Death in August by Marco Vichi

Florence, summer 1963. Inspector Bordelli is one of the few policemen left in the deserted city. He spends his days on routine work, and his nights tormented by the heat and mosquitoes.

Suddenly one night, a telephone call gives him a new sense of purpose: the suspected death of a wealthy Signora. Bordelli rushes to her hilltop villa, and picks the locks. The old woman is lying on her bed – apparently killed by an asthma attack, though her medicine has been left untouched.

With the help of his young protégé, the victim’s eccentric brother, and a semi-retired petty thief, the inspector begins a murder investigation. Each suspect has a solid alibi, but there is something that doesn’t quite add up . . .

2011 has been somewhat of an eye opener for me as far as foreign titles go, a steep learning curve. I’ve been transported to a variety of countries – some more colourful than others – around the world including Argentina, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Turkey, Poland but it’s little old Italy that keeps cropping up, time after time, enticing me back with a plethora of food, wine, scenery and of course crime!

Marco Vichi’s Death in August is the latest title to land on my desk and another of those book jackets that oozes quality. The cover is a throwback to yesteryear, reminiscent of the great Agatha Christie, and is so incredibly tactile – just like a quality label on a bottle of Grappa – that you just want to pick it up and see if the contents live up to the art work.

Given this is the first opportunity for non-speaking Italians to experience Vichi’s colourful character, thanks to a wonderful translation by prize winning Stephen Sartarelli, it will come as no surprise that he spends a great deal of time laying the foundation for a series that, on first glance, offers a great deal of promise and longevity. Hodder have bought the rights to the first four in the series and Death and the Olive comes out in January 2012.

Although Death in August is billed as a crime novel I felt this was almost secondary to the life and times of Inspector Bordelli. Bordelli is such an engaging character – sometimes cantankerous, sometimes charming and most definitely a maverick – who appears to spend most of his day bemoaning the hottest August he can remember, a lack of sleep and a scourge of mosquitoes who appear to be unstoppable!. Not one to refuse the offer of a drink, on or off duty, Bordelli works his way around a rather innocent and youthful 1960’s Florence while attempting to quit smoking – but failing rather miserably all the same!

Death in August is available from Book Depository (Free P&P), Amazon & Kindle

When not investigating the suspicious death of Signora Pedretti, Bordelli is caught up organising a dinner party at his home and I have to admit it was this side issue that charmed me more than anything. This is when we discover the real Bordelli whether talking to his cousin, the chef at the local restaurant, the brother of the latest victim or cavorting with known criminals – much to the chagrin of his superiors.

Characterisation is strong and as I’ve already mentioned Death in August relies on a solid foundation to set the tone for further titles in the series. You have a little bit of everything here – a quirky pathologist, a chef extraordinaire who just so happens to be an ex-convict, a young policeman keen to work his way through the ranks, a friendly prostitute and a number of characters from Bordelli’s youth and war time exploits. It’s an intoxicating mixture and a blend that works incredibly well.

So what of the crime itself? Unlike most crime novels we discover early on who Bordelli fancies for the murder but Death in August is more about discovering how the perpetrators managed to kill the victim despite having a cast iron alibi for the time of death. It’s left to Bordelli and his side kick Piras to solve the riddle, all the while drinking and smoking his way to an early death!

The case continues right up until the final pages and I have to admit I did enjoy how the culprits managed to kill the woman – simple but incredibly effective and imaginative!

So there we have it. If you are looking for a new Italian series that shows a great deal of promise, a character who shares – via Marco Vichi’s father – his World War 2 memories, early romantic relationships and add a dash of unlikely camaraderie – not forgetting the crime of course – then Death in August is one for you.

Thoroughly enjoyable and incredibly Moorish, Inspector Bordelli’s eccentricity is here to stay.

Published by Hodder Death in August is available from Book Depository (Free P&P), Amazon & Kindle