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An Enigma by the Sea
On the wintry Tuscan coast, the wealthy elite retreat to their lavish holiday homes. But the season turns sinister when a couple vanishes from a locked villa, and the body of a dubious count washes ashore, bludgeoned to death. With echoes of Agatha Christie and the erudite suspense of Umberto Eco, a sly meditation on class, illusion, and desire, this literary mystery is both sharply observant and darkly entertaining.
416 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Carlo Fruttero
174 books36 followersThe editorial team of Carlo Fruttero and Franco Lucentini, particularly notable for their (controversial) curation of the Urania series of fantascienza (science-fiction) compilations from 1964 to 1985.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There’s something about a good atmospheric mystery that just pulls me in, and An Enigma by the Sea absolutely delivered on that moody, slightly eerie vibe.
Set on a chilly stretch of the Tuscan coast, the story drops us right into a world of wealthy holiday homes, off-season quiet, and people who definitely seem like they’re hiding a few secrets behind their expensive curtains.
When a couple mysteriously disappears from a locked villa and a rather questionable count washes up dead on the shore, things start feeling less like a peaceful winter retreat and more like the beginning of a very clever puzzle.
What I really enjoyed about this one is how it feels like a classic mystery but with a sharper, slightly more literary edge. It definitely gave me those cosy whodunit vibes you’d expect from Agatha Christie, but with a thoughtful, almost philosophical layer that reminded me of the style of Umberto Eco.
The atmosphere was probably my favourite part. The wintery seaside setting, the insular world of the rich and slightly odd residents, the slow drip of clues… it all created this delicious sense that something was just slightly off. I kept reading because I wanted to see how all the threads would untangle.
If you like mysteries that are a bit witty, a bit dark, and a little more thoughtful than your average whodunit, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s clever, observant, and quietly entertaining in that sly, understated way.
Set on a chilly stretch of the Tuscan coast, the story drops us right into a world of wealthy holiday homes, off-season quiet, and people who definitely seem like they’re hiding a few secrets behind their expensive curtains.
When a couple mysteriously disappears from a locked villa and a rather questionable count washes up dead on the shore, things start feeling less like a peaceful winter retreat and more like the beginning of a very clever puzzle.
What I really enjoyed about this one is how it feels like a classic mystery but with a sharper, slightly more literary edge. It definitely gave me those cosy whodunit vibes you’d expect from Agatha Christie, but with a thoughtful, almost philosophical layer that reminded me of the style of Umberto Eco.
The atmosphere was probably my favourite part. The wintery seaside setting, the insular world of the rich and slightly odd residents, the slow drip of clues… it all created this delicious sense that something was just slightly off. I kept reading because I wanted to see how all the threads would untangle.
If you like mysteries that are a bit witty, a bit dark, and a little more thoughtful than your average whodunit, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s clever, observant, and quietly entertaining in that sly, understated way.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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I do love this series. I think this one is high up there with the best of the series. There’s a locked room, a body on the beach and lots of scandal. There’s something very charming about this book in the Agatha Christie-esque nuances but with a clear Italian slant. I felt very much involved with the action and could see the faces of the characters and read their body language, so good was the translation. It’s a book of eccentrics and people I wouldn’t perhaps meet in real life. Everyone is larger than life. Even the old women I met weren’t like those in other books. These meant business – brandishing not brandy but tarot cards. It was good to spend some quality time with Signor Monforti again.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is the kind of story which you just lose yourself in, I did find it a slow burn but soon grew into it, one thing it is though is a superbly evocotive read, there is a certain charm to it, in someways you have a feel of a golden age mystery with a little more added.
Wonderfully layered, this is not a straight forward murder mystery, it’s more nuanced, a story with real depth, a read where the characters shine.
The protagonists standout on the page, well round all have that air of believability, although they are an extremely ecletic mix, they are in a small guarded enclave where the thought of murder is furthest more anyone thoughts. It is quite a largce cast lists, so do you have keep your wits about you to remember who is who. Then you have the Tuscany setting and the coastline all depicted in vivid colour and detail. The winter setting also plays its part in creating a dark foreboding atmosphere, here the rich gather away from the tourists.
There is a certain humour to the book, always there in the background, and there is definetly a lot being packed into the narrative in terms of the story, the characters seem to have a high level of dysfunctionality, bordering on obsessive behaviour. In someways the murder is almost second place to the story and the characters. As a read it flows along as a drama being played out on the page.
Praise must go the translator Gregory Dowling for really capturing the heart of the book and the characters in such a compelling way
It is the unlikely setting and the ability to tell a story which paints a picture , that makes for an engaging read, full of heart and charm, this for me was more of a literary read, rather than an out and out crime novel, it’s a read to take your time over and savour
Wonderfully layered, this is not a straight forward murder mystery, it’s more nuanced, a story with real depth, a read where the characters shine.
The protagonists standout on the page, well round all have that air of believability, although they are an extremely ecletic mix, they are in a small guarded enclave where the thought of murder is furthest more anyone thoughts. It is quite a largce cast lists, so do you have keep your wits about you to remember who is who. Then you have the Tuscany setting and the coastline all depicted in vivid colour and detail. The winter setting also plays its part in creating a dark foreboding atmosphere, here the rich gather away from the tourists.
There is a certain humour to the book, always there in the background, and there is definetly a lot being packed into the narrative in terms of the story, the characters seem to have a high level of dysfunctionality, bordering on obsessive behaviour. In someways the murder is almost second place to the story and the characters. As a read it flows along as a drama being played out on the page.
Praise must go the translator Gregory Dowling for really capturing the heart of the book and the characters in such a compelling way
It is the unlikely setting and the ability to tell a story which paints a picture , that makes for an engaging read, full of heart and charm, this for me was more of a literary read, rather than an out and out crime novel, it’s a read to take your time over and savour
May 18, 2026
I'm not quite sure about novels written by more than one author. I had similar issues with Ambrose Parry (aka Christopher Brookmyre & Marisa Haetzman) – sometimes you can see the joins. I struggled a little with some of the plot, which had a lot of asides and additional comments. Perhaps that's because it's in translation, but I felt the entire novel could have been shorter. The central 'amateur detective' character Monforti was interesting, but I felt the way he arrived at the solution was a little far-fetched. He commanded a lot of respect from the local police, but the way he spoke, I wanted to kill him at times.
For all that, it's a good story, perhaps 3.5 rather than 4 stars. Give it a try.
For all that, it's a good story, perhaps 3.5 rather than 4 stars. Give it a try.
Review of advance copy
Brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews