A DEADLY PARADISE

I've just finished reading A DEADLY PARADISE written by an old friend Grace Brophy. This is her second book featuring Commissario Cenni.

This time he solves the murder and mutilation of an elderly German woman who was a retired cultural attache and still has diplomatic ties. His superiors want him to finish the case quickly and arrest an African woman who was a friend of the German. He doesn't believe in the guilt of this African woman and delves further in the life of the German woman. In the course of his investigation he uncovers a murder about 50 years earlier and a couple of suspicious deaths and possible conterfeiting during the war. The deaths point to the responsibility of one person and the inspector follows leads to Venice.

While in Venice he sees a woman he believes is his lover who was kidnapped 20 years earlier. It was her kidnapping that led to Cenni's becoming a policeman. He hoped he could investigate and find his love. He learns the woman's name, but loses her in the city.

It is only in the last few pages that we learn who the murderer is. However, Commissario Cenni has not found and contacted his love, Chiara. Maybe they will reunite in the next book.

I've never been to Italy, but reading about Venice, I felt that I was there. I also felt that I was in Paradiso in Umbria when they were investigating the murder and interviewing witnesses. I was there at the end of the story when they captured the murderer.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more of Commissario Cenni and hopefully he will reunite with Chiara.