A Mistake Incomplete
Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Market)
A NEO-NOIR CAPER SET IN MODERN-DAY MILAN.
An incompetent thief makes another attempt at burglary. A hopeless bartender struggles to manage her last patron. The pair reluctantly work together to figure out why a man they presumed dead may have returned, while a lonely tourist inadvertently gets in the way.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 6 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7.00 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: A taut plot with a cast of intriguing characters makes for a daring adventure.
Prose: The author’s prose, oftentimes flowery and dwelling on minute details, somewhat dulls the tension of a neo-noir thriller. However, the dialogue is delightfully punchy.
Originality: This is an inventive whodunit that underscores a distinct message about depression and loneliness.
Character/Execution: The author's characters are entertaining and finely developed, particularly through their interactions and dialogue.
Blurb: This neo-noir mystery follows criminal Stef and bartender Beatrice as they work together in a case of mistaken identity. Who is the man they threw into the deep waters of the Po River? And why is a lonely tourist always hanging around?
Date Submitted: April 02, 2021
Reviews
Set mainly in Milan, Italy, this lively caper novel from Petruzziello (The Love Fool) briskly introduces its two protagonists. Stef, an aging lothario, has been reduced to pulling off robberies on the orders of a man one should not disobey. Stef’s occasional lover, Beatrice, an American who overstayed her student visa, now augments her salary at a local bar by providing companionship for a price. Late one evening, a stranger walks into the bar and orders a drink. He steps into the restroom, where Stef and Beatrice later find his inert body lying on the floor, a gash on his forehead. They quickly surmise he’s dead, and Stef, always wary of the police, decides they should get rid of the body by dumping it in the River Po. The pair believe their troubles are over until the man they thought was dead walks back into the bar. Has he come for revenge? Does he really not recognize them? Soon Stef and Beatrice are up to their necks in trouble. A full complement of coincidences, tenuous motives, and mistaken identities make this something of a screwball comedy. Petruzziello’s loving descriptions of Milan’s streets, galleries, and cafés are worth the price of admission. (Self-published)
Amazon.com reader
I loved this book! It is a fun page-turner that has it all...romance, mystery, and cocktails! A perfect escape that is hard to put down. Highly recommend!
Kirkus Reviews
A sharp, edgy caper with a final surprise.