This is now the third of three Carofiglio books I have read, despite it being the first published. Guido Guerrieri, the lead character, defends a Senegalese immigrant charged with the murder of a 9 year old boy.
As always, Carofiglio's books are immensely readable - I started reading on a Sunday morning and before I knew it, it was lunch-time and I had finished the book. Unfortunately, I still can't figure out what makes his books so appealing so I suspect it's a combination of things : the setting in Bari; Guido himself, as a troubled and flawed character, who you still have a great deal of empathy for; or the wit and thoughts which Carofiglio expresses through Guido.
The book is not at all technical and will not test readers looking for a complex legal thriller. This is despite some brilliant deliveries from Guido as he appeals to the jury members and the court. The book is also not a `whodunit' in the traditional English or American sense. Strikingly, the accused plays a very small part in the whole book, as does his wife who disappears very early on for no apparent good reason.
But there is just something about the way Carofiglio writes which has you craving for more!
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