I Will Have Vengeance

Commissario Ricciardi, Book 1

By: Maurizio de Giovanni

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Naples, 1931. A bitter wind stalks the city streets, and murder lies at its chilled heart. When Maestro Vezzi, one of the world's greatest tenors, is found brutally murdered in his dressing room at Naples' famous San Carlo theater, the enigmatic and aloof Commissario Ricciardi is called to investigate. Arrogant and bad-tempered, Vezzi was hated by many. But with the livelihoods of the opera at stake, who would have committed such a callous act?

Ricciardi and his loyal colleague Maione are determined to discover the truth, but Ricciardi carries a secret of his own. Will it help him solve this murder?

©2007 Fandango Libri Srl. Translation © 2012 Anne Milano Appel (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

True detective

A typical noir but little to do with ghosts and the narrator not fitting a Italian story

series review: very good noir; a bit unusual

The 7 books in the series are good- some are very good. i have my quibbles and complaints about a couple of 'em (i.e. the author intentionally misleads) but mystery novels often have those issues.

the books also bring a nice flavor of naples.

grover gardner is great as always--yes, his italian is a bit off...but an excellent narrator.

A Grand Discovery!

Wow - de Giovanni can really write. He paints - often creepy but definitely memorable - scenes with his words. If it is this good in translation it must be astounding in the original Italian! I will be looking for the next one in the series right away!

great character study!

Never have I read a character in a novel who has challenged me this much as this commisario! (except for this kind of Bible character). Will read more! A desire to learn his calm patience with all kinds of impulsive and rash individuals. In James 3, it says that when someone keeps their mouth, their tongue like this, the same is a perfect (mature) man/woman.

Compelling start to mystery series set in 1939s Italy

I was at first put off by the detective's apparent ability to "see" dead people, but the author primarily uses this as a metaphor for empathetic observation of the cruel inequities existing in fascist 1930s Naples. Good writing and strong characterizations in a dramatic setting. Will download the second book in this series.