Lorenzo Carcaterra

rating this book feels like i'm rating or judging his trauma and that feels particularly icky in this case. this is a story of awful, horrendous physical and sexual abuse and of revenge and (some would say) redemption. the count of monte cristo is referenced over and over again because it's a favorite book among the boys in the story, but also because of my problem with that book - its focus on revenge and retribution for wrongs done, which the boys to some degree emulate. this doesn't feel show more at all like redemption to me. it's horrible and sad and no one deserves the kind of trauma these boys had to endure, but that doesn't excuse 2 of them from literally becoming cold-blooded killers, hit men who terrorized other people. but anyway, i don't rate books based on how much i like the characters in fiction or the people in memoir.

the parts of this that focus on the trauma - the time in the boy's home - and on the trial were well written and felt real. probably because they very much were. the rest of the book felt over-dramaticized and like the author was trying too hard. it would have been enough to set the scene, but over and over he had to write in ways that bad fiction works to try to keep the reader engaged. (Not the best example, but: "In his mind, ...[it]... was more than the right thing to do. It was more than a courageous thing to do. It was the only thing to do.") I wish he'd believed more in his story of friendship, to know that the reader wasn't reading for the stories of abuse, and that he didn't have to work so hard in these parts of the book. because it really is a wonderful story of bonding between 4 boys who didn't find connection with many other people in their lives. both this and the abuse they suffered is a story very much worth telling, as hard as parts of it are to hear/read.

i'm more than a little disconcerted that we're supposed to be rooting for not just the abusers to be brought to justice, but for 2 of the boys, who have killed many people, not to be held to account for that. i understand about trauma, and i'm not comfortable giving them a free pass to murder (and cut up bodies and do really awful things) because they survived a truly terrible ordeal. when they do get acquitted for a murder that the reader can maybe get behind, and they're free to go on and kill many more times in a way that most readers wouldn't get behind, and the author calls that "the sound of justice," well, i have a problem calling it that. show less

What a fun and charming mystery set on the lush and warm island of Ischia just off the coast of Naples, Italy.

Given the tight-knit community on Ischia, nothing goes unseen and everyone looks after one another. When strangers are in their midst, beyond the usual day-tripping tourists, the locals are quietly watching. This watchfulness is particularly keen when nefarious strangers have one of the locals in their sites. Meanwhile, the granddaughter of a notorious jewel thief, whose memory is show more filled with fantastical stories shared by her now-deceased grandfather, discovers a map among his things. Could this be a map to his quarry? Rumors have been floating about among the treasure hunters for years about the famous Paolino Iacone's hoard. But none has yet found it. Can Rita attain her legacy before the treasure hunter's seize it for themselves? Can carabinieri Captain Murino capture the nefarious strangers before anyone gets hurt or worse?

Mr. Caraterra has done a wonderful job of creating a beautiful setting for this series. One hears the cry of seagulls and the crashing waves on the rocks; one smells the tang of the ocean and the enticing aromas of fabulous cuisine cooked by the magical hands of local women for those whom they love; and one sees the looming castle built into the cliff high above the port. The writing is rich and the characters well developed. The interaction among the characters and affection exuded among the locals is palpable. The tension builds gradually to a spectacular climax and and then gently eases leaving the reader with a warmth for the local characters, a satisfied feeling, and a desire to book their next trip to the Amalfi Coast.

I am grateful to Bantam Books for having provided a complimentary uncorrected proof of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher:‎ Bantam Books
Publication Date: ‎ May 7, 2024
No. of pages: ‎ 288
ISBN-13:‎ 978-0593499214 show less

I was charmed by Lorenzo Carcaterra's Nonna Maria and the Case of the Missing Bride. I've seen depictions of old Italian women dressed in widow's weeds in movies and television programs for decades, and what Carcaterra has done is put a heart and soul into one such woman to bring her to life.

First of all, the setting is wonderful. I'd never heard of the island of Ischia before, and I found its history absolutely fascinating. When Carcaterra described one spot on the island in which you show more could stand and see Vesuvius to the left and Capri to the right, I immediately wanted to book a flight to see it for myself.

Nonna Maria is the perfect diamond to place in such a breathtaking setting. She has such strong opinions that, at first, she may be a bit intimidating, but once readers see the esteem in which she's held by fellow islanders, they should stop hesitating and let themselves melt right into her world. She may be strong, but she's also wise and compassionate. Anyone Nonna Maria doesn't know isn't worth knowing, and I loved watching her work with Captain Murino of the carabinieri, a man who has his own reasons for wanting to bring one of the cases to a resounding close.

How can one old woman be such a force on a small island, especially when she has no phone and no car? As she tells Murino, she only knows what she hears, and on an island filled with people who love to talk all she has to do is listen.

As much as I enjoyed watching Nonna Maria solve crimes, you'd think that I'd want to see this turn into a series, but you'd be wrong. Part of me wants this one book to stay a perfect snapshot of the life of a fairy godmother who has a solution for all of your problems. Read it for yourself and see what you think.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley) show less

4.5⭐

Delightful and riveting in equal measure, Nonna Maria and the Case of the Lost Treasure by Lorenzo Carcaterra is simply unputdownable! When the granddaughter of an old friend approaches Nonna Maria for her assistance in locating treasure hidden by her deceased grandfather in Ischia’s caves, Nonna Maria taps into her knowledge of the history of the island and enlists the help of two islanders who have experience navigating the dangers within the caves. Parallelly, Nonna Maria’s vast show more network of friends and family also helps her track the movements of a group of criminals who have ventured onto the island to assassinate her friend (with whom she frequently collaborates) Carabinieri Captain Paulo Murino for reasons which are gradually revealed.

There is a lot to unpack in this novel, but the narrative is engaging and at no point do you feel overwhelmed or find the plot(s) difficult to follow. I should mention that this installment is relatively more intense than the preceding books and the author strikes a perfect balance between the parallel storylines. The writing is descriptive, but I enjoyed revisiting Ischia and getting to know more about the characters (old and new) and the history and mythology of the island. Descriptions of the delectable cuisine will make your mouth water. What I wouldn’t do for a peek into Nonna Maria’s black tote! Witty and wise, with a heart of gold, Nonna Maria is a fascinating character! It was a joy to follow this spirited septuagenarian on her latest adventures.

Though the books in this series can be read as standalone, I’d definitely recommend reading all of them! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. show less