice Run (2005)
- A Stolen Season (2006)
- Beneath the Book Tower (2011)
- Misery Bay (2011)
- Die a Stranger (2012)
- Let it Burn (2013)
- Dead Man Running (2018)

Dashiell Hammett

2. Dashiell Hammett - Sam Spade. Dashiell Hammett was an American author of novels and short stories. He also was a screenwriter and political activist. Over the course of his life (1894 - 1961), he wrote 30 novels in the Continental Op series, 5 in the Nick and Nora Charles Thin Man series and, of that on which I am focusing, 5 novels in the Sam Spade detective series. I have read one book in this series.

a. The Maltese Falcon (1930). 












"I've read before and was very happy to enjoy as much again this time. Dashiell Hammett has produced an excellent example of a hard-boiled mystery and Sam Spade is the penultimate gumshoe, staying one step ahead of trouble and playing off the baddies against each other. It's a classic mystery, turned into an excellent movie by John Huston, one of Humphrey Bogart's best movies. A great cast of characters, from Brigid O'Shaugnessy to Joel Cairo and Kasper Gutman, through his faithful, lovely secretary, Effie Perine. A story that everyone should read and marvel about. (5 stars)

The remaining Sam Spade books are -
- A Man Called Spade (1932)
- Too Many Have Lived (1932)
- They Only Hang you Once (1932)
- A Knife Will Cut for Anybody (published posthumously 2013)

Well there you go, some possible reading material to start your weekend. Enjoy! 
 

The Weekend is Here! A Weekend Reading Update and My Look at the Mystery Genre

It's been a lovely week, temperatures in the mid-teens (Celsius, that is). I've even done a small bit of yard work. More nice weather in the forecast. No complaints here.

I finished one book this week and have, thence, started one more. I'll update that and also continue with my 8th entry in my look at the American PI sub-genre of the Mystery genre.

Just Finished

1. Shadow Woman by Thomas Perry (Jayne Whitfield #3).

"I've previously read The Butcher Boy by author Thomas Perry. This is from a series about a Las Vegas hitman and it was quite good. Shadow Woman is the third book in his series featuring Jayne Whitefield, a shadow woman who helps people escape from life-threatening predicaments.

In this story, Jayne is in Los Vegas helping Pete Hatcher escape from a group of men who own a Las Vegas casino. This is to be Jayne's last case as she is marrying a doctor in her home town near Buffalo NY and has promised to give up this business when she marries.

Life isn't as simple as that for Jayne as the 3 men want their Security chief, Seaver, to find and get rid of Hatcher as they feel he is a threat to their crooked business dealings. Seaver hires Earl and Linda, detectives and also professional destroyers. Once assigned they don't stop until the job is done. An unsuccessful attempt brings Jayne back into the case and she must once again try to save Hatcher's life.

It's a tense, action-filled story that wanders from Las Vegas to Buffalo to Montana. Earl and Linda are deadly and somewhat psychotic. Jayne must use all of her skills to save Hatcher and also to keep her new husband alive. Interesting, well-paced story with an excellent, strong woman lead. Most enjoyable. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Behold, Here's Poison by Georgette Heyer (Inspector Hannasyde #2).

"When Gregory Matthews, patriarch of the Poplars is found dead one morning, imperious Aunt Harriet blames it on the roast duck he ate for supper. After all, she had warned him about his blood pressure. But a post-mortem determines the cause of death as murder by poison. Suspicion falls immediately amongst his bitter, quarrelsome family. Each has a motive; each, opportunity.

It falls to the quietly resourceful Inspector Hannasyde to sift through all the secrets and lies and discover just who killed Gregory Matthews. He faces the deadliest test of his career when members of the wealthy Matthews clan begin to die, one by one. With motives everywhere, it is no easy case for the inspector to solve in time to spare the next victim. Meet the Matthews -- while they last... Gregory, Harriet, Gertrude, Zoe, Guy, Stella and Randall."

My Ongoing Look at the Mystery Genre - American PI's Part 8
In my last entry, I looked at Loren D. Estleman / Pete Macklin and Janet Evanovich / Stephanie Plum. Moving on to the 'G' authors next. (I don't have any 'F' authors in this category on my bookshelves.

Meg Gardiner

1. Meg Gardiner - Evan Delaney. Born in Oklahoma in 1957, Meg Gardiner is author of a variety of thriller series, featuring protagonists such as Evan Delaney, Jo Beckett and her new Unsub series. In this entry, I'll focus on Evan Delaney, which consists of 5 novels. I've read the first so far and have 3 others on my bookshelf.

a. China Lake (#1 / 2002).












"China Lake by Meg Gardiner, the first book in the Evan Delaney series was definitely a thriller. Right from the get-go, the action started and it didn't let up until a fiery, explosive ending. Evan Delaney is a lawyer in Santa Barbara, California. At a funeral for the mother of a dear friend, the funeral party is heckled by a group of protestors from the Church of the Remnant. A confrontation ensues and actions continue from then on. 

One of the members of the church is the ex-wife of Evan's brother, Brian, who is a Navy fighter pilot. Evan has been taking care of their six-year old son, Luke, since Tabitha abandoned him and while Brian was at sea. Another confrontation, at the Church of the Remnant leaves a man dead, who it turns out has rabies. 

Tabitha wants to get her son back, Evan goes to the Navy air base at China Lake to get Brian's help. There is more violence and death and it turns out that the Remnant has a plan to bring about an Apocalypse. Does it sound confusing? Well, yes it is, and somewhat far-fetched, but the tension and action are ratcheted tight and you find yourself reading and reading to see how Evan and her brother, oh, and also Evan's boyfriend, Jesse, will solve it and save each other and Tabitha and Luke... Whew!!! Confusing at times and convoluted, but an entertaining, scary, exciting read.... (3 stars)"

b. Mission Canyon (#2 / 2003).












"Evan Delaney has come to terms with the hit-and-run crash that left her boyfriend, Jesse Blackburn, in a wheelchair and killed his best friend. But when she hears that the driver, Franklin Brand, is back in Santa Barbara, she is determined to help Jesse bring him to book for his crime.

Brand was a golden boy at Mako Technologies, a heavyweight cyber-security firm. That's where Evan starts looking, and as she digs deeper, she finds evidence of theft and extortion. Then witnesses to the hit-and-run start dying. It seems that powerful interests are determined to stop Jesse and Evan - once and for all."

c. Jericho Point (#3 / 2004). 

"When a woman’s body washes up on the shore of California’s Jericho Point, she’s identified as Evan Delaney. Except that Evan is very much alive—apparently the victim of an identity thief who’d been scamming Hollywood elite. The thief may be dead, but the crimes she was murdered for—committed in Evan’s name—are turning Evan’s life into a nightmare. Now it’s all Evan can do to survive in the shadow of a dead woman’s lies."

d. Crosscut (#4 / 2005).

e. Kill Chain (#5 / 2006).

"When Evan Delaney's father disappears, the cops think he's fled the country to avoid prosecution. But Evan is sure he's been abducted or killed for reasons associated with his work for Naval Intelligence. As Evan hunts for clues, she's attacked by an armed man. The attacker ends up dead—and turns out to be a federal agent. Now Evan is on the run, implicated in his murder. And then she's contacted by a sinister duo—a madam and gigolo mother-and-son team who claim her father was mixed up in their very dirty business. Can Evan save her father's reputation—and his life?" 

Sue Grafton

2. Sue Grafton - Kinsey Milhone. Sue Grafton (1940 - 2017) is known for her excellent alphabet mystery series featuring California PI, Kinsey Milhone. She died without finishing Z, but there is an excellent series still to enjoy. Since I started the series in early 2000's, I've managed to read up to "S". While I'm looking forward to completing the series, it's with a certain sadness as it's been a comforting, enjoyable series. I'll cover the last one that I finished and take a look at the next couple.

a. S is for Silence (2005).












"I think S is for Silence by Sue Grafton was a bit of a return to form for Grafton. While I enjoyed the previous three books; P, Q and R, I just thought they were ok. S was so much better.

The story is a cold case. Kinsey is hired by Daisy Sullivan to find her mother, Violet, who disappeared when Daisy was a child, 35 years previously. Kinsey doesn't want to take the case as she feels it's a waste of her time and Daisy's money. But Daisy is persuasive and gets Kinsey to accept the job for 5 days. Thus begins her investigation into Violet's life and the possible reasons she disappeared, or was she murdered? The story is presented in an interesting style; alternating between present day, where Kinsey interviews people who still live in the area and who knew Violet, and then presenting the final days of Violet's life in Serena Station.

There was so much to enjoy about this latest Kinsey case. It builds nicely, the plot is interesting, the characters are interesting and there is a tension that slowly develops as Kinsey seems to be getting close to a solution. I enjoyed S very much and hope the next, T is for Trespass is as good. (4 stars)" 

b. T is for Trespass (2007).


"Before letting someone into your house and granting access to the intimate details of your life, it's a good idea to run a background check. But as Kinsey Millhone is about to discover, a clean record means nothing if it belongs to a stolen identity. And the consequences can be deadly..." 

c. U is for Undertow (2009).











"In 1960s Santa Teresa, California, a child is kidnapped and never returned...When the case is reopened after twenty years, a man - Michael Sutton - contacts private detective Kinsey Millhone for help. He claims to have recalled a strange and disturbing memory which just might provide the key to the mystery. He may have stumbled across the kidnappers burying Mary Claire Fitzhugh's body...But Michael's account is indistinct - he was only six years old at the time of the kidnapping; and even members of his family try to discredit his evidence. But Kinsey is certain there is something vital within Michael's recollections. And even when what is eventually unearthed isn't what anyone expected, she can't quite let go of the case. As Kinsey gradually brings to light the stories of the protagonists involved in the tragedy, from Country Club parents to their free-living, hippy children, the truth finally begins to emerge. And while stepping back into the past, Kinsey discovers more about her own history too..." 

The complete list of the series is available here.

Anna Katherine Green

3. Anna Katherine Green - Mr. Gryce. Green lived from 1846 - 1935 and was a writer of poetry and detective fiction. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction in the US. I've read one of her books so far and enjoyed very much. It turns out it is the first book in a series featuring Mr. Gryce and Amelia Butterworth.

a. The Leavenworth Case (1878).












"The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green was originally published in 1878 and was considered to be one of the first full length detective novels. I had first heard of it from a friend in one of my book groups and decided to try and find a copy. Luckily I was successful.

The story involves the murder of a rich New York merchant in his home. Suspects include two nieces who live with him; one, Mary Leavenworth, his heiress, the other Eleanore, who is due to inherit nothing. We do later discover that Horatio Leavenworth was changing his will due to differences of opinion with his favored niece.

The case is investigated by Everett Raymond, the family lawyer and also the narrator, police detective Mr. Gryce and his assistant, Q. In some ways, the story makes Gryce a sort of precursor to Nero Wolfe. Like Wolfe, Gryce spends most of the story confined to his quarters, while he uses Raymond and Q to investigate for him.

The story was very interesting, well written and a methodical investigation of the crime. Of suspects, there are a few, not only the two cousins, but Mary's fiancé and also Horatio Leavenworth's assistant. Each investigator has their own favored suspect and this does at times influence their investigations. Clues begin to pop up and lead them in new directions.

All in all I found the story, for the time frame in which it was written, an engaging, interesting mystery. It was sometimes a bit overwrought emotionally but it never really took away from the story. I'm glad I read it; it reminded me of other favorite detective stories; Sherlock Holmes for example and others. Well worth finding and trying. (3.5 stars)"

These are the remaining books in the series. I hope I can find them
- A Strange Disappearance (1880)
- The Sword of Damocles (1881)
- Hand and Ring (1883)
- Behind Close Doors (1888)
- A Matter of Millions (1891)
- The Doctor, His Wife and the Clock (1895)
- That Affair Next Door (1897)
- Lost Man's Lane (1898)
- The Circular Study (1900)
- One of My Sons (1901)
- Initials Only (1911)
- The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow (1917)

So there you go, a few books for you to check out. Enjoy your weekend!  

A Bottle of Chianti, a Bowl of Spaghetti Bolognese, a Glass of Grappa - Mystery Italian Style

RIP Senator John McCain

I'll continue my Mystery genre topic but, firstly I wanted to offer my condolences to the McCain family on the death of Senator John McCain. While I might not agree with all of his political beliefs, Senator McCain was a true hero to the United States and served his country, both in the military and in politics, with honor and distinction. I hope other politicians, of both parties, will take up his mantle and continue to challenge those who serve only to divide our neighbour to the South. RIP Senator McCain!

So, let's move on to my discussion of books. I've finished one book since my last entry and, of course, have started one new one. I'm also going to continue with my look at the mystery genre, this time those set in Italy. I'll highlight 4 authors, one who is actually Italian. One of those listed is one of my favorite authors of mysteries. I've tried one other, due to a TV series both Jo and I enjoyed. The other two are new authors for me.

OK, let's go!

Just Finished

1. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow (Kate Shugak #1). This will be a Group Read Discussion in September and since I nominated it, I'll be moderating the discussion. I guess it's appropriate that I read it, eh?










"A Cold Day for Murder is the first Kate Shugak mystery by Dana Stabenow. Kate was the lead investigator for the Anchorage ADA, Jack Morgan. Something happened on one of her cases which lead her to quit and move back nearer home in The Park. She lives alone with her dog (wolf) Mutt. Kate is an Aleut.

Jack and an FBI agent show up to ask her help in finding a missing Ranger and the current ADA investigator. The Ranger disappeared 6 weeks ago and his father is a US Senator who has pressured the FBI to become involved. Morgan had sent Ken Dahl to search for the young man and he also had disappeared two weeks ago. Morgan wants Kate to take up the search. (Morgan and Kate had previously had a relationship, it seems)

Taking on the assignment means Kate returns to her home town, Niniltna to find their trail. This means making contact with her grandmother Ekaterina (Emaa), who rules the roost and is a leading member of the Aleut community in Alaska. There is considerable friction between the two.
The story is a quick read, with action right from the get-go. We meet a great many interesting people, from her Uncle Abel, Bennie owner of the Road House and Bobby, the legless Vietnam Vet who provides weather reports and short wave radio communications for the community to the world at large.

There are many suspect, including family members of Kate and the story moves along nicely. We get an excellent feel for The Park and being winter, you can almost feel the cold. It's very much a Wild West (or maybe North is more appropriate) and a fascinating place. For a first story, it's an excellent intro to Kate. I hope we find out more about her past in future stories. (4 stars)"

Currently Reading
I'm hoping to finish at least one more book this month, maybe two. It's been a satisfying month so far.

1. Looking Good Dead by Peter James (Roy Grace #2). I read the first book in this series a few years back and I'm looking forward to getting back into the series. I'm enjoying the first few chapters so far. It's nice that the series is set in Brighton. That means I can ask Jo about locations, etc. as she lived just down the road.







"Tom Bryce picks up a CD which has been left behind on a train seat, but when he attempts to track down the owner, he finds himself the only witness to a savage killing. Reporting the crime to the police has disastrous consequences for Bryce, and the lives of both he and his wife are threatened--by a notification on the Internet, no less. When DS Roy Grace becomes involved, he finds himself up against a malign group of very well organized criminals."

Murder Italian Style

Donna Leon

1. Donna Leon (Commissario Brunetti). Donna Leon was born in New Jersey but has set her Commissario Brunetti series in Venice, Italy. She has written 27 books in the series since 1992 and has one listed for 2019. This is by far one of my favorite all-time mystery series. Since I came to the Comox Valley in 2001, I've read 10 books in the series.

What I like most about the series is the richness of the stories. It's more than just a mystery. You get a feel for Venice (or wherever in Italy Brunetti might find himself) and its people. You get to enjoy the people who work with Brunetti, the food that he and his wonderful family eat. I like an excellent thriller or psychological mystery but the series that rank up at the top are those like Leon's series. I include Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police, Jane Haddam's Gregor Demarkian books and Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series. I haven't read the Leon books in order and, while that might be the best way to start, it hasn't affected my enjoyment at all. I'll highlight the first 5 books, whether I've read them or not.

a. Death at La Fenice (#1). I read this in 2010 and rated it 4 stars.












"There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice.
But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape--a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one. . . ."

b. Death in a Strange Country (#2). I read this in 2007 and rated it 4 stars (probably a common theme.. lol)










"Early one morning Guido Brunetti, Commissario of the Venice Police, confronts a grisly sight when the body of a young man is fished out of a fetid Venetian canal. All the clues point to a violent mugging, but for Brunetti, robbery seems altogether too convenient a motive. Then something very incriminating is discovered in the dead man's flat - something which points to the existence of a high-level cabal - and Brunetti becomes convinced that somebody, somewhere, is taking great pains to provide a ready-made solution to the crime ..."

c. Dressed for Death (#3). I read this in 2011 and yes, a 4 star rating.












"Commissario Guido Brunetti's hopes for a refreshing family holiday in the mountains are once again dashed when a gruesome discovery is made in Marghera - a body so badly beaten the face is completely unrecognizable. Brunetti searches Venice for someone who can identify the corpse but is met with a wall of silence. He then receives a telephone call from a contact who promises some tantalizing information. And before night is out, Brunetti is confronting yet another appalling, and apparently senseless, death."

d. Death and Judgment (#4). I read this one in 2006. Yup, 4 stars.











"Someone is killing Italy's prominent businessmen, and, at first glance, the murders appear unrelated. However, Venice's most charming and tenacious detective, Vice-Commissario Guido Brunetti, suspects a fatal link. After mounting an unorthodox investigation, Brunetti uncovers a disturbing international web of exploitation run by Venice's most influential citizens."

e. Acqua Alta (#5). I read this one in 2006. Guess what rating I gave it?












"Donna Leon's growing American fan base is hungry for more of the books from her internationally bestselling series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti. Now in what many consider one of the finest in the series, Venice braces for the onslaught of "acqua alta"-the rising waters from torrential rain. But Brunetti has his own problems, beginning with the savage beating of an old friend. When a man's body is discovered, Brunetti must wade through the chaos to solve one of his deadliest cases. Full of marvelous plot twists, "Acqua Alta" is a chilling addition to Donna Leon's addictive series."

I won't list all of the other books. Next in line for me to read is #9 Friends in High Places. It's always a pleasure to visit Brunetti's world. There is another of Leon's books that has interested me. It's called A Taste of Venice: At Table with Brunetti (of Brunetti's Cookbook). Yes, it's a cookbook, based on food enjoyed in the Brunetti stories.

Michael Didbin

2. Michael Dibdin (Aurelio Zen). Dibdin was an English crime writer who lived from 1947 - 2007. He is known for his 11 book series featuring Aurelio Zen. The last book in the series was published posthumously in 2007. I was introduced to the series by a BBC TV series featuring Rufus Sewell as Zen. Jo and I enjoyed it very much. Unfortunately it was only for one season. I've read the first book and didn't quite enjoy as much as the Brunetti series. I will continue it however and see how the series develops.

a. Ratking (#1 / 1989).









"Ratking is the first book in the Aurelio Zen mystery series by Michael Dibdin. I first became aware of the series when it was turned into a British TV series starring Rufus Sewell as Inspector Zen. When I discovered it was based on a book series, I had to try and find a copy.

Zen is a disgraced Italian Criminal Investigator who has been placed into an administrative position due to events that resulted in the kidnapping of former Italian PM Aldo Moro. As a result of a series of phone calls he is placed back into the investigation service to help solve a kidnapping of a wealthy industrialist in the North of Italy, in Perugia.

He basically finds himself in a no-win situation. The local police resent him being there and the family of the kidnappee are suspected of involvement. It's a meandering sort of case as Zen works to find the kidnappee and also the kidnappers. Events take a bad turn when a body is found and Zen finds himself being used as a scapegoat for the lack of success. With nothing to lose, he works against the system and time to solve the kidnapping and murder(s).

I enjoyed the story although I do think I preferred the TV series. However, it was interesting to see the Italian political system at work and to get to know Zen. It was also interesting trying to compare Zen to one of my favourite Italian police inspectors, Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti. I'll have to keep reading to see if Zen can live up to Brunetti.  (3.5 stars)" 

b. Vendetta (#2 / 1991). 

"In Italian police inspector Aurelio Zen, Michael Dibdin has given the mystery one of its most complex and compelling protagonists: a man wearily trying to enforce the law in a society where the law is constantly being bent. In this, the first novel he appears in, Zen himself has been assigned to do some law bending. Officials in a high government ministry want him to finger someone--anyone--for the murder of an eccentric billionaire, whose corrupt dealings enriched some of the most exalted figures in Italian politics.


But Oscar Burolo's murder would seem to be not just unsolvable but impossible. The magnate was killed on a heavily fortified Sardinian estate, where every room was monitored by video cameras. Those cameras captured Burolo's grisly death, but not the face of his killer. And that same killer, elusive, implacable, and deranged, may now be stalking Zen. Inexorable in its suspense, superbly atmospheric, Vendetta is further proof of Dibdin's mastery of the crime novel."

3. Cabal (#3 / 1992).

"An apparent suicide in the Vatican may in fact have been a murder conducted by a centuries-old cabal within The Knights of Columbus. A discovery among the medieval manuscripts of the Vatican Library leads to a second death, Zen travels to Milan, where he faces a final, dramatic showdown. Meanwhile, Zen's lover, the tantalizing Tania, is conducting her own covert operations—which could well jeopardize everything Zen has worked for. Richly textured, wickedly entertaining, Cabal taps the mysterious beauty of Italy in a thriller that challenges our beliefs about love, allegiance, history, and power—and the lengths to which we will go to protect them against the truth."

Andrea Camilleri

3. Andrea Camilleri. Born in 1925, Camilleri is a prolific Italian writer of both standalone and series mysteries. In 1994 he began his Inspector Salvo Montalbano mystery series. The first 22 books have been translated into English. I did highlight Camilleri in a previous entry from my Author's A - Z series. If you click on the link below, just scroll down to that entry. I haven't enjoyed any of his books yet but I do have #1 and others on my book shelf. I'll highlight #1 and a standalone mystery I also have.

a. The Shape of Water (#1 / 1994, translation 2002).













"The goats of Vigàta once grazed on the trash-strewn site still known as the Pasture. Now local enterprise of a different sort flourishes: drug dealers and prostitutes of every flavor. But their discreet trade is upset when two employees of the Splendour Refuse Collection Company discover the body of engineer Silvio Luparello, one of the local movers and shakers, apparently deceased in flagrante at the Pasture. The coroner's verdict is death from natural causes - refreshingly unusual for Sicily.

But Inspector Salvo Montalbano, as honest as he is streetwise and as scathing to fools and villains as he is compassionate to their victims, is not ready to close the case - even though he's being pressured by Vigàta's police chief, judge, and bishop.

Picking his way through a labyrinth of high-comedy corruption, delicious meals, vendetta firepower, and carefully planted false clues, Montalbano can be relied on, whatever the cost, to get to the heart of the matter."

b. Hunting Season (1992, translation 2014).








"In 1880s Vigàta, a stranger comes to town to open a pharmacy. Fofò turns out to be the son of a man legendary for having a magic garden stocked with plants, fruits, and vegetables that could cure any ailment—a man who was found murdered years ago. Fofò escaped, but now has reappeared looking to make his fortune and soon finds himself mixed up in the dealings of a philandering local marchese set on producing an heir."

4. Magdalen Nabb (Marshall Guarnaccia). English mystery writer Magdalen Nabb lived from 1947 - 2007). She was born in Blackburn and died in Florence. She is best known for her Marshall Guarnaccia mystery series. I discovered her recently, her books listed at the back of another series I'd begun. She wrote 14 books in the series from 1981 - 2008. I have the first book in the series and the 10th. I'm looking forward to trying it.

a. Death of an Englishman (#1 / 1981).

"Marshal Salvatore Guarnaccia of the Florentine Carabinieri wants to go south for Christmas to spend the holiday with his family in Sicily, but a retired Englishman living in Florence has been murdered. Who has shot Mr. Langley-Smythe in the back? The marshal must discover the identity of the criminal and the motive for the crime before he can take the train home for the holidays."

 b. The Monster of Florence (#10 / 1996).

"Marshal Guarnaccia's job with the Carabinieri usually involves restoring stolen handbags to grateful old ladies and lost cameras to bewildered tourists. So when he is assigned to work with the Florence police in trying to track down a vicious serial killer, he feels out of his league. The crimes he must try to understand are grotesque, the case materials harrowing.  To make matters worse, the Proc he must report to is Simonetti, the same man he knows drove an innocent man to suicide several years earlier in his blind quest for a conviction." 



So there you go, folks. Enjoy a murderously fun trip to Italy... Enjoy your last week of August.