Synopses & Reviews
A crane cable breaks while loading a ship in Naples, sending a container crashing to the ground and disgorging its grisly contents: the corpses of illegal workers destined for a discreet burial at sea as well as the remains of two Italian citizens from the witness protection program. Assigned to the case is Sabrina D'Avalos, a district attorney whose father--a prominent police officer known for his zealous pursuit of organized crime--was murdered by the mafia. Young and gifted, she is driven to see her father's killers broughtto justice.
As she investigates the case, D'Avalos uncovers an unusual link among the dead workers, the bodies of the civilians, and her father's death: the fashion industry. As she begins to tease out a connection between all these deaths and the Camorra-run "fauxture" business, she herself becomes a target of a mafia assassin.
In this psychologically taut thriller from Danish bestselling author Steffen Jacobsen, the young attorney finds that unless she is quick on her feet and utterly ruthless in her tactics, her hunt for the truth may just come at the ultimate price.
Review
"The creepiness of Savelli (very much like Keyser Söze from The Usual Suspects) and the fascinating look at fake designer merchandise keep the novel fresh."--Booklist
Review
"Exceptionally good . . . Sublime plotting, superb characterization, a nod to the sociopolitical climate and a real sense of location all knitted together in a truly gripping thriller."--Raven Crime Reads
Review
"an absorbing look at the murderous world of the Camorra, the Neapolitan crime family . . . Astute asides on the corrupt state of Italian law and order, as well as old-fashioned espionage methods and a dose of rough sex, add to this expertly choreographed thriller."--Publishers Weekly
Review
"This book's a winner on two counts - the feel of a Scandinavian noir with the enjoyment of a well-realised Italian background. The book was inspired by a real-life account of the Camorra, one of Italy's powerful secret societies. The action is constant, the sinister Camorra an ever-present adversary, and the ending satisfying."--Promoting Crime Fiction
About the Author
Steffen Jacobsen is an orthopedic surgeon and consultant. This is his third novel. He was inspired to write When The Dead Awaken by Roberto Saviano's non-fiction book, Gomorrah, about the Camorra and by his travels around Italy. He lives in Denmark.