A credible mystery.

Raymond Chandler once said “style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time.” David Hewson, the bestselling author of the Nic Costa series has clearly invested his time well in the research of both history and geography of Rome. He brings to all his detective novels an extraordinary mixture of historic facts, a sense of location of modern Rome, and a fast paced narrative that exemplify his novels. Answers to questions of the less savoury side of both history and geography of Rome that you were afraid to ask abound in these series.

In the latest bestseller The Fallen Angel, Nic stumbles on a body apparently fallen off a scaffolding. As the investigation progresses, the plot inextricably weaves itself into a saga of incest, murder and punishment. The character of Mina, the daughter of the dead man not only resembles Beatrice but is also obsessed by her. Soon the rest of the victim’s family enter the plot and the narrative reveals itself to bear eerie semblance to the tragedy of Beatrice. A heated investigation leads the detective into the seamier parts of Rome. The author’s expertise of Rome gives the unfolding of the mystery the unique David Hewson stamp. Also the depth of his research into Roman history enables the author to effortlessly weave parallels from the Cenci legend into the sordid crime. As the pace picks up there are sudden twists. It would be a disservice to the reader to reveal anything more of the plot than to say that all ingredients of a pot-boiler are present. There are large doses of sex, incest, blood and gore. As in a good mystery novel, suspicions swing in many directions. The dead man’s family and family ties form a strong foundation to the plot of the novel. Apart from Mina, her mother Cecilia, and brother Robert make for a credible portrayal of a dysfunctional family. Much of the novel’s appeal stems from the portrayal of the 27-year-old Nic Costa himself – he is a bit of a prude, health conscious and the son of a notorious political organizer of the Communist party. He is ambitious, empathetic and dogged in his work. In the end, it is his empathy towards both Mina and Beatrice Cenci that bring about a historic closure in the final chapter.

T Suresh Gopalaswamy