Monday, February 15, 2016

The Bastards of Pizzofalcone

A new series of hardboiled crime fiction set in contemporary Naples by the author of the internationally bestselling Commissario Ricciardi series. 
They've made a fresh start at the Pizzofalcone precinct of Naples. They fired every member of the investigative branch after they were found guilty of corruption. Now, there's a group of detectives, a new commissario, and a new superintendent. The new cops immediately find themselves investigating a high-profile murder that has the whole town on edge.
Heading the investigation is Inspector Lojacono, known as "the Chinaman," a cop with a checkered past who is currently riding a reputation as a crack investigator after having captured a serial killer known as "The Crocodile." Lojacono's partner is Aragona, who wants to be known as "Serpico," but the name doesn't stick. Luigi Palma, a.k.a. "Gigi," is the Commissario, Francesco Romano, known as "Hulk," is the slightly self-deluded lieutenant. Lojacono, Aragona, Palma, and Romano are joined by a cast of cops portrayed by bestselling author Maurizio de Giovanni with depth and intimate knowledge of the close-knit world of police investigators. 

The Bastards of Pizzofalcone (Police Procedural)
By Maurizio De Giovanni
Europa Editions www.europaeditions.com
ISBN # 978-1609453145
Price $18.00
323 Pages (Uncorrected Proof)
Rating 5-Stars

“The Author Is In A Class of His Own.”

Set in contemporary Naples, the Pizzofalcone precinct is about to be shut down; the previous detectives had intercepted a drug deal, but only reported a portion of the merchandise, keeping the rest to sell on the streets. Caught, the precinct was now called the Bastards because of the bad cops. It’s decided to give them another chance by bringing in Commissario Luigi “Gigi” Palma, who originally appeared in THE CROCODILE, and four detectives: Inspector Giuseppe “The Chinaman” Lojacono, who also appeared in THE CROCODILE; Corporal Aragona Marco; Warrant Officer Francisco “Hulk” Romano; and Officer 1st Class Alessandra Di Nardo. All are considered rejects from their old units, and by reassigning them to Pizzofalcone, they are out of everyone’s hair. Working with them are Deputy Captain Giorgio Pisanelli and Deputy Sergeant Ottavia Calibreose from the original squad, whom were proven innocent of the drug deal. The Magistrate, Dottoressa Piras, introduced in THE CROCODILE, is also a regular cast.

Their first case is the murder of the wife of an important family. Everything points to the husband as her killer, but the detectives must find evidence that will stand up in court. Lojacono and Marco are assigned the murder, while Di Nardo and Romano are sent to investigate the report of a girl held prisoner in an apartment. Meanwhile, Calibreose uses her electronics skills to follow the computer trail the investigators need on suspects. Pisanelli uses his knowledge of the area, and people, to assist in the investigation while also searching for a killer he suspects in a series of suicides.

Maurizio De Giovanni is one of the top mystery writers in the field today. He is in a class of his own. He is certainly the best writer coming out of Europe that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Although the plot and mystery are topnotch, it is the characters that drive the story. These are characters you want to know, they are your friends, and you feel their emotions. They keep you turning the pages, and you never want them to leave you. Highly recommended to mystery readers, and anyone who loves well-written stories with characters that come alive.

Tom Johnson
Author of CARNIVAL OF DEATH

  


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