A few years ago someone on the slowtravel website suggested that I might enjoy reading the mystery series by David Hewson. His series of modern crime stories featuring an ensemble of police officers in Rome, led by the young detective Nic Costa, began with A Season for the Dead, and has now been contracted to run to at least nine installments by British, American, European and Asian publishers. His mysteries expose the grittier side of life in Italy which I enjoy.
The newest of David Hewson’s intelligent thrillers finds Rome detective Nic Costa guarding the death mask of Italian Renaissance poet Dante, on display for the opening of a film based on Dante’s Inferno. Life begins to imitate art, as a bizarre series of events drawn from Inferno and a masterpiece of Hollywood’s golden age leads to the death of the film’s star, and Nic travels to San Francisco to unravel the mystery.
In my mind Dante's Numbers is action-packed suspense at its most intelligent. By transplanting Nic Costa and his fellow Italian detectives into the dizzying world of Hitchock's 'Vertigo' in San Francisco the author is able to juxtapose the US and Italy. This makes for some fascinating plot and character developments.
The absence of clichéd police officers is to be highly commended. Although pathologist Teresa Lupo is a light-hearted character, she doesn't hang around making horrible jokes. All four of the main characters are thoroughly plausible human beings.
The novel is fast paced, although it does drag a bit when the Romans travel to the US in an attempt to solve the crime. Like all good mysteries there are clues as to what is going on but they're laced with enough twists and turns that make it difficult to solve the crime until the end.
I found Dante's Numbers to be a highly entertaining read!
Jerry, is this the second installment? Soon, I'll be looking for some new mysteries and this sounds good.
Posted by: Kim | January 22, 2009 at 06:52 AM
Thanks for the rec. I read "Lucifer's Shadow" by him (it's set in Venice) and really enjoyed it. Didn't know he has a mystery series too - will have to check it out.
Posted by: Annie | January 22, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Kim - he has written 7 books featuring this team. I could send them your way if you're interested.
Annie - there is a great one that was written based in Venice. Features a old glass-making family on Murano.
Posted by: JDeQ | January 22, 2009 at 09:08 PM
Jerry, I've read most of Hewson's mysteries in this series, too. I just bought The Garden of Evil and was waiting for Dante's Numbers to come out in paperback. It sounds great!
I really enjoy these mysteries -- as you say, they are pretty gritty but intelligent.
Posted by: sandrac | January 22, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Sandra - shall I send it to you? *smile* I used my Christmas gift cards. I never wait for paperbacks just after Christmas!
Posted by: JDeQ | January 23, 2009 at 09:12 AM
I just finished reading Dante's Trilogy...I do this every five years since college, who knows why...LOL. It's a compulsion...anyway, might be kind of fun to visit this book recommendation of yours at this time.
Posted by: Kathryn Gerth | January 24, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Kathryn - you'd have an advantage. There are lots of Dante references which flew over my head!
Posted by: Jerry | January 25, 2009 at 07:44 AM
Thanks for your interest everyone. You can find out more about the books at http://www.davidhewson.com. Plus I will be touring (some of) the US in April and showing photos of Italy from the research of the books if you happen to be in the area. More information on the tour here: http://booktour.com/author/david_hewson
Oh - and thanks for the pistachio chicken recipe. Am cooking it tomorrow night!
Posted by: David Hewson | January 25, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Now David - when do you come up to Canada and tour here? *smile*
Posted by: JDeQ | January 26, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Jerry - that would be incredibly sweet! You know I still have that cooking light sitting in a box on my floor (I'm so bad). Okay sending today. Anyway - if you could send the first book, that would be great!
Posted by: Kim | January 26, 2009 at 06:42 AM
Wow! I am impressed! To have the book's author comment is pretty cool!
Posted by: nancyhol | January 26, 2009 at 08:47 AM
I can't wait to tour Canada - it's been ages. Stay tuned. Possibly October I hope. If you know any book stores that would like me please ask them to get in touch through my website and we'll see what can be done. I may well be at Bouchercon in Indiana and it would make sense to do something after that if anyone wants me.
Posted by: David Hewson | January 26, 2009 at 09:55 AM