The Innocent (Marshal Guarnaccia Series #13) Book

Nabb is very good at creating interesting characters and an atmosphere that translates as Italian to a non-Italian reader, but the narrative, focussed on the quirks of Italian patriarchs, gets a tad too repetitive. That could be forgiven, were it not for killing off the most complex character right at the get-go. First, nobody seems to have known her much, but the latter half of the novel is spent on heartfelt reminiscences, which are sometimes downright patronising. Too much is sacrificed here for the sake of an idealized Italy, where a foreigner - pregnant and with an abandoned doctorate - how many boxes are ticked here? - cannot hope to stay alive.