Viper

No Resurrection for Commissario Ricciardi: Commissario Ricciardi, Book 6

By: Maurizio de Giovanni

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Naples, 1932. A week before Easter, springtime offers fragrant temptations to the men and women of Naples - but evil also lurks in the sweet-smelling spring air. At the high-class brothel in the center of town known as Paradiso, Viper, the most famous prostitute of all, is found dead after being suffocated with a pillow. Her last client swears that he left her alive and well. But when her next client arrived, he found her dead. Who killed her and why? Ricciardi must untangle a complex knot of greed, frustration, jealousy, and rancor in order to solve the riddle of Viper's death. As he does, he will discover an endless trail of conflicting emotions just beneath the surface of a city that lives on passion.

De Giovanni's mysteries unfold with such sinuous ease that they seem to write themselves. They enchant, surprise, and keep listeners enthralled. Commissario Ricciardi, with the dubious gift of being able to see and hear the last seconds in the lives of those who have suffered a violent death, is one of the most fascinating investigators to make his appearance in the world of international crime fiction. In Viper, the lustful and boisterous city of Naples has never been more seductive.

©2015 Maurizio de Giovanni (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

*Viper* Earns Its Sting

Three master practitioners of their respective crafts—author Maurizio de Giovanni, translator Tony Shugaar, and narrator Grover Gardner—join forces to produce this standout story of love, resentment, and revenge in 1932 Naples, with just a hint of the occult supplied by Inspector Luigi Alfredo Ricciardi’s eldritch ability to see the last moments (and hear the final words) of the city’s murdered souls. Brigadier Raffaele Maione (Ricciardi’s deputy) and the “femminiello” Bambinella are especially sharply drawn. For fans of Laura Joh Rowland’s “Inspector Sano” series of Tokugawa Japan (I am one), or for anyone left wanting more after turning the last page of Leif Enger’s PEACE LIKE A RIVER.

Became a little boring

The mystery couldn’t carry the story so it’s padded out with somewhat tedious romantic subplots. The characters are fairly interesting but not interesting Enough to support the tedium. I had to skip ahead to stay with it. Not as good as vengeance.

Beautifully written

Grover Gardner does a wonderful job with the voices, and the storyline is captivating. I hope that all of the books on this series will be made available.

Tedious and over wordy. I am officially done with

this series. Such a disappointment. Author has no heart. epEnough is enough. It was too predicatable.

Oh no!

Hoping for a different ending.
Well, maybe next read, maybe next time. I was glad all at least ended safely.