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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Every so often--and his new novel Back to Bolognais a good example of this--Michael Dibdin stretches the form of the detective novel to involve his often glum detective Aurelio Zen in situations of wild, bloody farce. Dragged back to work in spite of ill health that may be hypochondria, and faced with the breakdown of his long-term relationship, Zen finds himself caught up in the murder of a football club owner, a cooking duel between a celebrity chef and a post-modern professor and the amorous adventures of a beautiful immigrant from Ruritania. Back to Bologna combines some sharp satirical comments with a dim view of unreasonable behaviour, whether by spoiled brat football hooligans or blundering private eyes. Dibdin combines sharply-phrased misanthropy with a capacity ultimately to forgive human weakness. Many of his books are classics of modern crime writing; Back to Bologna is perhaps less ambitious, but it is a technically accomplished delight. ---Roz Kaveney
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"'Pure pleasure from the first page to the last.' Mark Sanderson, Evening Standard"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a short book with a plot which is interesting without being challenging. The beauty of Dibdin, however, remains his very rich writing, his wit and his insights. Rarely does Dibdin produce a poor read and once again he has done himself proud with this effort. I have trouble warming to Zen, his lead character, but this didn't detract from the overall appeal of this book. Keep 'em coming Mr Dibdin.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have been a big fan of Michael Dibdin for most of his books, enjoying the development of the fascinating character of Aurelio Zen, the tight plots, and the most insightful Italian context.
The last 2 or 3 books, however, have made me cool off somewhat, and this last one - Back to Bologna - I found awful. The characters were mostly caricatures, with far too much extraneous guff spent on what might be thought of as their development; the hero and his partner had gone completely off the rails, and the plot was highly questionable.
And he even had one of his police inspectors called Brunetti; what's the matter with him? I can't believe that he's not aware of Donna Leon's splendid hero.
Sorry, Michael Dibdin, the Zen series is all washed up. Try something else or leave us alone.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a great admirer of the Zen novels it probably took me longer than some to realise that this was not a standard Aurelio Zen story, but a lighthearted parody. It involves a plot as convulated and reliant on unlikely coincidence as anything in Shakespeare's comedies (to which there is a sly reference in the text). It also involves another fictional detective in a walk-on part in which he makes little or no impression.
It is as if Conan Doyle had written the script for one of the post-modern film versions of Sherlock Holmes; and about as interesting.
I must add that I found the vulgar language of some characters jarring and unpleasantly out of place.
It is as if Conan Doyle had written the script for one of the post-modern film versions of Sherlock Holmes; and about as interesting.
I must add that I found the vulgar language of some characters jarring and unpleasantly out of place.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not a sausage
Yet another Zen tale, well crafted and evocative of yet another dimension of Italy, its people, its culture and its way of living and dying. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Wladyslaw mejka
Good to Great
Loved this book for its comic overturns; building on Cosi Fan Tutti, here Dibdin does not hold back in wit and imagination. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Richard Latham
The kind of escapist novel that I really wanted to escape from.
This is the last of the Zen novels that I shall bother to read and here is what I think about them:
Dibdin has created a main character who is neither credible nor... Read more
Dibdin has created a main character who is neither credible nor... Read more
Published 15 months ago by moby-dick
A classic by the King.
The late Michael Dibdin was simply a king amongst crime writers. Forget the formulaic approach of writers like Donna Leon, each book is unique. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2009 by Keith Andreetti
Back to Bologna
OK if you already like Dibdin and are a Zen fan, but not one of his best
Published on 7 Feb 2009 by Mr. P. F. Harrison
A load of old bolognese
Judging from the other reviews you either "get" this book or you don't. I've read it four times and think it quite wonderful; it even made me laugh out loud in several places. Read more
Published on 21 April 2008 by Slow Lorris
Ripping holiday read
Well sat on a beach on the Adriatic Coast of Italy this book was a boon. Single sitting read - very clever and well put together. Read more
Published on 6 July 2007 by Karl Grocock
An Irreplaceable Loss to Crime Writing
Dibdin is the finest writer of crime to come from Britain, able to combine suspense, excitement, characterisation and humour. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2007 by Felix Lane
Disappointing Dibdin
I have followed the career of Inspector Zen closely for a number of years, but I think that he is clearly due for retirement. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2006 by Karen Vincent-jones
Distinct lack of Zen
A short review for a short book. This is the most disappointing and lacklustre Zen novel so far, although referring to it as a Zen novel is tenuous at best because the character... Read more
Published on 26 Sep 2006 by Marmaduke Gentle
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