“The murder of a jockey casts a pall over a lavish party and triggers some thoughtful sleuthing. A macabre Mediterranean mystery bubbling with romantic intrigue.” -----Kirkus Reviews
Avvocato Lorenzo Maggioni, a Milanese attorney, and his wife, Valeria, both look forward excitedly to Siena’s spectacular Palio, a festival with a horse race as centerpiece—Valeria describes it as an orgasm following a 365-day erection—followed by alcohol-fueled parties. Valeria is enraptured by the suave Count Guidobaldo; Enzo has eyes for the alluring blond American Ginevra. Readers may share Valeria’s assessment of an event that runs on flirtation, dalliance, and tidbits of local color until the death of Puddu, “the king of the Palio jockeys,” is discovered halfway through. Rakish Dr. Lippi arrives shortly after on a motorbike to question everyone. Most observers assume that Puddu died by suicide, but the analytical Enzo isn’t so sure. Now that the tantalizing revelry has soured, Valeria wants to leave, but her husband doesn’t. And of course, leaving isn’t an option until the mystery is solved. Now that the sensual pleasure he expected is off the table, Enzo begins to investigate, beginning with Puddu’s tearful girlfriend, Elisabetta. The comedy of licentious manners, going hand in hand with Enzo’s probe and the authors’ rich description of the Palio and the equestrian world, all add up to a colorfully offbeat mystery. Fruttero and Lucentini’s sophisticated drollery and Italian sensibility will particularly delight fans of the prolific Andrea Camilleri, whose final Inspector Montalbano novel was published in 2021.---Kirkus Reviews
