I Will Have Vengeance (Book Review)

In his first book, I Will Have Vengeance, Italian crime novelist Maurizio De Giovanni displays a lean and well-formed writing style that reveals both plot and character with an admirable efficiency of detail. His central character, Commissario Ricciardi is a hard but honest detective in fascist Italy, in 1931. He appears to live a life devoid of emotion but is in fact acutely sensitive to human suffering and in this way gains useful insight into crimes of passion, of anger and, as he says, the greatest motivator of all, Hunger.

A good mystery story is often defined by its main character’s props, his/her distinguishing affectations and habits. Sherlock Holmes had his violin, chemistry lab and haughty diffidence. Miss Marple her matronly nosiness and way with analogies, Even Columbo had his trench coat and way with the, “just one more thing.” For Ricciardi, De Giovanni gives us the traits of a paranormal sensitivity to the echoes left behind by the recently dead. He sees them in their last moments, replayed over and over. It is a device that separates him from the world of the living and makes him of particular use to it.

I Will Have Vengeance is fairly standard melodrama, a legendary but personally despised tenor is killed. Around the death is a swarm of publicity and concern. But also a nearly hostile sense of relief as the investigation reveals the man’s foul personality. There is a tangle of lovers and jealousies and a sensitive musically romantic priest who may hold the key. What the book possesses of value is a complex and sympathetic central character and moments of lingering heartbreak that give the whole scenario richness and depth.

With I will Have Vengeance Maurizio De Giovanni has shown himself to be a capable storyteller. But more importantly his debut displays the ability to snap quick images of his characters, to describe small instances and interactions and have them speak volumes.