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The Chemist of Catania
In the slum of Purgatory, in the city of Catania, Calogero di Rienzi, discovers that his late father is a notorious Mafia bomb maker, known as the Chemist, and resolves that he too will rise in the organisation, against all obstacles. The Chemist of Catania is the story of his ascent to power, and how he ruthlessly deals with all those who stand in his path.
“I review a lot of crime novels, and they very seldom come up to the level of Alexander Lucie-Smith’s riveting Sicilian stories. He paints the landscapes and townscapes of Catania with brightness. The plots are fast, the characters unforgettable. Menace, suspense, lust, love, fear all enliven his narrative. I can see him becoming a real ‘cult’ author, as well as translating with ease to the silver screen.” AN Wilson
“I review a lot of crime novels, and they very seldom come up to the level of Alexander Lucie-Smith’s riveting Sicilian stories. He paints the landscapes and townscapes of Catania with brightness. The plots are fast, the characters unforgettable. Menace, suspense, lust, love, fear all enliven his narrative. I can see him becoming a real ‘cult’ author, as well as translating with ease to the silver screen.” AN Wilson
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 6, 2023
I picked this volume up for a few reasons. First I have followed Father Alexander Lucie-Smith on social media for a few years now. He has three earlier novels, now out of print, under the name David McLaurin. I had only been able to track down one in my price range used, and it was lost during a move. His fiction came highly recommended from another priest who’s nonfiction and opinion I appreciate and respect. And I am thankful to have finally read a volume by Alexander Lucie-Smith. I really had no idea what to expect. I picked it up without reading the description, I grabbed it solely based on the author.
The description of the volume states:
“In the slum of Purgatory, in the city of Catania, Calogero di Rienzi, discovers that his late father is a notorious Mafia bomb maker, known as the Chemist, and resolves that he too will rise in the organisation, against all obstacles. The Chemist of Catania is the story of his ascent to power, and how he ruthlessly deals with all those who stand in his path.”
and includes this praise:
“I review a lot of crime novels, and they very seldom come up to the level of Alexander Lucie-Smith’s riveting Sicilian stories. He paints the landscapes and townscapes of Catania with brightness. The plots are fast, the characters unforgettable. Menace, suspense, lust, love, fear all enliven his narrative. I can see him becoming a real ‘cult’ author, as well as translating with ease to the silver screen.” AN Wilson
The story is darker than I expected and is along the lines of JD Kirk, Ken Bruen, and Alexander Gordon Smith but with the emphasis on the criminals and crimes rather than those aiming to stop them. The story gets very dark, the main character is a sadist who controls a whole section of the town through fear and intimidation. The story focuses around a main character named Calogero is a brute. From the moment he stands up to his father’s beatings he heads further and further along a dark path. The story includes thefts from church’s, drugs, prostitutes, and a peek into the criminal underworld. It also has a confraternity that is really just a front for criminal activity and a method of cleaning the money. The attack and debasement that Calogero allowed to happen to his younger brother was hard to read. And I almost gave up on the story at that point. There are some interesting twists towards the end. And the ending leave it open for the story to continue in a very different light.
In many ways it reminded me of The Rifle, and Other Stories by Tomás Carrasquilla, and edited by ML Clark. In that it presents a Catholicism I have a hard time reconciling with my own lived experience of the faith. The story was well written but often I found it disturbing. I am sure it would be great for those who love crime novels, especially those focused on the mafia, and more so from the criminal point of view. It was worth the read and I would give future novels from Lucie-Smith a try or his earlier works if I can track them down.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
The description of the volume states:
“In the slum of Purgatory, in the city of Catania, Calogero di Rienzi, discovers that his late father is a notorious Mafia bomb maker, known as the Chemist, and resolves that he too will rise in the organisation, against all obstacles. The Chemist of Catania is the story of his ascent to power, and how he ruthlessly deals with all those who stand in his path.”
and includes this praise:
“I review a lot of crime novels, and they very seldom come up to the level of Alexander Lucie-Smith’s riveting Sicilian stories. He paints the landscapes and townscapes of Catania with brightness. The plots are fast, the characters unforgettable. Menace, suspense, lust, love, fear all enliven his narrative. I can see him becoming a real ‘cult’ author, as well as translating with ease to the silver screen.” AN Wilson
The story is darker than I expected and is along the lines of JD Kirk, Ken Bruen, and Alexander Gordon Smith but with the emphasis on the criminals and crimes rather than those aiming to stop them. The story gets very dark, the main character is a sadist who controls a whole section of the town through fear and intimidation. The story focuses around a main character named Calogero is a brute. From the moment he stands up to his father’s beatings he heads further and further along a dark path. The story includes thefts from church’s, drugs, prostitutes, and a peek into the criminal underworld. It also has a confraternity that is really just a front for criminal activity and a method of cleaning the money. The attack and debasement that Calogero allowed to happen to his younger brother was hard to read. And I almost gave up on the story at that point. There are some interesting twists towards the end. And the ending leave it open for the story to continue in a very different light.
In many ways it reminded me of The Rifle, and Other Stories by Tomás Carrasquilla, and edited by ML Clark. In that it presents a Catholicism I have a hard time reconciling with my own lived experience of the faith. The story was well written but often I found it disturbing. I am sure it would be great for those who love crime novels, especially those focused on the mafia, and more so from the criminal point of view. It was worth the read and I would give future novels from Lucie-Smith a try or his earlier works if I can track them down.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan!
July 4, 2023
A brutal modern fable of small-town mafia barbarity
In a small Italian town, the neighbourhood called Purgatorio is a place where family, friends, and neighbours are only so much prey to ruling psychopath Calogero as he sets his sights on impressing the mafia in Palermo. Lucie-Smith not only manages to perfectly convey the claustrophobia of this rancid little town, with it's eagle-eyed overlord forever watching the people in the square below and plotting his next swoop; he is also a master fable writer, and the tale is rich in symbolism. The local man of God rescues the one good soul, Calogero's brother Rosario - named after a powerful catholic prayer of deliverance - from the sadistic hell of his brother's influence, and aids his flight to Rome (the Holy City) from whence he returns strong, whole, and ready to fight back. And the only other character to escape this purgatory is a Magdalene-archetype, Anna (who unfortunately leaves behind a son as rotten as Calogero, ripe for discipleship). A chilling tale.
In a small Italian town, the neighbourhood called Purgatorio is a place where family, friends, and neighbours are only so much prey to ruling psychopath Calogero as he sets his sights on impressing the mafia in Palermo. Lucie-Smith not only manages to perfectly convey the claustrophobia of this rancid little town, with it's eagle-eyed overlord forever watching the people in the square below and plotting his next swoop; he is also a master fable writer, and the tale is rich in symbolism. The local man of God rescues the one good soul, Calogero's brother Rosario - named after a powerful catholic prayer of deliverance - from the sadistic hell of his brother's influence, and aids his flight to Rome (the Holy City) from whence he returns strong, whole, and ready to fight back. And the only other character to escape this purgatory is a Magdalene-archetype, Anna (who unfortunately leaves behind a son as rotten as Calogero, ripe for discipleship). A chilling tale.
September 11, 2024
I think I have been spoiled by reading Elena Ferrante. This is OK, and a good enough holiday read, but the author spends a fair amont of time explaining the action and obvious consequences of decisions. Most of it I had worked out early on.
In this sort of crime genre I prefer the books of Gianrico Carlofiglio.
In this sort of crime genre I prefer the books of Gianrico Carlofiglio.
May 15, 2023
An intriguing book that tells how criminals behave and how they manipulate children to become their helpmates
November 25, 2023
Didn't know what to expect with this book but thoroughly enjoyed the read and recommend it. Well written
July 10, 2024
I was given this book as a present. I thought it was really good. Couldn’t put it down. An interesting insight into the Sicilian underworld
March 18, 2025
Well written.
The story is well developed. There is a clear progression and the unfolding of the characters is interesting. The reader's attention is held throughout.
The story is well developed. There is a clear progression and the unfolding of the characters is interesting. The reader's attention is held throughout.
June 17, 2025
Loved this book everyone should read it
September 10, 2023
A great read from cover to cover. A clear picture of Sicily. Looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews