I Will Have Vengeance

Commissario Ricciardi, Book 1

By: Maurizio de Giovanni

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Naples, 1931. A bitter wind stalks the city streets, and murder lies at its chilled heart. When Maestro Vezzi, one of the world's greatest tenors, is found brutally murdered in his dressing room at Naples' famous San Carlo theater, the enigmatic and aloof Commissario Ricciardi is called to investigate. Arrogant and bad-tempered, Vezzi was hated by many. But with the livelihoods of the opera at stake, who would have committed such a callous act?

Ricciardi and his loyal colleague Maione are determined to discover the truth, but Ricciardi carries a secret of his own. Will it help him solve this murder?

©2007 Fandango Libri Srl. Translation © 2012 Anne Milano Appel (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

True detective

A typical noir but little to do with ghosts and the narrator not fitting a Italian story

series review: very good noir; a bit unusual

The 7 books in the series are good- some are very good. i have my quibbles and complaints about a couple of 'em (i.e. the author intentionally misleads) but mystery novels often have those issues.

the books also bring a nice flavor of naples.

grover gardner is great as always--yes, his italian is a bit off...but an excellent narrator.

great character study!

Never have I read a character in a novel who has challenged me this much as this commisario! (except for this kind of Bible character). Will read more! A desire to learn his calm patience with all kinds of impulsive and rash individuals. In James 3, it says that when someone keeps their mouth, their tongue like this, the same is a perfect (mature) man/woman.

Compelling start to mystery series set in 1939s Italy

I was at first put off by the detective's apparent ability to "see" dead people, but the author primarily uses this as a metaphor for empathetic observation of the cruel inequities existing in fascist 1930s Naples. Good writing and strong characterizations in a dramatic setting. Will download the second book in this series.

A Gift of Sorrow

This is a deep and sad story about someone who was born having to feel the pain of the world. Ricciardi wrings the compassion out of me because he himself has so little self-pity: he's just doing the best he can with the hand he's been dealt.

Grover Gardner

Love anything narrated by Grover Gardner. This series is new to me, but the first book was good.

Good Story

I enjoyed this story. It’s a different setting in another country, Italy, which is a nice change. I love this detective’s perceptions of people.

Good first in the series.

An unusual setting - prewar Naples - unusual lead - detective who sees dead people. All the bits and pieces come together in this first effort to make an entertaining listen. #3 starts fine but fades fast in the middle and not really morish. I’ll next try #2 and 4 in the hope Maurizio resisted the temptation to recycle boring romantic subplots. However this first novel is a great listen.

Love and Death in Napoli

This superlative detective story is set in Naples, Italy during the time if Mussolini in the 1930s. The plot is intertwined with a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at the lavish Teatro San Carlo. As an opera fan i loved every minute. Readers follow a Commissario of the Naples police, whose investigation ranges from the poorest slums to the richest palaces.

Little right, a Lot Wrong

First mistake was buying three by the same author before listening to one. The second was since I had run out of everything by Donna Leon and starting to feel homesick for her Italy, the setting appealed. In comparison it felt like the author was using her template and filling in the blanks with a poorly crafted pen.

You're not going to fall into like with this character. Or any of the characters. The story was too contrived throughout and poorly done at that. Some dialogue very fast and choppy, sounding as if the reader did so simply to make another voice. Ever too much crystal balling.

If I'd purchased these as hard copies I would return the other two without taking out of the bag.