One cannot be wrong by setting a crime and detective novel in the sunny Italy. Only the mention of it, at least for me, makes me dream more than necessary, instead of focusing on the story itself. Even in my least favorite places - Venice, this is about you - a crime novel like the ones imagined by Donna Leon may sound attractive.
Italian Rules by Tom Benjamin follows the series focused on the English detective living in Bologna Daniel Leicester. He married into an upper class family and may be already a local after decades of living there, however his country of birth still precedes him. I haven´t read anything from the series before, but there are enough details shared to make the reading unproblematic.
While trying to solve a crime, he is requested to figure out a relatively unheard of type of crime. A famous Hollywood film director that wanted to do a remake of a cult film, intuitively called Love on a Razorblade. But when the local film archive wants to screen it in his honor, they discover that the negative disappeared without a trace from the archive. Leicester´s search for the relatively innocent search for a movie may lead him to a couple suicide and year-long unresolved crimes.
I´ve find this book fascinating, in its choice of the topic. It shows that a creative writing mind can built up a great story in the most unexpected ways. The cultural part of the story, as in general the rest of it, is well researches and details are shaping a story where action is adorned with culturated details.
Italian Rules surprised the reader in a very good way, both in terms of writing and plot. A great way to spend a reading weekend while thinking about your next summer holiday destination.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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