Chief Inspector Gambelli is no
particular friend of the senior prosecutor in the Ministry of
Justice, Jean Michael Bertrand, but when Bertrand is accused of the
murder of his mistress, he wants the best help to prove his
innocence. Gambelli is not pleased at being dragged from the streets
of Paris to the heat of a coastal island, but he agrees to help
Bertrand even though the island is outside his jurisdiction.
The local officials
have decided that Bertrand must have murdered the woman, but when
Gambelli examines the body and starts to ask questions, they are
forced to rethink their findings. Bertrand is released and Gambelli
returns to Paris, but the case is far from over.
Gambelli is a
typical detective. He is taciturn, has little brief for incompetent
superiors, and is respected by his men. A hard character, he smokes
and drinks too much, but his ability to follow the clues and get a
resolution of the crime is exceptional.
I like books where
the plot is intricate, and the investigator follows the clues to
reach a conclusion. This book didn’t disappoint. Each time you
think the case is resolved, a twist appears which sends the
investigation in a new direction.
The background, both
on the island and in Paris, supports the atmosphere of the case. The
other characters, particularly Gambelli’s wife and his dog, enhance
the story without taking it over. If you like detective novels, this
is a good one.
I received this book
from Net Galley for this review.
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