The Road to Murder
A Tuscan Mystery
In Camilla Trinchieri’s intriguing mystery novel The Road to Murder, a former homicide detective helps the local police solve a murder.
In this latest installment of the Tuscan Mystery series, Nico’s tranquil new life in Gravigna—where, in the main piazza, old friends spend “mornings and afternoons discussing, arguing, complaining”—is dashed when elderly Nora is strangled. Nico collaborates with maresciallo Salvatore and brigadiere Daniele to find the killer, all while holding down his restaurant job and his relationship with his girlfriend, Nelli. But the task isn’t easy: Nora was unloved and rich, and there’s a long list of people who either resented her or who will benefit from her death.
Though it progresses at a rate that befits its quiet, small-town setting, the mystery is layered, and its suspense is steady. Several revelations force the main three men to reassess their theories, though one twist is too coincidental. And the lush characterizations of the ensemble cast flesh out the local world beyond the crime: Nico continues to adjust to life in Gravigna and to heal from the loss of his wife; Perillo struggles with his wife returning to work; and Daniele’s relationship with Stella grows.
Secondary characters are made distinctive, too, thanks to telling details: Nico’s friend Gogol has a penchant for quoting Dante Alighieri in everyday conversation; Nelli is independent and carefree, shown in her art and her need for her own space. And as the men conduct their interrogations and collect information, the story comes full circle, bringing resolution to this wine-country-set series entry.
The Road to Murder is a delightful mystery novel wherein a detective-turned-chef is roped into solving a murder investigation.
Reviewed by
Carolina Ciucci
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