Hewson, David. Dante's Numbers.Nic Costa, Leo Falcone, Gianni Peroni, and Teresa Lupo return in this novel, to the delight of many fans of the series. Hewson seems to have a little difficulty in the opening of the novel (I had a similar feeling in The Lizard's Bite), but once he settles in, the story becomes involving and intriguing.
Falcone's team, originally designated to guard artifacts on the set of a movie about Dante's Inferno, come into conflict with the Carabinierre, who have been assigned protection for the actors. When the first death occurs right before the movie's premiere, Falcone is frustrated by his team's exclusion from the investigation. Official exclusion, actually, because his team is making their own inquiries.
Then, when the actor who plays Dante is murdered in a gruesome and voyeuristic manner, the Roman Premiere is canceled and re-scheduled to appear in Los Angeles. In the meantime, Maggie Flavier who plays Beatrice (evidently there was some license in the movie because it is Virgil who guides Dante through the Inferno, not Beatrice) and Nic Costa have become friends. When Falcone's team travels to L.A. with the artifacts, Nic and Maggie's relationship continues to develop, and Maggie herself may be the next target.
My favorite parts were not those with Nic and Maggie, however, but with Teresa Lupo and her friendship with twins Hank and Frank, retired firemen.
Lots of cinematic allusions particularly to Hitchcock's Vertigo.
Fiction. Mystery. 2009. 386 pages
Oh I didn't realize this was a series. I'll have to put it on my radar... Is the series usually set in Italy though?
ReplyDeleteiliana - Yes, and usually in Rome. This one began in Rome, but ended up in Los Angeles.
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