War and Murder in Rome

Where would crime fiction be without World War II to provide an invaluable distorting lens that lets writers show how badly private people can behave in a world gone mad? That admirable British television series Foyle’s War was a fine example, as are the books of J. Robert Janes and many others.

Carlo Lucarelli seems ready to join them, on the basis of this first novel of a trilogy set in Italy in 1945. As Mussolini’s reign and life are about to end, Commissario De Luca, a Roman police officer, gets involved in investigating the stabbing murder of a man with connections all the way to the top of the Fascist food chain. Welcome to the club, Commissario De Luca; have a seat right next to Chief Inspector Foyle…