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DEATH IN THE DOLOMITES
by David P. Wagner
Poisoned Pen, September 2014
236 pages
$24.95
ISBN: 1464202702


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Back with the second installment of the Rick Montoya series, David Wagner again takes his readers deep into the heart of Italy, this time to the Dolomites, or Italian Alps. Skiing in the tiny town of Campiglio is well under way when an American banker based in Milan goes missing. His American sister has come for a visit, and she is the one who alerts police to his absence.

However, the American sister is acting very strangely and is soon ladling out all her feminine charms in heavy doses on Rick Montoya. An American translator based in Rome, Montoya is there on holiday with an old college friend from the town of Campiglio who seems to know everyone in town. Montoya is soon called upon by the police to help bridge the language barrier with the sister and assist in the investigation (of course, the fact that Montoya's uncle is a high ranking police official who thinks Montoya has a gift for police work doesn't hurt).

Soon it becomes clear that this small vacation hamlet is awash in intrigue, both political and financial, and this American's disappearance brings all that to the fore. As Rick becomes more and more involved in the investigation, it turns riskier and riskier for his own safety and for those around him.

While this mystery follows a tried and true formula, there's plenty to enjoy along the way in addition to figuring out whodunit. The author is very adept at painting a charming portrait of this area of Italy, as well as giving readers wonderful insight into the food and wine of the region. Solving a murder requires adequate fuel, and lavish dinners and breaks for espresso and pastries are all part of the fun. Anyone who enjoys Italian life will love this series, and Wagner does not disappoint with this second book.

§ Christine Zibas is a freelance writer and former director of publications for a Chicago nonprofit.

Reviewed by Christine Zibas, August 2014

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