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Review
`A fast-talking, pocket-sized box-ticker of a private-dick novel, The Salati Case sees Tobias Jones revisit the modern Italian underworld he combed through in his 2003 non-fiction book The Dark Heart of Italy.Indeed, the main obstacle facing his narrator and protagonist, Castagnetti
...is the paranoia, corruption and complicity of the upper echelons of Italian society, which the detective slips past with little concern for personal safety. Angry, violent and uncompromising, with a shaved head, dead parents and a sideline in beekeeping, Castagnetti will be back, no danger: he is too good a creation to be restricted to a single case.' --Observer
`Enjoyable crime debut.' --Independent
`[This] promises to be an excellent series.'
--Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph
'Castagnetti will be back, no danger: he is too good a creation to be restricted to a single case.'
--Observer
...is the paranoia, corruption and complicity of the upper echelons of Italian society, which the detective slips past with little concern for personal safety. Angry, violent and uncompromising, with a shaved head, dead parents and a sideline in beekeeping, Castagnetti will be back, no danger: he is too good a creation to be restricted to a single case.' --Observer
`Enjoyable crime debut.' --Independent
`[This] promises to be an excellent series.'
--Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph
'Castagnetti will be back, no danger: he is too good a creation to be restricted to a single case.'
--Observer
Review
'This is a worthy successor to Michael Dibdin. I am sure that Castagnetti will be back.'
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This mystery thriller set in contemporary northern Italy is a debut novel by Tobias Jones. The story is told from the point of view of Castagnetti, who is a private investigator hired to establish the legal status of Riccardo Salati, who disappeared fourteen years ago but as no body has ever been found he is presumed missing. His wealthy widowed mother, Silvia Salati has just died and made it a condition of her will that the case into her son's disappearance be reopened to establish whether he is still alive or dead. Only once this has been determined, can the will's heirs inherit the fortune left.
The narrative flows easily and the whole story takes place over one week. Castagnetti is like a bloodhound once he has the scent and makes a thorough investigator. He interviews family members and others connected to Salati. He pursues any lead and throughout the week we share everything he learns. The story twists and turns throwing up new clues and suspects but it concludes in a very satisfactory and explanatory manner ensuring the reader understands who, what and why occurred.
The lead character of Castagnetti is a loner but very likeable and although he has a cynical streak, he is not totally downtrodden or world weary. The writing is well paced and quick to read. The whole novel reminded me of the classic American noir novels of the 1930s and 1940s and although the setting is Italy, the place has become a backdrop rather than a main character. The overall effect is a highly enjoyable and well written mystery thriller which allows the reader to fully engage with the story and reach an ending where the mystery is resolved.
The narrative flows easily and the whole story takes place over one week. Castagnetti is like a bloodhound once he has the scent and makes a thorough investigator. He interviews family members and others connected to Salati. He pursues any lead and throughout the week we share everything he learns. The story twists and turns throwing up new clues and suspects but it concludes in a very satisfactory and explanatory manner ensuring the reader understands who, what and why occurred.
The lead character of Castagnetti is a loner but very likeable and although he has a cynical streak, he is not totally downtrodden or world weary. The writing is well paced and quick to read. The whole novel reminded me of the classic American noir novels of the 1930s and 1940s and although the setting is Italy, the place has become a backdrop rather than a main character. The overall effect is a highly enjoyable and well written mystery thriller which allows the reader to fully engage with the story and reach an ending where the mystery is resolved.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Riccardo Salati went misisng fifteen years ago but, as there was no evidence to suggest foul play, his disappearance never triggered much of a police investigation. Now his mother Silvia has died and suddenly Riccardo's living or dead status becomes a key factor in executing her estate. Enter Castagnetti, private investigator, hired by estate solicitor Crespi to finally pronounce on Riccardo's fate.
A comment on the book's cover. It's a monochrome atmospheric picture of a Venice backwater and wherever this story is set in northern Italy it is not Venice. That's just treating the reader as either disinterested or dumb, I'm slightly annoyed at that inattention to detail.
The plot is set out clearly, just why is Salati's fate so important, who are the family players and why specifically has Castagnetti been called upon of all the private investigators available. So far, so good. The cast is developed and Jones does a pretty good job of getting us to respond to characters we like or don't like, beginning to ask questions of what really happened to Riccardo when he failed to board his train all those years ago. After that, the pace is steady, never reckless, and the story that unfolds is believable. I do question whether Italian society and the justice system really allows a private investigator to stomp around a case, work in and out of the police investigation so freely, bully witnesses and generally take over. I have not seen such a state of affairs reflected in any other writer's work so I'm inclined to believe this is a fantasy and weakens my belief in the story overall.
Meanwhile I really found Castagnetti a thoroughly dislikeable person. He has no scruples about trampling all over people's emotions, young and old, in fact as he says himself he prefers bees to people. My strong dislike of the central character meant I had no emapthy with his task of finding the solution. Castagnetti is not Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade or Aurelio Zen, the writing is not that good and neither is the Castagnetti character. I do believe Jones has written with television or film in mind and that has detracted from simply focusing on writing a novel. Perhaps that's also why Castagnetti is such a thoroughly dislikeable person, he dislikes people and I dislike him. That's why his only way of getting people to open up or do what he wants them to is to bully them, an approach he even extends to the police.
If Tobias Jones can turn his private investigator into a worthwhile character then other stories could follow, but as things stand, I really don't want to follow Castagnetti any further.
A comment on the book's cover. It's a monochrome atmospheric picture of a Venice backwater and wherever this story is set in northern Italy it is not Venice. That's just treating the reader as either disinterested or dumb, I'm slightly annoyed at that inattention to detail.
The plot is set out clearly, just why is Salati's fate so important, who are the family players and why specifically has Castagnetti been called upon of all the private investigators available. So far, so good. The cast is developed and Jones does a pretty good job of getting us to respond to characters we like or don't like, beginning to ask questions of what really happened to Riccardo when he failed to board his train all those years ago. After that, the pace is steady, never reckless, and the story that unfolds is believable. I do question whether Italian society and the justice system really allows a private investigator to stomp around a case, work in and out of the police investigation so freely, bully witnesses and generally take over. I have not seen such a state of affairs reflected in any other writer's work so I'm inclined to believe this is a fantasy and weakens my belief in the story overall.
Meanwhile I really found Castagnetti a thoroughly dislikeable person. He has no scruples about trampling all over people's emotions, young and old, in fact as he says himself he prefers bees to people. My strong dislike of the central character meant I had no emapthy with his task of finding the solution. Castagnetti is not Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade or Aurelio Zen, the writing is not that good and neither is the Castagnetti character. I do believe Jones has written with television or film in mind and that has detracted from simply focusing on writing a novel. Perhaps that's also why Castagnetti is such a thoroughly dislikeable person, he dislikes people and I dislike him. That's why his only way of getting people to open up or do what he wants them to is to bully them, an approach he even extends to the police.
If Tobias Jones can turn his private investigator into a worthwhile character then other stories could follow, but as things stand, I really don't want to follow Castagnetti any further.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Well if ever there was an example of a book which does not live up to the "recommendations" on its cover, then this is it. at only 260 small pages I thought this would be a one- or two-sitting thriller. But no. It is so dull that it took me forever to plough through it and frankly I couldn't have cared less about the denouement by the time I got to it. To be avoided at all costs. Stick to the non-fiction please Mr Jones.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
started strongly and then lost the plot
After enjoying immensely some Italian based police stories ( Camilieri, Donna Leon, and others) I was really looking forward to this book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by danzdanz
The Salati Case
A great page turner which every good thriller must be, I couldn't put it down. Very well written and far superior to some of the Italian Crime Writers.
Published 7 months ago by Emmetjc
Workmanlike thriller
This is a workmanlike thriller which, while entertaining enough to keep turning the pages, didn't really do anything new or distinctive. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Lloyd Clarkson
Decent story which kept me engaged
This is an interessting story unbundling the dirty washing of a wealthy family. Set in Northern Italy, the narrative ('action' or 'drama' would exaggerate the experience)unfolds... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Noel
The Salati Case
Based on reference to the authors other work, his experience & knowledge of the country, i was looking forward to being infused in an Italian mystery. Read more
Published 17 months ago by pann
Fairly run of the mill
I must admit to finding this book fairly run of the mill.
Well written but did not really grip me as much as I hoped.
Worth reading though.
Well written but did not really grip me as much as I hoped.
Worth reading though.
Published 19 months ago by chipfat
Expected better
I hoped that this book would be good as I've enjoyed Tobias Jones' journalism on Italy (see: The Dark Heart of Italy: Travels Through Time and Space Across Italy). Read more
Published 21 months ago by Genly Ai
Salati Case
A reasonable but easy to follow plot. I read this on the beach and it was an uncomplicated read. Could have been a bit more descriptive of the environs to set a better atmosphere. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Evis K Bagdades
Enjoyable Crime Mystery
I found this to be a really enjoyable crime mystery. From the very first pages there is intrigue when Castagnetti, the lead character and private investigator, is asked to look... Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by A. Rose
Philip Marlowe walks through some mean Italian streets
Raymond Chandler created the mythic private eye in Philip Marlowe, the lone tough guy surrounded by deceit and corruption. Read more
Published on 22 April 2010 by Richard
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