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A review by tasmanian_bibliophile
The Namesake by Conor Fitzgerald
3.0
‘Remember, though, this is a story that will not end well.’
American-born Commissario Alec Blume has lived in Italy since his teens. This gives him an unusual view of the country: an insider’s awareness of Italy’s social and cultural intricacies combined with an outsider’s appreciation of the country’s beauty.
The novel opens with the apparent kidnapping of a teenage girl. Shortly afterwards, a man is found dead outside the court buildings in Piazza Clodio. The man, an insurance agent, had the misfortune of having the same name as a magistrate who is investigating a high-ranking member of the Calabrian mafia, the ‘Ndrangheta.
Blume sees an opportunity to force Agazio Curmaci, the ‘Ndrangheta’s second in charge, to return to Italy from Germany. To do this, he needs to join forces with an undercover agent who may have another agenda.
Part thriller, part police procedural, the story unfolds over a week. There’s a significant amount of detail about the ‘Ndrangheta which is interesting if you are interested in the cultural, political and social factors that have led to its rise. Sometimes the detail is peripheral to the story, but I found it interesting.
This is the third novel to feature Commissario Alec Blume, but the first I’ve read. I’m hoping to add the first two to my reading list.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
American-born Commissario Alec Blume has lived in Italy since his teens. This gives him an unusual view of the country: an insider’s awareness of Italy’s social and cultural intricacies combined with an outsider’s appreciation of the country’s beauty.
The novel opens with the apparent kidnapping of a teenage girl. Shortly afterwards, a man is found dead outside the court buildings in Piazza Clodio. The man, an insurance agent, had the misfortune of having the same name as a magistrate who is investigating a high-ranking member of the Calabrian mafia, the ‘Ndrangheta.
Blume sees an opportunity to force Agazio Curmaci, the ‘Ndrangheta’s second in charge, to return to Italy from Germany. To do this, he needs to join forces with an undercover agent who may have another agenda.
Part thriller, part police procedural, the story unfolds over a week. There’s a significant amount of detail about the ‘Ndrangheta which is interesting if you are interested in the cultural, political and social factors that have led to its rise. Sometimes the detail is peripheral to the story, but I found it interesting.
This is the third novel to feature Commissario Alec Blume, but the first I’ve read. I’m hoping to add the first two to my reading list.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith