Description
From Publishers Weekly Set in the charming village of Stresa on Italy's Lake Maggiore, Elkins's 11th mystery to feature Gideon Oliver (after 2000's Edgar-winning Skeleton Dance) shows the forensic anthropologist in fine form. Oliver's half-Italian friend Phil Boyajian decides to combine a visit to relatives with a tour he's organizing, and invites Oliver and his wife to come along. As fate would have itx97and Elkins is so good at acknowledging mystery conventions, often tongue-in-cheekx97Phil's cousin, the bratty Achille de Grazia, has just been kidnapped. The local official, Colonnello Tullio Caravale, doesn't welcome Oliver's advice until an old set of bones turns up. Caravale, in a gently presented but highly amusing detail, admits that he once spent six hours classifying bones only to be told they were not human but rabbit. He's willing, therefore, to accept Oliver's expert help, and their evolving relationship is nicely evoked. The bones are identified as belonging to the kidnapped boy's grandfather, who was presumed dead in a sailing accident 10 years earlier. Clearly the two crimes are related, and the most likely suspects are the eccentric members of the de Grazia family, who live on a private island in a life of supreme physical ease but excruciating psychological discomfort. The distinct personalities of the de Grazias and other characters are sketched with great efficiency and precision. That alone would keep a reader's interest, but the forensic facts Elkins chooses to include and the brisk pace of the plot make for a total success. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From School Library Journal Adult/High School–When their friend Phil Ungarettis asks Gideon and Julie Oliver to help him run a guided tour in Italy, they are happy to oblige. The scenario changes, though, when Gideon's skills as a forensic pathologist are needed to solve a murder already 10 years old that involves a powerful and socially prominent family, the de Grazias. Phil happens to be both kin and a part of the inner circle, and this connection pulls him and the Olivers deeper into the mystery. As more clues become apparent, the murder proves to be tied to the kidnapping of the de Grazias' only son. Unwinding the clues becomes a responsibility that lands firmly in Gideon's skilled hands. Elkins spends the first part of the book laying the framework of family connections, describing the Italian background of the story, and setting the stage for the discovery of the murder. Once Gideon becomes a prime part of the investigating team, led by the scene-stealing carabinieri Colonel Caravale, the plot moves rapidly along, becoming more interesting and complex with every page. The author infuses the story with a sense of the beauty of Italy, its style of life, and the culture of the area. Weaving complications into the exotic setting, spicing it with details of forensic pathology, and adding memorable characters make for an enticing story. –Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Forensic pathologist Gideon Oliver and his wife, Julie, are in Italy with a friend, who is visiting his relatives, the wealthy de Grazias. The trip soon becomes a busman's holiday for Gideon when one of the de Grazia sons is kidnapped and the remains of a de Grazia family elder, who disappeared 10 years earlier, is found at a construction site. Enlisted by the Italian authorities to use skills as a pathologist to help with the investigation, Gideon soon finds himself in the middle of a long-simmering family feud awash in secrets and motives. Oliver and his opposite partner from the Italian police form a daunting team, despite their initial misgivings regarding the other's credentials. The Gideon Oliver series is noteworthy for its witty dialogue and clever plotting; Elkins delivers on both counts here. The real culprit is both surprising and obvious, the latter because Elkins gives us all we need to name the killer and enough misdirection to fool us. Top-shelf reading for those who like puzzles rather than gunplay. Wes Lukowsky Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Aaron Elkins is the author of the Edgar Award-winning Gideon Oliver mysteries Read more
Features & Highlights
- While enjoying their holiday on an idyllic Italian island, anthropologist Gideon Oliver and his wife find themselves caught up in a case of kidnapping and murder when the local padrone's only child, Achille, is abducted, bones are discovered, and Gideon becomes caught up in the investigation into the crimes. 25,000 first printing.
