“Blood Sisters” by Alessandro Perissinotto

When I reviewed David Hewson’s “The Fallen Angel” last month, a book set in its entirety in the ghettos of Rome, I hadn’t anticipated it would awaken a dormant passion for all things Italian. It has been a number of years since my last visit to Italy but reading Hewson’s book reignited my desire to read more Italian based novels when the opportunity presented itself.

You can therefore imagine just how excited I was to receive “Blood Sisters” by Alessandro Perissinotto, published by independent publishers Hersilia Press who concentrate on the very best of Italian crime fiction. Originally published in 2006 under the Italian title “Una piccola storia ignobile” Blood Sisters, the first title in a trilogy with psychologist Anna Pavesi, is translated by Howard Curtis.

“The countryside around Milan is wrapped in eerie darkness as psychologist Anna Pavesi digs in the icy soil, looking for… what? Just over a week earlier, Anna is approached by the well-heeled Benedetta Vitali with a request to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death in a road accident of her half-sister Patrizia and the subsequent disappearance of Patrizia’s body. Anna is not a detective, there has been a misunderstanding, but she is short of money and agrees to take on the assignment. It will lead her into a labyrinth of false clues and wilful deception in which nothing is as it seems. Was Patrizia’s death merely a commonplace hit-and-run incident on a country lane, or was there something more sinister behind it? As she digs deeper, Anna realises that even her own life may be in danger…”

A foreign piece of work is only as strong as its translation and Howard Curtis has done a wonderful job of translating Alessandro’s novel. The narrative is strong and flows well and is, at the same time, uncomplicated in its delivery. Measuring in at 253 pages Blood Sisters didn’t take long to read – partly due to size and partly due to an encouraging and enthusiastic plot.

“Blood Sisters” strength lays, for me at least, in the book’s main character – Anna Pavesi. She’s a curious character and one I wasn’t quite sure where the author was initially taking her. Anna is multi-faceted and multi-layered – naïve at times, cumbersome at others and for the most part quite an uncertain and insecure person. That said I did find her rather endearing – her fallibility and often wavering approach to her investigation made her incredibly life like and realistic.

I did feel at times she lacked confidence in her ability but her amateur investigation and “interrogation” of suspects was interesting to say the least! Anna herself explains at the very beginning she isn’t a detective but to be fair she does do her best and her efforts are rewarded with interesting results.

“Here I am, in the middle of the night, in the gloomy undergrowth of the South Milan Agricultural Park, and I’m scared. I’m digging with the little folding snow shovel Stefano gave me, which I’ve never before taken out of the car. I know that, soon, a hand will start to emerge from the ground, or maybe a foot, or a piece of material, and gradually, if I’m brave enough, I’ll unearth a dead body, or what’s left of it. It’s the price I have to pay to be sure it’s all true.”

Bergamo Funicular

Given the book is based in Italy it will come as no surprise that an Italian author would want to capture Italy’s evocative landscape and culture. Alessandro gives us a brief glimpse into Italy’s multi-racial society, her wonderful and varied cuisine, curious quirks and a variety of locations including Milan and Bergamo where the author introduces us to the funicular – I’d love to take that journey, it sounds idyllic.

Blood Sisters is a great story, well told and well translated. There are a few surprises along the way to keep you well and truly interested right up until the final scene. With strong characterisation and a flowing narrative Blood Sisters introduces readers in the UK to a new and talented author in Alessandro  Perissinotto.

Published by Hersilia Press “Blood Sisters” is available from Amazon