Years ago, Vinnie Sannino left
Naples on a ship bound for America, where he found fame and wealth as a boxer.
But his gilded life in the new world came to an abrupt end when, during a
fight, with a heavy punch to the head of his opponent, Vinnie killed a man in
the ring.
Now, Vinnie's back in Italy,
pining for the woman he left behind. Cettina, however, is now a married woman.
She was, at least, until recently when her husband was found dead, killed by a
single blow to the head. For Commissario Ricciardi, one of the most faceted cops
in fiction, and his partner Maione, it is a going to be a long, rainy, week in
Naples.
Nameless Serenade (World Noir)
By Maurizio De Giovanni
Europa Editions
ISBN #978-1609454609
Price
$18.00 (Paperback)
Price
$9.99 (Kindle)
399
Pages
Rating
5-Stars
The publisher sent me a copy
for an honest review. It’s autumn in Naples, and raining. 16 years previous a
young boy and girl declared their love for each other, but the boy, Vinnie
stows away on a ship to America to make money and promises his sweetheart, Cettina
he would return for her when he had enough money. He becomes a boxer, known as
the Italian Snake, and obtains the light heavyweight championship. After
accidentally killing a man in the ring he decides to return to Naples and his
sweetheart. But things have changed. Cettina has married, not waiting on him
any longer. In a drunken rage Vinnie threatens to kill her husband and the next
morning her husband’s body is found. He has been beaten to death. Pressure is
put on Commissario Ricciardi to arrest the boxer, but the detective
doesn’t believe the case is closed and continues the investigation.
What a
wonderful story. The author’s writing and story-telling ability keeps you
turning the pages, and the mystery is never what it seems. This is the best
mystery series coming out of Italy, and Maurizio De Giovanni is my favorite
author in the genre. My one complaint, Commissario Ricciardi and Enrica Colombo
should finally get together, and the sooner the better. Highly recommended.
Tom Johnson
Author of THE
MAN IN THE BLACK FEDORA
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