Giovannis Gabe

by Bradford Morrow

"Imagine a scene of rural serenity, a night scene." So begins the first chapter of Bradford Morrow's latest novel, Giovanni's Gift. However pastoral this start may seem, in a few short paragraphs, Morrow succeeds in shattering the peace as he sets up the central mystery of the book: an unknown trespasser conducts a campaign of terror against the inhabitants of a lonely farm somewhere in "the western mountains." Loud music blares in the middle of the night, phone lines are cut, an effigy hangs from an ash tree, a door is stolen--over the course of several months these and other random acts of harassment begin to wear on Henry and Edmé Fulton. Eventually, Edmé's nephew, Grant, arrives from Rome to help unravel the truth behind these increasingly disturbing events. Unfortunately , the mystery behind Giovanni's Gift begins to unravel for the reader long before the characters figure it out.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Italy, Novels

382 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Bradford Morrow has lived for the past thirty years in New York City and rural upstate New York, though he grew up in Colorado and lived and worked in a variety of places in between. While in his mid-teens, he traveled through rural Honduras as a member of the Amigos de las Americas program, serving as a medical volunteer in the summer of 1967. The following year he was awarded an American Field Service scholarship to finish his last year of high school as a foreign exchange student at a Liceo Scientifico in Cuneo, Italy. In 1973, he took time off from studying at the University of Colorado to live in Paris for a year. After doing graduate work on a Danforth Fellowship at Yale University, he moved to Santa Barbara, California, to work as a rare book dealer. In 1981 he relocated to New York City to the literary journal Conjunctions, which he founded with the poet Kenneth Rexroth, and to write novels. He and his two cats divide their time between NYC and upstate New York.

Visit his website at www.bradfordmorrow.com.

Reviews

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the writing style, I loved the setting - the author conjures up the beauty of this part of the US. The story was gripping and well told. I was disappointed in what I felt was a loss of moral compass in the ending of the book; it wasn't that it was unsatisfying - it was a great dramatic climax- it was more that people would have and should have been held more accountable. Saying that, a very good thriller, well told and well written.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, great character build ups and interesting setting. The only problem I had (and others may not feel this way) is the change in narrator from first-person to third-person omniscient at the two-thirds plot of the book. The switching back and forth along with a variety of flashbacks and flash forwards muddied the plot a bit. Not a big deal as the read was a good one and recommended to all.

[Calvin Schnurr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice style and setting but story doesn't entirely hold together.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Grant, who is currently living in Rome, his marriage on the rocks, learns that his Aunt Edme and Uncle Henry are the victims an escalating campaign of terror by a mysterious group, he doesn’t hesitate to head to their house at Ash Creek - the closest thing to home he knew growing up, since his parents were diplomats and he spent his summers there, growing up.

Grant finds that the mystery surrounding the terror isn’t quite such a mystery to his relatives; rather a can of worms that has been untouched for decades and this has forced open. Though in the dark, Grant tries his best to assist his aunt and uncle, and perhaps even find love along the way, with Helen Trentas, daughter of the titular Giovanni, whose unsolved murder is yet another can of worms mystery that Grant feels compelled to solve, with the help of a cigar box of Giovanni’s possessions which first hold a mystery of their own, but also, possibly, the method of solving all the mysteries.

I was torn between a 4 and 5 star rating for this, and would have gone with 4.5, if I could have. The author is a good writer, in a literature sort of way, which probably is why this book isn’t easily classified as a straight mystery, though it definitely is a unique one. Just be prepared for it to feel more like literature than mystery, in its writing style. Long story short, I guessed both mysteries pretty early on, but still enjoyed the story. Also, fair warning, there are a few sex scenes, which are somewhat described.

From Lady Audley’s Secret to this by way of a possessive title, but wow, they are oddly similar, actually: a nephew who solves a mystery that the family doesn’t really want solved, and a developing relationship with someone intrinsically related to it all.

[Laura Rodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. It was scary in the truest sense of horror when a retired couple living on a vast ranch in the SouthWest are awaken one night to the sound of earsplitting music and intruders on their property. What could be pleasing music of harmony and a natural rhythm was turned into something grotesque, violent and painful to the ears and mind. What had this quiet elderly couple done to incur such wrath? Shaken but hoping that it was a one-off occurrence and life quickly settles back to a comforting ordinary routine. Boom-assulted again by an unholy racket by trespassers this couple feels like they are under attack and things quickly escalate to the firing in the dark of a shot gun and the leaving of a message "Admit to what you have done?". Suddenly the small mountain village becomes aware of these disquieting disturbances on their neighbor's farm and the written accusation and showing the worst characteristics of community life the gossip begins since "Where there is smoke there is most likely fire" after all. The noise and "attacks" continue until a great truth is revealed that destroys the reputation of a "respectable man" and threatens his long standing marriage. A child, whose father did not acknowledge his parental obligations, has grown into a woman and wants vengeance against her father who never had children in wedlock with his perfect wife. Admit and the abuse will end. Admit and a man's life as he knows it will end.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a literary--to my mind over-written--mystery of sorts. Heavy on nostalgia, sense-of-place, and the identity question. There is some fine writing in places, but an equal amount of not-very-necessary description. The point of view is first person but written as a memoir, so the narrator feels free to enter other character's minds. It's worth reading for Morrow's good stuff, but you will have figured out who's who and what's what well before the end.

[C.J. Hill · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get past the first half of this book and had to keep re-reading the backcover blurb to remind myself that it was a murder mystery I was supposed to be reading.
Too much focus on atmospheric writing and lengthy descriptions while the plot was difficult to follow beneath it all.
Never like to give up on a book - but there it is.

[Jennifer]

The author was a finalist for 2 awards (for other books): PEN Faulkner Award; and the Los Angeles TImes Book Award.

Beautiful writing: "wind fingers combed through the meadow grass" and "carnal gnarl". And a great mystery story romance packed with interesting characters.

[Sharon Hardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a resale shop and my expectations were low. I'm delighted to say I enjoyed it. The prose may be a bit overblown at times and the narrator spends a lot of time analyzing his failures, but its gothic vibe was entertaining and the characters interesting.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morrow's writing is exquisitely beautiful. This is a modern day Pandora's Box of sorts, when a young man receives a box from a deceased man who had been a close friend of his Uncle's. Should secrets be kept, or revealed?

[Alan]

I really enjoy Morrow's style. I like his characters and prose. Read this too long ago to remember details unfortunately. If you like literature, you will enjoy it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally do not read mysteries let alone Gothic style mysteries - not my kettle of fish, but written well enough to keep me reading

[Phyl · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an easy read, but I wouldn't recommend it. It was a mystery of love and jealousy and, for me, the character motivation just wasn't there to justify all the crazy happenings.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother.

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Italy to the American West, family secrets from the past must be resolved before new relationships can be forged.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

just couldn't get into this. tried and failed 3 times

[Sonia]

I thoroughly enjoyed Giovanni's Gift and the way it was written although it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be or hoped it would be given the first part of the story.

I confess I was disappointed with the nephew......I didn't like him.