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Loading... De Vaticaanse moorden (2004)by David Hewson (Author), Ineke van den Elskamp (Translator), Wil Immink (Cover designer)
Work InformationA Season for the Dead by David Hewson (2004)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Nic Costa is a young cop in Rome, trying to unravel a baffling case: an insane man appears to be on an unholy mission to recreate the martyrdoms of early Christians, each murdered in horrific ways. Nic’s search for the truth leads to the Vatican, the politics of Rome, and the truth about a very beautiful, and very mysterious, woman…. This is the first in the Nic Costa mystery series written in the early 2000s, which is when I first read it; now, having visited Rome, I found that I wanted to refresh my memory of the book because I had seen some of the places described. I had forgotten a couple of things: one, how grisly and gruesome parts of the story are and two, what an elegant writer David Hewson is; there are passages here that simply sing. Definitely not for the squeamish, and probably I’ll take my time in re-reading the rest of the series (I have them all, but have not read them all), but for the sheer pleasure of the language and the depiction of the ancient city, definitely recommended. ( ) Hot, sunny Rome is dark Someone is murdering people in Rome and draping their bodies in artistic ways imitating stories of early Christian martyrdom. It's weird and also terrifying, and young police detective Nic Costa and his partner, veteran police officer Luca Rossi get pulled into the center of the crime spree. This is the beginning of a new series by David Hewson and I'm a bit ambivalent about it. The murders are gruesome, the multiple POV don't appeal to me much, and the revolting story of the crimes revolts me. Mr. Hewson makes some plotting decisions I'm not sure are the strongest. I think that if I knew Rome and its churches better I would have enjoyed this book more. At least it would have been more personal. I received a review copy of " A Season for the Dead" by David Hewson from Black Thorn press through NetGalley.com. A terrific first book in a mystery story series set in Rome, featuring Nic Costa as the police detective a little too idealistic for his job. This story involves the Vatican, the aftereffects of the dot-com crash, a serial killer, at least one beautiful woman, and Rome itself. I can't wait to read the next one. I made a start on this last year but I just could not get into it. I thought I'd give it another try because the plot did sound interesting. I really found it quite a struggle to start, continue and finish. I'm not sure why that is, it just didn't seem to grip me at all. It's quite long-winded and seems to take ages to actually get anywhere. I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable either, they were all a bit flat. Some of the opening scenes were quite gross and described in great detail as well. I'm now more well-informed about how to skin someone alive than I ever thought I needed to be. I can see how people would come to this as being similar to Dan Brown because it's set in Italy, in Vatican City, and it involves a sort of chase across the city. But there's very little in the way of art history or clues in paintings and the sense of urgency is also rather lacking. It was all right, I'm not sure I'd recommend it though. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesNic Costa (1) Notable Lists
Fiction.
Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
HTML:In a hushed Vatican reading room, the scene was shocking: a crazed professor shot dead after brandishing evidence of a grisly crime. Moments later, two bodies are found in a nearby church, each with a gruesome calling card from the killer. Thus begins David Hewson's elegant and electrifying new novel. Set amidst a bizarre killing spree in modern Rome, it is a bewitching blend of history and drama, sensuality and suspense. As the August heat takes Rome in its fiery grip, the news of two brutal murders holds the city in thrall. And as the media gathers and Vatican officials close ranks, a young detective is sent to the forefront of the case. Nic Costa is the son of an infamous Italian Communist, a connoisseur of Caravaggio , and a cop who barely looks his 27 years of age. Thrust into the heart of a killing spree that will rattle his city down to its ancient bones, Nic meets a woman who will soon dominate both his consciousness and his investigation. A cool, beautiful professor of early Christianity, Sara Farnese was in the Vatican library on that fateful day, a witness to her colleague's strange outburst and death. But her role will become even more puzzling as more bodies are found: Each victim killed in a gory tableau of Christian martyrdom. And each victim had intimately known Sara, whose silence Costa cannot quite crack and whose carnal history becomes more lurid and unfathomable with every revelation. Soon, a nightmarish chase is implicating politicians and priests -- while at the heart of the matter remains the woman Costa is both investigating and guarding. Wanting to believe in Sara's innocence, Nic still cannot turn his eyes from the truths he is uncovering. Even as the secrets of a woman, a killer and a city begin to unravel...with devastating consequences. A beguiling mystery, a dazzling treat for the senses, and a fascinating tour of the streets and alleyways of Rome, Nic Costa's relentlessly suspenseful debut is a masterpiece of suspense fiction.? From the Hardcover edition.. No library descriptions found. |
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