Manuela, the daughter of a wealthy couple from Bari, disappeared without trace months before and the police have closed their investigation, to the parents' despair. Counsellor Guerrieri reluctantly takes on an unusual assignment: to seek new evidence to force the police to reopen the case. A job more suitable to a private detective but a job that leads him to Nadia, a former client, a fascinating woman with an ambiguous past and to the tempting Caterina, Manuela's best friend, exquisitely too young for the jaded Guerrieri...
Temporary Perfections (Guido Guerrieri)
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Priase for the series: Hard-boiled and sun-dried in equal parts. Where Philip Marlowe would be knocking back bourbon and listening to the snap of fist on jaw, Guerrieri prefers Sicilian wine and Leonard Cohen. A" Financial Times The role of Guerrieri is to take on impossible cases that have little chance of success. His efforts to prove his client's innocence bring him into dangerous conflict with Mafia interests. Everything a legal thriller should be.A" The Times
About the Author
Gianrico Carofiglio now a member of the Senate in Italy was an anti-Mafia prosecutor in Bari, a port on the coast of Puglia. He has been involved with trials concerning corruption, organized crime and the traffic in human beings. He is a best-selling author of crime novels, literary fiction and most recently has authored a graphic novel illustrated by his brother. This is the fourth Guerrieri novel is in this best-selling series.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Smart Bari lawyer with work/life balance issues seeks avid crime readers
7 Oct 2011
By J. Coulton
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are like me a lover of crime fiction, and you haven't discovered the Bitter Lemon Press, then you have a treat in store. They publish quality crime fiction and thrillers, often set in far away exotic locations. My own favourite discovery from them so far is Gianrico Carofiglio, who has just published his fourth novel featuring Italian lawyer Guido Guerrieri, `Temporary Perfections'.
Carofiglio's background is particularly interesting, for before he discovered his talent for penning books, he was a prosecutor in the Italian city of Bari in Puglia, who specialised in prosecuting members of the mafia. And he uses his personal experiences to add depth and colour to Guerrieri's own legal career. He does have some of the, by now, obligatory tick list features of a crime fiction hero. These inevitably include failed personal relationships; the inability to achieve a healthy work/life balance; and a penchant for fine food and alcohol, sometimes to excess.
But despite this adherence to the formula, Carofiglio achieves a gritty pace to his books, which are always a cracking read. If anything this fourth one is slightly less strong than the previous three, as there does not seem to be that much sleuthing or legal work involved. But Guerrieri makes full use of past clients he has, usually successfully it has be said, defended, such as ex prostitutes, drug dealers and Mafioso, to get to the bottom of the disappearance of the daughter of a rich Bari family. If only he could resist the temptations of a young pretty girl to flatter his mid life crisis...
Carofiglio also achieves a wonderful sense of Bari, the backstreets and underbelly of which are centre stage in his stories, with the odd venture to Rome and other Italian cities thrown in for good measure. If you take my advice, and you know you want to, you will head straight for the first instalment of the legal adventures of Guido Guerrieri, `Involuntary Witness' and work your way through the following three books too, as the nights draw in, and there is nothing better than a good crime book to keep you amused.
Carofiglio's background is particularly interesting, for before he discovered his talent for penning books, he was a prosecutor in the Italian city of Bari in Puglia, who specialised in prosecuting members of the mafia. And he uses his personal experiences to add depth and colour to Guerrieri's own legal career. He does have some of the, by now, obligatory tick list features of a crime fiction hero. These inevitably include failed personal relationships; the inability to achieve a healthy work/life balance; and a penchant for fine food and alcohol, sometimes to excess.
But despite this adherence to the formula, Carofiglio achieves a gritty pace to his books, which are always a cracking read. If anything this fourth one is slightly less strong than the previous three, as there does not seem to be that much sleuthing or legal work involved. But Guerrieri makes full use of past clients he has, usually successfully it has be said, defended, such as ex prostitutes, drug dealers and Mafioso, to get to the bottom of the disappearance of the daughter of a rich Bari family. If only he could resist the temptations of a young pretty girl to flatter his mid life crisis...
Carofiglio also achieves a wonderful sense of Bari, the backstreets and underbelly of which are centre stage in his stories, with the odd venture to Rome and other Italian cities thrown in for good measure. If you take my advice, and you know you want to, you will head straight for the first instalment of the legal adventures of Guido Guerrieri, `Involuntary Witness' and work your way through the following three books too, as the nights draw in, and there is nothing better than a good crime book to keep you amused.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Blue in Washington
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
The latest in the Guido Guerrieri series by the estimable Italian crime writer, Gianrico Carofiglio. It's both a well-crafted murder mystery and a series of meditations and recollections by a man of principle and self-awareness. Another case of respect for Socrates' observation about the unexamined life being worthess.
Protagonist Guerrieri is a well-respected defense lawyer based in Bari, Italy who is approached by a colleague to investigate the unresolved disappearance of a young local woman. Reluctantly, Guerrieri agrees to make some inquiries, not expecting to find anything not already reported by the Italian police. His insightful handling of the missing woman's friends gradually opens up new possibilities and eventually a resolution to the case. As the procedural is launched and continues, the reader's respect for the lawyer's character grows. He's a thoughtful and interesting guy, but with a modest ego and good working moral compass. Someone to be admired for his approach to life, accomplishments and even his occasional missteps. The man has good friends with whom he has meaningful conversations, relatively free of cliches. He freely borrows other people's methods and gives them full credit when they succeed for him. In a genre where protagonists are most often addicts, recovering addicts or are regular punching bags for the bad guys, here's a hero who is none of that and, in fact, uses a punching bag himself..
This is a fine story and highly enjoyable read by an author at the top of his game. Highly recommended.
Protagonist Guerrieri is a well-respected defense lawyer based in Bari, Italy who is approached by a colleague to investigate the unresolved disappearance of a young local woman. Reluctantly, Guerrieri agrees to make some inquiries, not expecting to find anything not already reported by the Italian police. His insightful handling of the missing woman's friends gradually opens up new possibilities and eventually a resolution to the case. As the procedural is launched and continues, the reader's respect for the lawyer's character grows. He's a thoughtful and interesting guy, but with a modest ego and good working moral compass. Someone to be admired for his approach to life, accomplishments and even his occasional missteps. The man has good friends with whom he has meaningful conversations, relatively free of cliches. He freely borrows other people's methods and gives them full credit when they succeed for him. In a genre where protagonists are most often addicts, recovering addicts or are regular punching bags for the bad guys, here's a hero who is none of that and, in fact, uses a punching bag himself..
This is a fine story and highly enjoyable read by an author at the top of his game. Highly recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By R. E. Quinn
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Guido Guerrieri is a defence advocate. With his staff increasing he has recently moved to new offices and is still trying to get used to them. he is approached by a colleague who wants Guido to look over a case file to see if he can find any new line of enquiry that would make the police keep the case open.
Manuela Ferraro vanished one Sunday afternoon, she was last seen waiting for a train. Her parents have been told the police have no further leads and intend to close the case.
Guerrieri reluctantly agrees to take a look and as he begins to look into Manuela's life at university and her friends an interesting picture at odds with her family's view of her begins to emerge.
What happened that summer Sunday afternoon? where did Manuela go? As the story begins to unfold he is not sure he wants to find the answers.
This book is written by a former Italian Prosecutor and now a member of the Italian Senate. He writes with a knowledge of his subject and sprinkles in interesting and weird facts about Italian law through his story.
This is the fourth book in the series but it can quite easily stand alone as a single novel.
For those who like to try a different slant on the crime novel this is worth a go.
Manuela Ferraro vanished one Sunday afternoon, she was last seen waiting for a train. Her parents have been told the police have no further leads and intend to close the case.
Guerrieri reluctantly agrees to take a look and as he begins to look into Manuela's life at university and her friends an interesting picture at odds with her family's view of her begins to emerge.
What happened that summer Sunday afternoon? where did Manuela go? As the story begins to unfold he is not sure he wants to find the answers.
This book is written by a former Italian Prosecutor and now a member of the Italian Senate. He writes with a knowledge of his subject and sprinkles in interesting and weird facts about Italian law through his story.
This is the fourth book in the series but it can quite easily stand alone as a single novel.
For those who like to try a different slant on the crime novel this is worth a go.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another triumph!
This is the best of Carofiglio's Guerrerri books so far although they are all excellent. He has developed as an author along the way. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Grandma- Gateshead
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superior crime fiction
Temporary Perfections gives a marvellous insight into the Italian legal system. Guido Guerrieri is a likeable character and he attracts very personal revelations from various... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Caz Mysteries
5.0 out of 5 stars
reader
Gusrrieri takes on unsual assignment not up his path of lawyer more suited to an investigator. He looks it over not expecting to get results after all the Caradirier have already... Read more
Published 9 months ago by reader
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another great read from this Italian master
Guido Guerrieri, our hero in this the fourth book in the seris is in a melancholic state. We find the crusading criminal lawyer of Bari, now in his forties knocking back Primitivo... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Gerry McCaffrey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Really unusual and entertaining
Carofiglio always seems to really understand the subject matter and have strong views about the main characters. This book is no exception and I am fast becoming a real fan. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Wilz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable character-based crime italian novel
I read the first Carofiglio novel Involuntary Witness (Guido Guerrieri 1) some time ago and enjoyed it but never got around to reading the rest. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Pardo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth a try
Carofiglio's book is an unusual production. It has an engaging central character and a number of others, some of whom take it in turns to act as the sounding board for his ideas. Read more
Published 17 months ago by G. Brack
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strong story, strong characters, Southern Italian pace.
Guerrieri's a good honest lawyer working in southern Italy, and it's a pleasure to meet him. For once the hero of a detective novel is only relatively troubled. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Mrs. R.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Trulli unusual tale.
Having read Donna Leon, and Michael Dibdin I looked forward to this offering from someone who understood the apparently Machiavellian machinations of his own country's legal... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Captain Chaos (Semper Vigilans)
5.0 out of 5 stars
Temporary Perfections could lead to permanent addicition
Guido Guerrieri is a lawyer - an Avvocato - in Bari. Early in Gianrico Carofiglio's tale, Guerrieri recalls a boyhood friend who had ambitions to become a magistrate but failed... Read more
Published 18 months ago by G. M. Sinstadt
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