Praise for Maurizio de Giovanni
★ “Funny, poignant...De Giovanni is a master of the witty, elegantly plotted fair-play mystery.”—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Puppies
“[de Giovanni] illustrates that Naples is not only made up of camorra and mandolins, but also of the desire for commitment and redemption, for hidden beauties, and the capacity for hospitality and dignity.”—CrimeReads on Puppies
“De Giovanni is a smart and skillful plotter, but his novel’s strength is its compelling cast of colorful characters, cops, and criminals […] As the plots and subplots are connected and interwoven in Puppies, [De] Giovanni [develops] an insightful and compassionate commentary on society’s strays, the left out, and the left behind.”—Mystery Scene on Puppies
“Engrossing...Colorful, fully drawn characters and several intriguing subplots help propel the plot to a satisfying resolution.”—Publishers Weekly on The Bastards of Pizzofalcone
“This series of Italian noir [is] filled with passion and danger that you’d expect from the dark side of Naples.”—Inside Hook on Cold for the Bastards of Pizzofalcone
“In de Giovanni’s novels, the detective story is just a pretext for exploring society’s many facets. He illustrates that Naples is not only made up of camorra and mandolins, but also of the desire for commitment and redemption, for hidden beauties, and the capacity for hospitality and dignity.”—Elisabetta Bolondi, Solo Libri
“A thoroughly enjoyable work. If you love Italy or if you just love a solid procedural, look out for Maurizio de Giovanni’s books.”—Mark Rose, Bookgasm on Cold for the Bastards of Pizzofalcone
“The police characters are flawed, lovable, and believable – you cannot but take to them.... Naples comes through loud and clear in the story.”—Tripfiction on Darkness for the Bastards of Pizzofalcone
2022-04-27
The murder of a popular Neapolitan baker has the floury fingerprints of the Mafia all over it. But does the trail of breadcrumbs lead elsewhere?
De Giovanni’s fifth Bastards of Pizzofalcone novel begins by picking up the careful early morning routine of a beloved baker known as the Prince of Dawn just minutes before he’s murdered. The discovery of the body is preceded by a flavorful synopsis of the series’ crime-busting team, disgraced cops who’ve recaptured their reputations after a stint in prison and a number of successful cases. Lojacono, Romano, Palma, and Aragona each has a backstory and an evocative nickname. When Lojacono and Romano arrive at the crime scene, they find other cops, bakery employee Mario Strabone, and TV personality Dottor Diego Buffardi all surrounding the corpse of Pasquale Granato. Buffardi, an assistant prosecutor, posits that the baker’s recent testimony against the Mafia has led to his execution. The duo meets up with their partners at the station house, where the police chief, Crispi, has already called in, directing the team to pursue this Mafia theory. Lojacono thinks otherwise, and the team interrogates a wide array of persons of interest, including female bakery employees and the baker’s ex-wife. The hectic personal lives of the bastards also merit narrative detours. De Giovanni writes with the long-winded charm and droll tone of a master yarn spinner, adorning descriptions of even minor events with telling detail and atmosphere.
A crackling good crime yarn, overstuffed but juicy, with a thick Italian accent.
