Synopses & Reviews
An evocative, gripping work of detective ficiton, from a major European bestseller
It was a night that would be long remembered. The Florence police would come to call it a night of horror, the start of a new nightmare . . .
After enduring years at the mercy of an infamous serial killer, the people of Florence rejoice at news of his death—until a senator is found brutally murdered. To Chief Superintendent Michele Ferrara the case is very much alive. But, with a powerful adversary conspiring against him, he is trapped in a spiral of corruption and deadly speculation. As the truth comes to light, Ferrara is left standing face-to-face with something truly rotten at the heart of the city.
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"The writing is closer to the pared-down style of such Americans as Ed McBain than to that of Giuseppe di Lampedusa. . . . the plotting is full of quiet confidence. The air of authenticity . . . is persuasive throughout the novel." Independent
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"A tightly crafted novel, oozing Italian culture, it grabs the reader from the very beginning. . . . an excellent debut novel." Reviewing the Evidence
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"Fans of Donna Leon will especially love Guittari's style and sense of place—and may even find that Guittari is more attentive to Florentine scenery than Leon is to the Venetian landscape."—Booklist
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"A crime author with impeccable credentials: Giuttari is no less than the former head of the Florence police force, where he was on the case of the notorious serial killer The Monster of Florence. Who better to write about the dark undercurrents beneath the surface of the city?" —Booklist "“Giuttari offers extremely credible procedure, a hero who gets more fascinating with each book, and scenes of Florence that may even surpass Donna Leon’s of Venice.” —Booklist on The Black Rose of Florence
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"Giuttari, who once headed the Florence police force, smoothly ratchets up the suspense." —Publishers Weekly
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"absorbing" and "Giuttari does a good job of fostering an atmosphere of menace, with powerful dark forces operating behind the scenes." —Publishers Weekly
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"“Giuttari offers extremely credible procedure, a hero who gets more fascinating with each book, and scenes of Florence that may even surpass Donna Leon’s of Venice.” —Booklist
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"...a tremendously satisfying book, a travelogue and murder mystery rolled into one." –Suspense Magazine
Synopsis
Chief Superintendent Michele Ferrara knows that the beautiful surface of his adopted city, Florence, hides dark undercurrents. When called in to investigate a series of brutal and apparently random murders, his intuition is confirmed.
Distrusted by his superiors and pilloried by the media, Ferrara finds time running out as the questions pile up. Is there a connection between the murders and the threatening letters he has received? Are his old enemies, the Calabrian Mafia, involved? And what part is played by a beautiful young woman facing a heart-rending decision, a priest troubled by a secret from his past, and an American journalist fascinated by the darker side of life?
Ferrara confronts the murky underbelly of Florence in an investigation that will put not only his career but also his life on the line.
Originally published in Italy as Scarabeo.
Synopsis
A dramatic return to Florence for Chief Superintendent Michele Ferrara
A strikingly beautiful young woman is found dead in her Florence apartment. She lies on her bed, naked, a black rose between her legs. And the murders do not stop there: shortly afterwards, a woman is burned to death in a church, and a man is shot on the Ponte Vecchio. Chief Superindendent Michele Ferrara is all too familiar with the dark side of Florence. But he has never seen anything of this magnitude before—he is up against a mysterious, powerful enemy who would do anything to hide his identity, and manages to controls events at every turn. As more violent deaths occur, Ferrara has to face the most dangerous investigation in his entire career and must confront deadly secrets from his own past.
About the Author
Michele Giuttari is the former head of the Florence Police Force (1995-2003), where he was responsible for reopening the Monster of Florence case and jailing several key Mafia figures. He is now a special adviser to the interior minister in Rome, with a special remit to monitor Mafia activity.