In the sweltering heat of a Bologna summer, a murderer plans their pièce de résistance…
Only in Bologna reads the headline in the Carlino after a professor of music is apparently murdered leaving the opera. But what looks like an open-and-shut case begins to fall apart when English detective Daniel Leicester is tasked with getting the accused man off, and a trail that begins among Bologna’s close-knit classical music community leads him to suspect there may be a serial killer at large in the oldest university in the world. And as Bologna trembles with aftershocks following a recent earthquake, the city begins to give up her secrets…
It's such a pleasure to be hosting my review of Requiem in La Rossa today. Many thanks to Constable for my digital copy of the novel, received through Netgalley.
I read Requiem in La Rossa during the recent heatwave but I'd have been transported to the searing heat of a Bologna summer even if it had been the middle of winter. This is the third book in Tom Benjamin's Daniel Leicester series but the first I have read. It can very easily be enjoyed as a stand alone but I'm going to go back and read the previous books because I loved this one and already know I've found a new favourite series.
The immersive sense of place is evident right from the start of the novel as Daniel and his dog, Rufus walk in the woods early in the morning. The evocative descriptions here are so inviting but even as he enjoys the ancient hillside fragrances of rosemary, mint and sage, Daniel notes that his Italy is not up amongst the summer herbs but down in the smouldering city. It's very clear that Tom Benjamin knows Bologna intimately; Requiem in La Rossa never feels like a tourist brochure and he reflects upon the city's quirks and less savoury aspects as well as its long history and undoubted architectural charms. The headline that screams, 'ONLY IN BOLOGNA' is indicative of the contrasts within the ancient city walls and although the newspaper's report of the death of a respected university professor is typically choleric, the juxtaposition between the wealthy theatre-goers and desperate drug addicts is stark. While this intermingling of rich and poor isn't unique to Bologna, of course, I thought the description of the 'peculiar brazenness and squalor' around Piazza Verdi, decorated with its radical banners and murals gave a clear idea of how the city is viewed by its inhabitants.
Daniel is asked to investigate the apparently straightforward case of the professor's death but it seems as though the facts are irrefutable. He isn't sure that he will discover anything that changes the outcome but agrees to see if he can uncover any mitigating circumstances that could be used in the accused young man's defence. As I mentioned above, this is the first book I've read in this series and so it was my introduction to the close-knit team that he works with. There are obviously some events from the past referred to here but my ignorance of what came before never caused me to become confused and I appreciated being brought up so speed so unobtrusively.
The references to the city's rich historical and cultural heritage provide a fascinating backdrop to proceedings and are a highlight of Requiem in La Rossa but the superb characterisation is equally as impressive. Daniel is clearly no stranger to tragedy, being a widower with a teenage daughter but is surrounded by the affectionate support of his family and friends. His relationship with his father-in-law, still known by almost everybody by his honorific title, the Commandante is particularly interesting; their mutual respect as they discuss the case allows them to disagree and admit when they have been mistaken. Likewise, Daniel and his daughter, Rose have a warm, loving relationship and he encourages her to follow her artistic passions. While he still misses his wife, he isn't alone and as much as I enjoy a troubled detective, it was gratifying for a change to read about a likeable man who hasn't become weighed down by his demons. He's no angel, however, and his resolute pursuit of the truth means he is prepared to bend the rules when necessary.
Art and music play a vital role in the storyline and not just because the dead man was a professor of Musicology. As the body count starts to rise and the deaths appear to be linked to the city's classical music society, Daniel is drawn into a world where talent isn't always enough and this becomes a rather sobering observation of the inherent advantages that come with money and influence. The serpentine plot proves to be as labyrinthine as the streets and passageways of Bologna with a murder that might actually be due to natural causes and a suicide that may be murder just the beginning of a perplexing and shocking investigation.
Nothing feels rushed and the simmering pace of the novel enables the tension to build steadily, becoming particularly nerve-racking towards its sinister, surprising conclusion. Requiem in La Rossa is a beautifully written book; atmospheric, intelligent and utterly compelling, I very highly recommend it.
Requiem in La Rossa is published by Constable, purchasing links can be found here but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
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