A Florentine Death

This was a bit of a disappointment. Michele Giuttari has received some good press, and seems to be well regarded in Italy, but I didn't find much to like in this book - two dimensional characters, laboured plot development and rather uninspiring descriptions. The narrative follows the progress of bot......more

Author Michele Giuttari was for a time a top cop in Florence, and led investigations including that of the celebrated Monster of Florence serial killings. In his Afterword to this, his debut novel, Giuttari admits that his hero, a Florentine top cop called Michele Ferrara, is an idealized version of......more

Here's what I thought: not so hot -- like a 2.4 rating. In this novel, the focus is on the hunt for a serial killer, someone who not only murders his victims but also savagely mutilates them as well. Ferrara already has a number of crimes on his hands, but this one becomes personal as he begins to re......more

This is a new author for me. He is an ex Chief Superintendent with the Italian police. He's worked in various places but was born Sicilian and ended his career in Florence. He has worked on both the anti-mafia and flying squads. Obviously his inner, recent knowledge of the workings of what he writes......more

First half was a bit heavy going but ended up as a compelling, if slightly gruesome thriller. Glad I persevered......more