What do you think?
Rate this book
May the Wolf Die
For readers of Jane Harper, a gripping mystery set in Italy, following a female detective haunted by her family’s past and tasked with untangling the city’s organized crime and the modern U.S. military presence there.
Nikki Serafino is enjoying the sunset from her boat in her beloved port city of Naples, Italy, when she discovers the body of a man in the warm waters of the bay. An investigator working as the liaison between local police and American troops, Nikki is certainly no stranger to violence and organized crime, but this case grows complicated when the victim turns out to be a U.S. Navy captain stationed at the nearby military base—and the autopsy reveals foul play. As she delves into the case, another body is found and Nikki must face connections linking the murders to her own complicated history as a daughter of Naples. Smart and steeped in sun-soaked Italy, this propulsive mystery is the perfect summer binge read.
Nikki Serafino is enjoying the sunset from her boat in her beloved port city of Naples, Italy, when she discovers the body of a man in the warm waters of the bay. An investigator working as the liaison between local police and American troops, Nikki is certainly no stranger to violence and organized crime, but this case grows complicated when the victim turns out to be a U.S. Navy captain stationed at the nearby military base—and the autopsy reveals foul play. As she delves into the case, another body is found and Nikki must face connections linking the murders to her own complicated history as a daughter of Naples. Smart and steeped in sun-soaked Italy, this propulsive mystery is the perfect summer binge read.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2024
361 people are currently reading
8409 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Heider
2 books123 followersElizabeth Heider is a PhD physicist whose most recent jobs include work for Microsoft’s AI4Science Research Program and the European Space Agency’s Human Spaceflight Program. Her short fiction has earned recognition from the Santa Fe Writer's Project Literary Awards and the New Century Writer Awards, as well as writing and research for military and government agencies where she worked as a scientist. She lived and worked in Naples Italy for several years, deploying as a civilian analyst aboard U.S. and European naval ships. She's based in The Hague.
Originally from Utah, Elizabeth is the second of six children, all unrepentant bibliophiles. She's written stories for as long as she can remember.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Utah and a MS and PhD in physics from Tufts University
Elizabeth worked for eight years as a civilian researcher for the U.S. Navy, where she wrote and ran wargames, assessed at-sea exercises, and deployed for weeks and months at a time aboard naval warships. She lived and worked in Naples Italy, for three years, researching in fifteen African countries, and training troops in Senegal, Gabon, and Cameroon. At the invitation of the Admiral of the Royal Danish Navy and the Admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy, she conducted assessments and mission support in those countries. In 2014, INTERPOL brought her to their headquarters in Lyon, France, to present a workshop and lecture at their fingerprint conference.
In 2016, Elizabeth moved to the Netherlands and worked as a scientist for the European Space Agency's Human Spaceflight program, supporting research on the International Space Station. In 2023, she became a Technical Program Manager for Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence Science Research Laboratory, AI4Science. She also works as a consultant for the commercial spaceflight industry.
Elizabeth's short fiction has earned recognition in the Santa Fe Writer's Project Literary Awards and the New Century Writer Awards. Her writing credits include a play produced at the University of Utah, numerous research papers (including an article co-written with ESA Astronaut Thomas Pesquet), a chemistry patent, and wargames written for the Navy and other US government agencies. Her original research and writing about Navy programs in Africa were used in US Department of State Congressional testimony. She authored a comic series developed by the European Space Agency, and for the better part of a decade, her science writings were regularly read by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Elizabeth currently lives in The Hague, where she bicycles across the dunes, makes wine from the grapes in her garden, and skates on frozen canals.
Originally from Utah, Elizabeth is the second of six children, all unrepentant bibliophiles. She's written stories for as long as she can remember.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Utah and a MS and PhD in physics from Tufts University
Elizabeth worked for eight years as a civilian researcher for the U.S. Navy, where she wrote and ran wargames, assessed at-sea exercises, and deployed for weeks and months at a time aboard naval warships. She lived and worked in Naples Italy, for three years, researching in fifteen African countries, and training troops in Senegal, Gabon, and Cameroon. At the invitation of the Admiral of the Royal Danish Navy and the Admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy, she conducted assessments and mission support in those countries. In 2014, INTERPOL brought her to their headquarters in Lyon, France, to present a workshop and lecture at their fingerprint conference.
In 2016, Elizabeth moved to the Netherlands and worked as a scientist for the European Space Agency's Human Spaceflight program, supporting research on the International Space Station. In 2023, she became a Technical Program Manager for Microsoft's Artificial Intelligence Science Research Laboratory, AI4Science. She also works as a consultant for the commercial spaceflight industry.
Elizabeth's short fiction has earned recognition in the Santa Fe Writer's Project Literary Awards and the New Century Writer Awards. Her writing credits include a play produced at the University of Utah, numerous research papers (including an article co-written with ESA Astronaut Thomas Pesquet), a chemistry patent, and wargames written for the Navy and other US government agencies. Her original research and writing about Navy programs in Africa were used in US Department of State Congressional testimony. She authored a comic series developed by the European Space Agency, and for the better part of a decade, her science writings were regularly read by astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
Elizabeth currently lives in The Hague, where she bicycles across the dunes, makes wine from the grapes in her garden, and skates on frozen canals.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
December 4, 2024
'May the Wolf Die' is an extremely accomplished debut thriller, which combines a great setting, a kickass heroine and a breakneck pace.
Set in Naples, it follows Nikki Serafino, who acts as a liaison between the Neopolitan police and the US Navy. It's a neat setup, which allows the plot to cover both local crime/law enforcement and more geopolitical tensions.
Nikki is an engaging central character, easy to root for an as physical and driven as a good detective should be. The book has a great sense of place too, rich descriptions mean the city and its communities really pop on the page, but they ever get in the way of the story.
It's the plot and pacing that are the real star though, There is a relentlessness to events that make the book almost unberably tense and gripping. I don't think a chapter goes by without something dramatic or momentous happening. There is just so much going on in the book, the main investigation, secondary ones and multiple sub-plots involving the cental characters and their families. There's enough content here for a 600 page book, so the fact it clocks in at a relatively svelte 350 pages is impressive. What's also laudable is that it never feels overwhelming. Despite the multiple characters and narratives, I never felt like I didn't have a clear grasp of what was going on.
This might be the crime debut of the year, I can't wait to see what Heider does next.
Set in Naples, it follows Nikki Serafino, who acts as a liaison between the Neopolitan police and the US Navy. It's a neat setup, which allows the plot to cover both local crime/law enforcement and more geopolitical tensions.
Nikki is an engaging central character, easy to root for an as physical and driven as a good detective should be. The book has a great sense of place too, rich descriptions mean the city and its communities really pop on the page, but they ever get in the way of the story.
It's the plot and pacing that are the real star though, There is a relentlessness to events that make the book almost unberably tense and gripping. I don't think a chapter goes by without something dramatic or momentous happening. There is just so much going on in the book, the main investigation, secondary ones and multiple sub-plots involving the cental characters and their families. There's enough content here for a 600 page book, so the fact it clocks in at a relatively svelte 350 pages is impressive. What's also laudable is that it never feels overwhelming. Despite the multiple characters and narratives, I never felt like I didn't have a clear grasp of what was going on.
This might be the crime debut of the year, I can't wait to see what Heider does next.
August 4, 2024
May the Wolf Die by Elizabeth Heider
Police procedural, mystery.
Nikki Serefina is on her boat when she discovers a body in the warm waters of Naples, Italy. As a police investigator, she couldn’t leave the body, so tied it to the boat while police were called. Complications intensify when the victim is found to be a U.S. Navy captain who was stationed at the nearby military base and the autopsy reveals unusual results. Another body is discovered and the first concern is organized crime. Nikki finds connections to her own history putting herself in front of the target.
Dark and a bit gruesome with a lot of secondary characters to track. Descriptions of Naples are vivid and the mystery has twists you won’t expect.
Police procedural, mystery.
Nikki Serefina is on her boat when she discovers a body in the warm waters of Naples, Italy. As a police investigator, she couldn’t leave the body, so tied it to the boat while police were called. Complications intensify when the victim is found to be a U.S. Navy captain who was stationed at the nearby military base and the autopsy reveals unusual results. Another body is discovered and the first concern is organized crime. Nikki finds connections to her own history putting herself in front of the target.
Dark and a bit gruesome with a lot of secondary characters to track. Descriptions of Naples are vivid and the mystery has twists you won’t expect.
December 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
May the Wolf Die.
I'm always looking for a mystery/thriller featuring a female protagonist and the premise appeared to fit the bill.
** Minor non-political spoilers ahead **
Nikki Serafino is an investigator working as a liaison between local police and the American military.
When a body she discovers turns out to be a high ranking Navy officer who was a victim of foul play, Nikki discovers dangerous connections between the military and the corrupt cartels running her beloved city.
First, there are some triggers involving sexual abuse and violence so readers should be aware.
Second, this was very well written.
The author describes both the medieval beauty and the gritty seediness of Naples well, juxtaposing both sides of a city in turmoil and a gorgeous city rich with history and the warmth of the local community.
It's clear the author is writing from personal experience; she explains how Nikki's position as a liaison works, both interesting and pretty complicated where you're juggling a myriad of political and bureaucratic responsibilities.
Third, the mystery was pretty straightforward and read as almost a subplot to the main narrative:
Nikki's family drama, dealing with the loss of her mother and older brother, her troublemaking brother, and her tumultuous relationship with Enzo mostly took center stage.
Then, as if that's not enough personal drama, we also get Valerio's POV, Nikki's friend and co-buyer of the boat they invested in together; his family dramas, his relationship troubles, his fierce determination to arrest a criminal who keeps slipping out of his grasp.
I found all these subplots distracting since it detracted from the mystery; the deaths of two military men.
I didn't like or dislike Nikki.
I understand she's not a typical female hero; she comes from a military family, was taught to fight and defend herself, she's tough as nails and not afraid to show it.
But it's almost like the author was trying TOO hard to craft a female character who "isn't feminine and doesn't play by the rules."
Also, the military aspect of the narrative didn't interest me; it was interesting to learn about but I'm not a fan of stories with military/government themes/plots.
I'm always looking for a mystery/thriller featuring a female protagonist and the premise appeared to fit the bill.
** Minor non-political spoilers ahead **
Nikki Serafino is an investigator working as a liaison between local police and the American military.
When a body she discovers turns out to be a high ranking Navy officer who was a victim of foul play, Nikki discovers dangerous connections between the military and the corrupt cartels running her beloved city.
First, there are some triggers involving sexual abuse and violence so readers should be aware.
Second, this was very well written.
The author describes both the medieval beauty and the gritty seediness of Naples well, juxtaposing both sides of a city in turmoil and a gorgeous city rich with history and the warmth of the local community.
It's clear the author is writing from personal experience; she explains how Nikki's position as a liaison works, both interesting and pretty complicated where you're juggling a myriad of political and bureaucratic responsibilities.
Third, the mystery was pretty straightforward and read as almost a subplot to the main narrative:
Nikki's family drama, dealing with the loss of her mother and older brother, her troublemaking brother, and her tumultuous relationship with Enzo mostly took center stage.
Then, as if that's not enough personal drama, we also get Valerio's POV, Nikki's friend and co-buyer of the boat they invested in together; his family dramas, his relationship troubles, his fierce determination to arrest a criminal who keeps slipping out of his grasp.
I found all these subplots distracting since it detracted from the mystery; the deaths of two military men.
I didn't like or dislike Nikki.
I understand she's not a typical female hero; she comes from a military family, was taught to fight and defend herself, she's tough as nails and not afraid to show it.
But it's almost like the author was trying TOO hard to craft a female character who "isn't feminine and doesn't play by the rules."
Also, the military aspect of the narrative didn't interest me; it was interesting to learn about but I'm not a fan of stories with military/government themes/plots.
July 23, 2024
A smart, engaging suspense novel with a compelling protagonist. Heider’s writing is exceptional - it verges on the poetic in places. I love that she trusts her readers to engage with the complexity of the society and history that she unfolds. She has a gift for creating a vivid, visceral experience. Highly recommended!
August 19, 2024
This is an incredible book. I read it in less than 24 hours and it is over 300 pages. Donna Leon and Inspector Brunetti need to move over for Elizabeth Heider and Nikki Serafino. Read it.
November 30, 2025
Didn't work for me. Wants to be about misogyny and sexual violence, but has a very rudimentary view of things that doesn't allow much complexity or nuance, so it doesn't actually have anything to say. If you're trying to avoid copaganda, give this one a miss. It's incredibly casual about how it sees Naples as full of gangs and riots by bad people, once again a very rudimentary view of a complex society. And to top it all off, the killer was quite obvious to me.
July 24, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
May the Wolf Die
By Elizabeth Heider
Thank you so much partner @penguinbooks for the gifted copy.
Blurb:
For readers of Jane Harper, a gripping mystery set in Italy, following a female detective haunted by her family’s past and tasked with untangling the city’s organized crime and the modern U.S. military presence there.
✨ My thoughts:
An engaging read you can easily find yourself lost in! It’s twisty, full of tension, and can be read quickly. It’s a pretty good murder mystery with a solid ending I didn’t see coming! I enjoyed the scenery and backdrop of this book and I felt like the author was already familiar or really familiarized themselves with Italy, making the backdrop easily visualized by readers. It’s compelling and I can see this turning into a series. May the Wolf Die is out now!
Happy reading 📖
May the Wolf Die
By Elizabeth Heider
Thank you so much partner @penguinbooks for the gifted copy.
Blurb:
For readers of Jane Harper, a gripping mystery set in Italy, following a female detective haunted by her family’s past and tasked with untangling the city’s organized crime and the modern U.S. military presence there.
✨ My thoughts:
An engaging read you can easily find yourself lost in! It’s twisty, full of tension, and can be read quickly. It’s a pretty good murder mystery with a solid ending I didn’t see coming! I enjoyed the scenery and backdrop of this book and I felt like the author was already familiar or really familiarized themselves with Italy, making the backdrop easily visualized by readers. It’s compelling and I can see this turning into a series. May the Wolf Die is out now!
Happy reading 📖
March 17, 2025
The protagonist is a female detection in Naples, Italy named Nikki Serafino. She is the first woman to work in Phoenix Seven, a group meant to liaise and assist in investigations between local law enforcement and the US military. There is resentment both in her department as well as from US military officers who don't like working with a woman as their equal. Heider creates a complex portrayal of Naples - not simply as a city with a lot of crime, and the mafia, poverty, and old-fashioned notions about women, but a place full of decent people with interesting lives.
I borrowed this book from my library after reading a great review in the New York Times. If you are looking for a thriller that delivers, check out this one.
I borrowed this book from my library after reading a great review in the New York Times. If you are looking for a thriller that delivers, check out this one.
May 11, 2024
I loved this book! This could easily be turned into a series, because I would love more of Nikki and Valerio. Also I can’t decide how I feel about Tito, I need more! Very well written and I felt really immersed in the Italian setting. I will definitely recommend this book.
August 22, 2024
I am looking forward to the next in the series.
April 28, 2024
May the Wolf Die is a book about an investigative liaison between the US military and the Italian police -Nikki- and their role in the discovery of two deceased military personnel. Although predictable in some ways, the storyline was well plotted and engaging throughout. I agree with others, that Nikki presents how one would naturally expect a female protagonist to be in a male dominated role and we would not, and typically do not, expect more out of our male protagonist. I feel that Nikki provides enough insight into herself that we learn why she interacts with others the way she does.
I found the book to be well written and intriguing. The only aspect I would have appreciated more ‘closure’ on would be Carmela. It appears that she kept creeping up to prove her point that in order for females to survive, they need a male partner and to utilize their bodies which is in complete contrast f how Nikki perceives it.
Overall, would recommend this book
I found the book to be well written and intriguing. The only aspect I would have appreciated more ‘closure’ on would be Carmela. It appears that she kept creeping up to prove her point that in order for females to survive, they need a male partner and to utilize their bodies which is in complete contrast f how Nikki perceives it.
Overall, would recommend this book
August 15, 2024
A police-procedural mystery set in Naples, Italy.
Police officers Nikki and Valerio are sailing on their boat when they run into the corpse of a murdered naval officer. Nikki’s job is to manage relations between the Naples police and Americans working at the local naval base. Nikki is assigned to the murder investigation. And then there is another murder.
Very realistic mystery with good characterization of Nikki and Valerio. (Caution: there are vivid descriptions of sexual violence.)
Well done.
Police officers Nikki and Valerio are sailing on their boat when they run into the corpse of a murdered naval officer. Nikki’s job is to manage relations between the Naples police and Americans working at the local naval base. Nikki is assigned to the murder investigation. And then there is another murder.
Very realistic mystery with good characterization of Nikki and Valerio. (Caution: there are vivid descriptions of sexual violence.)
Well done.
May 26, 2024
May the Wolf Die: For sophisticated readers only
If your idea of a mystery is a typical whodunit with one dimensional characters and cliched settings, this book is not for you. It is full of nuance, subtilities and thought-provoking ambiguity. It acknowledges that the systems we work in are broken in one way or another and that humans, even protagonists are damaged and flawed. But we humans are more than our flaws or the family systems that created the damage; we struggle to do the right thing at the right moment, we try to connect to the best part of others, hoping that our best parts are enough.
The author’s prose is, at times, poetic and the she is able to use words to describe feelings that most intuit but cannot verbalize. Her descriptions of Naples puts the reader right into the city with all of its chaos, joy and fear. By the end of the book, the discerning reader will have made two new friends, Nikki and Valerio, and will hope they will make another appearance soon.
If your idea of a mystery is a typical whodunit with one dimensional characters and cliched settings, this book is not for you. It is full of nuance, subtilities and thought-provoking ambiguity. It acknowledges that the systems we work in are broken in one way or another and that humans, even protagonists are damaged and flawed. But we humans are more than our flaws or the family systems that created the damage; we struggle to do the right thing at the right moment, we try to connect to the best part of others, hoping that our best parts are enough.
The author’s prose is, at times, poetic and the she is able to use words to describe feelings that most intuit but cannot verbalize. Her descriptions of Naples puts the reader right into the city with all of its chaos, joy and fear. By the end of the book, the discerning reader will have made two new friends, Nikki and Valerio, and will hope they will make another appearance soon.
August 17, 2024
I love reading stories with strong female leads who brook no BS and refuse to be cast into other’s ideals of women. And you have that here. Even with her flaws Nikki is formidable (all definitions, depending on your status as villain or one needing help) and inspiring. A strong cast of characters, compelling mystery and interesting setting (Naples).
July 11, 2024
24 hours later, and I have finished. As soon as I returned home from the author's Q&A at a local bookstore, I started reading and continued to steal time whenever I could!
Before you begin reading, I suggest that you read the "About the Author" blurb. Elizabeth Heider's plethora of life experiences really add value and layers to this mystery. The book is also incredibly visual through her use of descriptions. Whether you are in Naples, in a house, in a jail cell or on a boat, you feel as though you are there. This holds true for the characters as well. It's one of those books where I am mentally casting the actors and actresses for each part.
It appears there is going to be a sequel to this thrilling read, which is good news! If you are looking for a mystery set in the complex Italian city of Naples that involves the local mafia and the US Navy, May the Wolf Die is just the book for you.
Before you begin reading, I suggest that you read the "About the Author" blurb. Elizabeth Heider's plethora of life experiences really add value and layers to this mystery. The book is also incredibly visual through her use of descriptions. Whether you are in Naples, in a house, in a jail cell or on a boat, you feel as though you are there. This holds true for the characters as well. It's one of those books where I am mentally casting the actors and actresses for each part.
It appears there is going to be a sequel to this thrilling read, which is good news! If you are looking for a mystery set in the complex Italian city of Naples that involves the local mafia and the US Navy, May the Wolf Die is just the book for you.
June 30, 2024
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
There are so many big books coming out this summer and this one seems to be skirting under the radar, which is unfortunate. This is a consistently compelling mystery, with complicated relationships and nuanced cross-jurisdictional investigations making a unique story. I am very much hoping that this is the first in a series since the main characters are fascinating and have such interesting connections and relationships that it would be a pity not to use them more.
There are so many big books coming out this summer and this one seems to be skirting under the radar, which is unfortunate. This is a consistently compelling mystery, with complicated relationships and nuanced cross-jurisdictional investigations making a unique story. I am very much hoping that this is the first in a series since the main characters are fascinating and have such interesting connections and relationships that it would be a pity not to use them more.
July 21, 2024
This book was fabulous! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller. I was drawn in right from the very first few pages, and felt so invested in finding out what would happen. I loved the lead female character, Nikki, and all her insights, complexity and her strength. I also loved picturing the setting....made me want to go to Naples! Elizabeth Heider is a talented writer and I can't wait for her next book....the ending of this one definitely leaves the reader wanting to hear more from Nikki and Valerio!
May 8, 2024
I really enjoyed the way Heider incorporated the challenges of coordinating an investigation across international agencies into the storyline. The presence of organized crime in Naples complicates the murder investigations and the lives of not only our main character, Nikki, but also her law enforcement friend, Valerio. The character development was detailed and thorough, I felt invested in Nikki’s life and wellbeing from the beginning. She’s not what you’d describe as a typical fmc as she is muscular, feisty, commanding, and self-sufficient. Despite her competency, she still deals with discrimination from her colleagues as she works in a male-dominated industry. The plot is interesting and kept me guessing as revelations about the victims and the circumstances of their deaths were revealed. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written mystery and an easy read.
December 24, 2024
This book was highly reviewed, and had interesting characters, good plot and a great setting. It gets marked down for the classic flaw of mystery and crime novel plots which feature a female hero. That plot is, the woman must get into a world of trouble and heroically fight her way out. I'm tired of it, so only three stars. (Also, my new years resolution will be not to read any thrillers, mysteries, etc that feature child victims in any way. ).
January 16, 2025
This is a high-quality, first class, first effort by the author. I would immediately pick up another book by this author if there were one available. One thing that made this book so good was the evident firsthand experience with Italy, Naples, and the US Navy. As far as the mystery and the crime go, I was able to figure it out, but I was OK with that because everything else about the story was spot on. It is a story of good v. evil and girl power. Great story, great message.
September 19, 2024
Brilliant! I was not expecting the rollercoaster of emotions reading this book. I often felt like I too was on an adrenaline rush on the streets of Naples. I love when an author not only paints a beautiful picture but pulls you onto every page. I loved that I was able to learn new things about another place even while trying to solve a murder (or two). I connected with each character, not just the main ones but I found myself caring and worrying about minor characters too. This was my first time reading a contemporary murder mystery and if all of them are like this, I’m hooked!
January 5, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. This one packs a wallop. The sheer amount of misfortune heaped on the main character is astounding, but Nikki Serafino is one of the most capable protagonists in recent memory. Working as a liaison to the US military in Naples, she is tasked with helping American soldiers who find themselves in thorny legal situations navigate Italian law enforcement. But then American bodies start piling up and things get complicated quickly. This is such an interesting twist on the typical cop or detective story - Nikki has a shrewd mind but is not a police officer so has to deal with the limitations of her role, not to mention an incredibly sexist work environment.
In addition to the main character, there's a lot to love here. Naples comes alive as a character in and of itself - I found myself craving Prosecco with a side of olives for the entirety of the book. Plus, there are so many sub-plots going on, some of which are relevant to the main plot, some not, but you don't know which is which until all the pieces of the puzzle are in place. But all storylines are fascinating and not just filler or throwaway red herrings. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a finely crafted novel. Loved it.
In addition to the main character, there's a lot to love here. Naples comes alive as a character in and of itself - I found myself craving Prosecco with a side of olives for the entirety of the book. Plus, there are so many sub-plots going on, some of which are relevant to the main plot, some not, but you don't know which is which until all the pieces of the puzzle are in place. But all storylines are fascinating and not just filler or throwaway red herrings. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a finely crafted novel. Loved it.
September 3, 2024
Heider weaves a compelling story with complex, well-developed characters. The mystery was incredibly engaging and kept me guessing until the very end. I particularly appreciated the literary and historical references, which helped build the book's atmosphere and made the characters relatable. Finally, the Audible reader's performance was excellent!
March 15, 2025
An excellent mystery/thriller. Hope this author plans a sequel!
May 4, 2024
US pub date: 7/2/24
Genre: mystery/suspense
Quick summary: Detective Nikki Serafino finds her home of Naples, Italy becoming a lot more complicated after she discovers a dead man floating in the bay. And that's only the start of the danger...
The blurb compares this one to Jane Harper's books, and I can see why they made the comparison! Heider did a great job showing the dark side of Naples and all the shady characters Nikki had met over the years. Like Harper's mysteries, this isn't a thriller - the story starts off slowly, but there are a few great twists at the end. I will look out for more from Heider!
Thank you to Penguin Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Genre: mystery/suspense
Quick summary: Detective Nikki Serafino finds her home of Naples, Italy becoming a lot more complicated after she discovers a dead man floating in the bay. And that's only the start of the danger...
The blurb compares this one to Jane Harper's books, and I can see why they made the comparison! Heider did a great job showing the dark side of Naples and all the shady characters Nikki had met over the years. Like Harper's mysteries, this isn't a thriller - the story starts off slowly, but there are a few great twists at the end. I will look out for more from Heider!
Thank you to Penguin Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2024
A first book - I will look forward to the next...
April 19, 2024
Before heading to her evening shift as an investigator for Phoenix Seven, an Italian liaison unit that works with the U.S. military in Naples, Nikki Serafino is relaxing on the sailboat she co-owns with her friend, undercover cop Valerio Alfieri, when they rescue a woman who has been abandoned in the bay by her abusive boyfriend. As they head back to port, the Calypso’s keel strikes a decomposing body; Nikki notes the ligature marks on the man’s neck. The next day, while assisting a U.S. serviceman and his family in the wake of a traffic accident, she discovers another murder victim, this time one who’s been shot to death. After the bodies are identified as American naval officers, Nikki must conduct a tricky balancing act of partnering with both NCIS Special Agent Durant Cole and the Italian police in the investigation of possible links between the killings. Could the Camorra Mafia be involved? At the same time, Nikki’s intense family drama, involving the recent loss of her American mother, a loser brother in deep debt to local gangsters, and a tumultuous relationship with her controlling boyfriend, Enzo, threaten to derail her probe. Heider, who lived in Naples for several years and deployed as a civilian analyst aboard U.S. and European naval ships, makes an impressive debut with this engrossing thriller that captures both the baroque beauty and gritty danger of Italy’s third-largest city. It also introduces a tattooed, kick-ass female protagonist (“Nikki was short and compact and muscular with a dynamic, interesting face”) who may remind some readers of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander but without that character’s severe asocial tendencies. If there is a minor flaw, it’s that the Heider’s vividly drawn Italian characters far outshine her dull American counterparts. An enjoyable summer read. [Published in the 4/18/24 issue of First Clue newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/firstcluereviews/b...]
June 2, 2025
The Italian phrase "Crepi il lupo" translates to "May the wolf die." It is the equivalent of saying "Break A Leg" in English.
I did pinpoint a theory on who the killer was almost immediately. And I was correct. But I didn’t want to be right, because I …. just like the main character Nikki liked and trusted that individual. So, that was a good twist that kept me engaged.
Nikki is a detective that works for an Italian liaison that assists both local authorities and the US Military base. It’s a very fraught position with never ending politics, sexism and derision. But she’s passionate about protecting people, because of some past tragedies in her life.
This book was compared to Jane Harper’s style and I agree with the comparison. Excellent characters and plot. Really interesting with lots of complexity. (Dante’s The Inferno has a lot of mentions for example.)
A fascinating look into beautiful but gritty Naples, Italy.
I did pinpoint a theory on who the killer was almost immediately. And I was correct. But I didn’t want to be right, because I …. just like the main character Nikki liked and trusted that individual. So, that was a good twist that kept me engaged.
Nikki is a detective that works for an Italian liaison that assists both local authorities and the US Military base. It’s a very fraught position with never ending politics, sexism and derision. But she’s passionate about protecting people, because of some past tragedies in her life.
This book was compared to Jane Harper’s style and I agree with the comparison. Excellent characters and plot. Really interesting with lots of complexity. (Dante’s The Inferno has a lot of mentions for example.)
A fascinating look into beautiful but gritty Naples, Italy.
October 2, 2024
Heider’s first, in what I hope is a series, masterfully combines CH, Setting, and Tone to give us a fast-paced, multi-faceted Story Line, compelling flawed main CHs, a twisty mystery, an indelible postcard of contemporary Naples with dives into Dante, the American presence in the Mediterranean, international crime syndicates, and good procedural police technique. Nikki (Nina) is back in Naples after years in England and working for Phoenix Seven the Italian liaison to the US Navy and NCIS. She has a past to reconcile with as she rejoins her family, navigates her career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend and an assortment of co-workers, some of whom resent that she is female in this misogynist culture. The plot and Nikki’s variables are worth the read on your own but suffice it to say that past and present come crashing together and the setting and increasing tension of the Tone is mirrored in the hot, sultry climate as physical discomfort and all the senses interplay. Nikki and Valerio, an undercover Naples detective, provide alternating 3rd POVs and we also see Valerio’s family situation unfold in parallel to Nikki’s dilemmas. They co-own the Calypso, a sailboat, and the sailing and the sea provide the needed counterpoint of peace to their everyday chaotic and dangerous existence with Vesuvius as background, as violence, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and murder persist. Satisfactory conclusion with neat twists and a promise that repercussions could follow into another novel. Red Flags: Graphic violence; Vulgar language; Human trafficking; Rape. Readalikes may be Jane Harper, Maurizio De Giovanni, and Donna Leon.
May 17, 2025
Did it keep my interest? 4. A very entertaining, fast paced story. As usual, I have trouble with names when listening to a story based in a country not my own. I don’t have an ear for language and accents. The narrator will say an Italian name and if I was asked to spell it I’d write Fabbiabubba..baba… I can’t even pick out the letter they are saying. Translator is a job I would be summarily dismissed from before my probation period was up.
Did I enjoy the topic? 4.5. Great location. I liked the world colliding, US military and Italian police. Nikki and Valerio’s friendship and boat partnership was excellent. The mystery had me mis-guessing, which is a key factor in a good mystery, I think. If I’m guessing wrong, it’s good.
Although, I should use the rule: if I really like a character, they are a killer.
Was the dialogue realistic? 4. The side characters and sub stories make this an enjoyable listen.
Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 4. Jen does Duo Lingo every morning and night. She does it to keep her mind sharp, not to learn French. She’d keep the character straight and could spell what she heard.
Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 4. Mom’ ancestors were from Northern Italy. I should really take a pilgrimage there before I am not able to
Quality of narrator? 5. Excellent job by Simon Vance. He’s narrated over 1000 books! That’s unbelievable. No really, I don’t believe it.
He, of course, cut his acting teeth in the series Criminal Minds. Not CSI, but close enough for me to ring the bell.
Did I enjoy the topic? 4.5. Great location. I liked the world colliding, US military and Italian police. Nikki and Valerio’s friendship and boat partnership was excellent. The mystery had me mis-guessing, which is a key factor in a good mystery, I think. If I’m guessing wrong, it’s good.
Although, I should use the rule: if I really like a character, they are a killer.
Was the dialogue realistic? 4. The side characters and sub stories make this an enjoyable listen.
Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 4. Jen does Duo Lingo every morning and night. She does it to keep her mind sharp, not to learn French. She’d keep the character straight and could spell what she heard.
Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 4. Mom’ ancestors were from Northern Italy. I should really take a pilgrimage there before I am not able to
Quality of narrator? 5. Excellent job by Simon Vance. He’s narrated over 1000 books! That’s unbelievable. No really, I don’t believe it.
He, of course, cut his acting teeth in the series Criminal Minds. Not CSI, but close enough for me to ring the bell.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews