What do you think?
Rate this book
Leone Scamarcio #3
The Hit
The investigation of an apparent hit-and-run unravels a tangled web in modern Rome.
When the family of Micky Proietti, a top television executive, goes missing, Leone Scamarcio is called to investigate. Everyone, it seems — from Premier League footballers to jilted starlets and cabinet ministers — has an axe to grind with Proietti. What starts out as an investigation into his countless affairs soon becomes an inquiry into how Proietti does business and the people he has discarded along the way. Finally, Proietti’s finances attract Scamarcio’s attention, and he discovers that the drama commissioner has been granting favours to some very shadowy sponsors.
Like a swimmer trying to escape a riptide, Scamarcio comes to realise that this new inquiry threatens to bring him head to head with his father’s old lieutenant, Piero Piocosta. If he’s to survive in the police force, Scamarcio knows that he must find a way to get Piocosta off his back, once and for all. And find it quickly.
Reluctantly, he travels home to Calabria in an attempt to understand how powerful Piocosta has really become and whether he might ever be silenced. It’s a perilous journey, but one Scamarcio has to make if he’s to finally banish the ghosts of his past.
PRAISE FOR NADIA DALBUONO
‘Dalbuono has an intimate knowledge and understanding of Italy, its criminal underbelly and the often twisted and corrupted state that functions on the back of its relationship with the Mafia … A fresh voice in a well-trodden field … This is Euro-noir of the highest order.’ New Books
‘A racy thriller.’ TLS
When the family of Micky Proietti, a top television executive, goes missing, Leone Scamarcio is called to investigate. Everyone, it seems — from Premier League footballers to jilted starlets and cabinet ministers — has an axe to grind with Proietti. What starts out as an investigation into his countless affairs soon becomes an inquiry into how Proietti does business and the people he has discarded along the way. Finally, Proietti’s finances attract Scamarcio’s attention, and he discovers that the drama commissioner has been granting favours to some very shadowy sponsors.
Like a swimmer trying to escape a riptide, Scamarcio comes to realise that this new inquiry threatens to bring him head to head with his father’s old lieutenant, Piero Piocosta. If he’s to survive in the police force, Scamarcio knows that he must find a way to get Piocosta off his back, once and for all. And find it quickly.
Reluctantly, he travels home to Calabria in an attempt to understand how powerful Piocosta has really become and whether he might ever be silenced. It’s a perilous journey, but one Scamarcio has to make if he’s to finally banish the ghosts of his past.
PRAISE FOR NADIA DALBUONO
‘Dalbuono has an intimate knowledge and understanding of Italy, its criminal underbelly and the often twisted and corrupted state that functions on the back of its relationship with the Mafia … A fresh voice in a well-trodden field … This is Euro-noir of the highest order.’ New Books
‘A racy thriller.’ TLS
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2016
7 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Nadia Dalbuono
6 books36 followersNadia Dalbuono spent 15 years working in factual TV in the UK before turning to crime writing. The Few is her first novel, with a sequel scheduled for 2015.
REVIEWS FOR THE FEW:
'Gripping, you won't be able to put down this unsettling tale.'
THE SUN
'A professional and confident foray into the realms of crime fiction . . . Nadia Dalbuono drives her complex plot as though it were [an] Alfa Romeo Spider . . . This detective has many more novels in him than the modest two-volume series planned so far.'
PICK OF THE WEEK, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD AND THE AGE
'Dalbuono has a nose for the topical and the gritty undercurrents of Italian society. And at the end there are enough unanswered questions for another enthralling tale to come.'
Verdict: Compelling, unsettling
COURIER MAIL
'One of Raven Crime's top 5 books of 2014. An astounding debut...It is a delight to encounter a protagonist who I would be keen to meet again, and given such a promising beginning to a potential series, I very much hope this will be the case in subsequent books. The Few is a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking debut.
RAVEN CRIME READS
Powerful, tightly plotted and with chilling echoes of real life events, The Few is an emotive and exhilarating read, and Scamarcio a character who could quickly become another cult detective.
WE LOVE THIS BOOK.COM
Has Donna Leon met her match?
Maxim Jakubowski. LOVEREADING.CO.UK
REVIEWS FOR THE FEW:
'Gripping, you won't be able to put down this unsettling tale.'
THE SUN
'A professional and confident foray into the realms of crime fiction . . . Nadia Dalbuono drives her complex plot as though it were [an] Alfa Romeo Spider . . . This detective has many more novels in him than the modest two-volume series planned so far.'
PICK OF THE WEEK, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD AND THE AGE
'Dalbuono has a nose for the topical and the gritty undercurrents of Italian society. And at the end there are enough unanswered questions for another enthralling tale to come.'
Verdict: Compelling, unsettling
COURIER MAIL
'One of Raven Crime's top 5 books of 2014. An astounding debut...It is a delight to encounter a protagonist who I would be keen to meet again, and given such a promising beginning to a potential series, I very much hope this will be the case in subsequent books. The Few is a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking debut.
RAVEN CRIME READS
Powerful, tightly plotted and with chilling echoes of real life events, The Few is an emotive and exhilarating read, and Scamarcio a character who could quickly become another cult detective.
WE LOVE THIS BOOK.COM
Has Donna Leon met her match?
Maxim Jakubowski. LOVEREADING.CO.UK
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 20, 2018
Sex, lies, and criminal ties.
A sudden and dramatic car crash leaves a top television exec dazed and confused; more so when he realizes a good Samaritan is a sheep in wolfs clothing, and is part of an elaborate ruse to kidnap his family. As Leone Scamarcio investigates the nature of the kidnapping a connection to organised crime and a shady brother in-law emerge as key pieces to the puzzle. With the investigation slipping away, and suspects mounting, Scamarcio’s lone wolf investigative approach might not be enough to save the exec’s wife and child.
Scamarcio’s own connection to organised crime is an omnipresent cloud that hangs over his every move; a cloud that only gets darker as he become embroiled in a power play for the criminal elite. Does trading one problem for another, one side for another clear his debt or double it?
The Hit reads like a bare knuckles Mafioso story and police procedural in one, equally at home amongst Dennis Lehane (Joe Coughlin series) and Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch Series); top notch story telling from beginning to end, the best Scamarcio novel yet.
I was provided a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
A sudden and dramatic car crash leaves a top television exec dazed and confused; more so when he realizes a good Samaritan is a sheep in wolfs clothing, and is part of an elaborate ruse to kidnap his family. As Leone Scamarcio investigates the nature of the kidnapping a connection to organised crime and a shady brother in-law emerge as key pieces to the puzzle. With the investigation slipping away, and suspects mounting, Scamarcio’s lone wolf investigative approach might not be enough to save the exec’s wife and child.
Scamarcio’s own connection to organised crime is an omnipresent cloud that hangs over his every move; a cloud that only gets darker as he become embroiled in a power play for the criminal elite. Does trading one problem for another, one side for another clear his debt or double it?
The Hit reads like a bare knuckles Mafioso story and police procedural in one, equally at home amongst Dennis Lehane (Joe Coughlin series) and Michael Connelly (Harry Bosch Series); top notch story telling from beginning to end, the best Scamarcio novel yet.
I was provided a copy by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
February 7, 2017
Family agony is when the past catches up with a bang. Micky Proietti is head of drama on the nations most popular channel. Micky's driver in his Mercedes takes him to pick up his wife and son. A BMW was hurting towards them who ever was behind the wheel wanted to destroy them. A stranger saw the whole thing happen. Micky's son suffered a broken arm. The stranger called for an ambulance and the police. The ambulance took Micky's son and his wife to hospital, but they never arrived. To add to the family agony the hospital never had been alerted to expect them. Could the ambulance have had an accident or had Micky's son and wife been kidnapped? Could Micky Proietti have enemies? I recommend this gripping book.
October 13, 2016
My View:
Always have a contingency plan.
A multifaceted crime fiction narrative of kidnapping, deceit, organised crime, and manipulation that threatens to destroy the career (and life) of our protagonist Leone Scamarcio. The importance of family - in the literal and figurative (criminal) definition of the word is cleverly explored as secrets are slowly revealed.
Once again Dalbuono takes the reader on an armchair tour of Italy – the locations and culture real and colourful.
Scamarcio is an empathetic character; flawed, haunted by the past and struggling to make sense of the present. As the narrative progresses, we, the reader can foresee the very imminent danger that Scamarcio will soon face, he is like a puppet with his strings being pulled in all directions – the puppeteer/s hidden behind a screen. Lies and more lies, manipulation and manoeuvring, this complex plot delivers a not so happy ending…and the promise of more moral and ethical dilemmas to come. A great read.
Always have a contingency plan.
A multifaceted crime fiction narrative of kidnapping, deceit, organised crime, and manipulation that threatens to destroy the career (and life) of our protagonist Leone Scamarcio. The importance of family - in the literal and figurative (criminal) definition of the word is cleverly explored as secrets are slowly revealed.
Once again Dalbuono takes the reader on an armchair tour of Italy – the locations and culture real and colourful.
Scamarcio is an empathetic character; flawed, haunted by the past and struggling to make sense of the present. As the narrative progresses, we, the reader can foresee the very imminent danger that Scamarcio will soon face, he is like a puppet with his strings being pulled in all directions – the puppeteer/s hidden behind a screen. Lies and more lies, manipulation and manoeuvring, this complex plot delivers a not so happy ending…and the promise of more moral and ethical dilemmas to come. A great read.
February 12, 2017
I love this series - I adored The Few and The American (review at https://crimeworm.wordpress.com/2016/...) and I've been waiting with baited breath for no.3. And The Hit doesn't disappoint - Leone Scamarcio is still worried about the debt he owes Piocosta, his late father's lieutenant - and which Piocosta wants repaid in a way that would be ruinous to Scamarcio's career. Workwise, a hit-and-run sees a media executive, Micky Proietti's, wife and son kidnapped. The list of his enemies seems to grow hourly - including the Calabria, the mafia who originate from Scamarcio's childhood home, a place he'd hoped to never see again. He also has enemies in the TV business, in government and in football - but are these people really capable of such slick and ruthless criminality? With twists and turns on every page, you really have no idea where this fast-moving, but highly intelligent thriller/police procedural, will take you next. Fantastic stuff. Review on crimeworm later today.
February 9, 2017
This is the third in the author’s series of novels and it’s every bit as good as those that precede it. Once again, we’re with Detective Leone Scamarcio of the Rome police force. This time he is assigned to a road traffic accident involving the family of one of Italy’s leading television executives. Micky Proietti was in a chauffeur-driven limo with his wife and young son when they were rammed off the road. A good Samaritan called an ambulance. The paramedics dutifully turned up to take his injured child and wife to the hospital. But then, when the police arrive and chase it up, the two have vanished and there is no record of them being taken to any hospital.
Scamarcio is a good detective and it doesn’t take him long to realise that there is something strange going on and not just the obvious. Proietti is acting strangely, almost like he doesn’t want to help them find his family. No one in the industry has a good word to say about Micky and it soon becomes apparent that his private life is a convoluted mess. In fact, his affairs lead to top level politicians, leading actors and other showbiz figures and politicians.
Then there’s the Calabrian connection with which Scamarcio must tread carefully. For our protagonist heralds from the region, which is the geographical birthplace of the ‘Ndrangheta, currently Italy’s most powerful mafia. This perhaps wouldn’t be such a problem for him, if Scamarcio’s own father hadn’t been a renowned mafia godfather. The upshot is that despite his gifts, a pall of suspicion has always hung over him and while his boss has always held him in high regard, others in the force do not trust him at all.
In some ways, The Hit plays for lower stakes than Dalbuono’s previous two novels. The plot of The American, the second in the series, encompassed a conspiracy of literally global proportions. In fact, in my review of The American I worried that Scamarcio might have reached his peak too early. I needn’t have worried, for while our protagonist doesn’t face quite such jeopardy, this is no cozy mystery. The American was an excellent book but I quite enjoyed the change of pace in The Hit, which allowed Scamarcio to examine an alien world – that of showbiz – with the distance of an anthropologist. There’s almost a sense of he and his colleagues scratching their heads at the strange, self-obsessed denizens that populate this world.
That’s not to say that Scamarcio doesn’t face any risks in The Hit. In the last two novels, he has become increasingly beholden to his father former number two, who after his father’s murder appears to have taken the top spot. This man now comes calling, putting Scamarcio in an impossible position and a strong sub-plot is of his efforts to break free once and for all. So, whereas The American had at its heart an existential threat, the danger in The Hit is much more personal.
All in all, this is a great third novel is a series that has been consistently strong. I look forward to book number four.
Scamarcio is a good detective and it doesn’t take him long to realise that there is something strange going on and not just the obvious. Proietti is acting strangely, almost like he doesn’t want to help them find his family. No one in the industry has a good word to say about Micky and it soon becomes apparent that his private life is a convoluted mess. In fact, his affairs lead to top level politicians, leading actors and other showbiz figures and politicians.
Then there’s the Calabrian connection with which Scamarcio must tread carefully. For our protagonist heralds from the region, which is the geographical birthplace of the ‘Ndrangheta, currently Italy’s most powerful mafia. This perhaps wouldn’t be such a problem for him, if Scamarcio’s own father hadn’t been a renowned mafia godfather. The upshot is that despite his gifts, a pall of suspicion has always hung over him and while his boss has always held him in high regard, others in the force do not trust him at all.
In some ways, The Hit plays for lower stakes than Dalbuono’s previous two novels. The plot of The American, the second in the series, encompassed a conspiracy of literally global proportions. In fact, in my review of The American I worried that Scamarcio might have reached his peak too early. I needn’t have worried, for while our protagonist doesn’t face quite such jeopardy, this is no cozy mystery. The American was an excellent book but I quite enjoyed the change of pace in The Hit, which allowed Scamarcio to examine an alien world – that of showbiz – with the distance of an anthropologist. There’s almost a sense of he and his colleagues scratching their heads at the strange, self-obsessed denizens that populate this world.
That’s not to say that Scamarcio doesn’t face any risks in The Hit. In the last two novels, he has become increasingly beholden to his father former number two, who after his father’s murder appears to have taken the top spot. This man now comes calling, putting Scamarcio in an impossible position and a strong sub-plot is of his efforts to break free once and for all. So, whereas The American had at its heart an existential threat, the danger in The Hit is much more personal.
All in all, this is a great third novel is a series that has been consistently strong. I look forward to book number four.
February 10, 2017
Our group found the third of the Scamarcio novels, well-paced and full of twists and turns that kept us guessing. This time the detective is pitted against and with strong characters from the world of television, football and characters from the underworld that he has in some ways broken free from. We felt that the story was less complicated than the first and flowed. We loved the sense of place: how our hero would go from one Italian town to the next. His love of coffee was noted, though there was some concern that he never has time to eat anything. (One of the group suggested that in future novels, a description should be given of the food that is served, only to satisfy our love of Italian cooking).
There were a lot of characters, which aided the complexity of the story. This allowed us to doubt our own guesses about who was behind the kidnap of the Proiettis. One member thought a book like this should have a roll call of names and descriptions at the start. We felt it is a busy novel, which helps its realism. We liked that the characters were complex; we can see it as television series and can predict that names like Fiammetta di Bondi and Zac Dandini, as well as our interesting detective will live on in people’s consciousness. A strength is that situations and characters’ motives remain a conundrum and we liked (as in life) not everything is resolved. We are excited that there will be a fourth Scamarcio novel that, we hope will reveal more of our hero and ask more questions of the world he lives in.
Below are some individual reviews from our group:
I wouldn’t normally choose to read about the Italian Mafia and its murky underworld, but I find Dalbuono’s writing both exciting and enthralling. “The Hit” is an extremely well written and fast moving thriller with amazing twists and revelations. The many and diverse people who might be involved in the kidnapping of the wife and “son” of the notorious television magnate, Micky Proietti, make this an extremely complex plot. Scamarcio’s many, at first seemingly unconnected, lines of enquiry reveal many possible motives and connections and there are surprises right up to the very end. At the book’s conclusion there are still some unresolved issues and not all those involved in both the kidnapping and the subsequent killing of Maia, in her brother’s bungled attempt to rescue her, are identified or brought to account. This makes the story more realistic and also paves the way for further revelations or developments in subsequent books in the Scamarcio series.
At times the number of people involved seems bewildering, but a key to Dalbuono’s success in steering her reader through the intricacies of the plot lies in her attention to detail in describing key characters; giving very memorable, precise physical images and subtle clues to personality and role.
I also feel strangely sympathetic to Scamarcio. I don’t accept his grim view of humanity;
“Human beings weren’t made to get along.” page 56.
But I can see how he came to this conclusion, given his job and more especially his family background. There would also seem to be parallels between his life and that of Antonio, since both are robbed of their youthful innocence by becoming victims of horrific crimes that will continue to haunt them long after the event.
“In the Few,” page 202, the prison chaplain said,
“Evil is not an absolute ……. It is always tempered by some kind of goodness from within, some kind of light. It’s the light that we work with, try to make it stronger.”
Perhaps naively I keep hoping that Scamarcio will be able break free of his Mafia connection and finally find happiness and contentment in his personal life, even though I know this to be extremely unlikely. Similarly, I cling to the hope that Antonio won’t become as bitter, cruel and manipulative as Proietti, but I suspect he could well be among the villains in future Dalbuona novels. For me, it is the hope of the ultimate triumph of good over evil, even in such a corrupt society as that portrayed by Dalbuona, which made “The Hit” such a page turner and will make me want to read more of her work in the future.
I enjoyed “The Hit,” just as I had earlier enjoyed “The Few.” Both books stand-alone but are best appreciated in the context of a continuing narrative. For this reason I will also look out for “The American,” the second in the series which I’ve not yet read.
Pamela
I loved it! I found the novel gripping and even better than ‘The Few’.
Heather
‘The Hit’ is a page turner. I must admit it was difficult to separate characters and places (because of their foreign names/ places) but I liked Scamarcio; I could understand this detective. Now he’s leaving ‘Doctor Who’, maybe Peter Capaldi could be cast as Scamarcio in a television or film adaptation?
Jean
I haven’t read the earlier novels in the series, so I was discovering Scamarcio and his world for the first time. This didn’t dilute my appreciation of the novel. Inevitably, there were elements described that perhaps I would have had a better understanding, if I had read the earlier books. However, I found it a book that stood up on its own. ‘The Hit’ is a good read.
Rosemary
Complex, rewarding and satisfying. Superior to ‘The Few’; I really want to read ‘The American’ next.
Richard
Riveting. Next one, please!
Aidan
The opening of ‘The Hit’ sets the scene for a terrific novel; a worthy addition to the Scarmarcio canon. One can imagine the car crash and kidnap in a pre-title sequence of a film adaptation of the novel.
The characters are large but not too much larger than life. Maybe to exist and survive in Scamarcio’s world would need great characters and the novel provides them in abundance. This time the celebrity world goes hand in glove with the criminal fraternity. The focus, the cynicism and ambition of the players in television described within, underline that celebrity and entertainment is not all candyfloss.
The dialogue, the array of show business and underworld characters, the deceptions, the affairs, the locations and tragedy bring life to the novel. An advantage of a series and a strength of the novel is that the reader is not provided with all the answers; there is no rushed ending. One can easily imagine that as I write this, outside a café in Trieste, Scarmarcio is trying to deconstruct his past and decipher the unanswered questions of the present.
The Hit is aptly named as it’s sure to be widely acclaimed. Comparisons will inevitably be made with Mario Puzo but I think Nadia Dalbuono is a worthy successor to Ian Fleming. ‘The Hit’ describes a chilling reality that is both shocking and absorbing to read.
Huw
I found The Hit gripping. It had a sense of place. It’s very Italian. I do care about the hero. I found myself worrying about the amount of cappuccinos he drinks, the cost of them all and how he never seems to eat. I had an idea who the protagonist is but this was dashed three quarters of the way through, only to resurface as a possibility later, but the plot is too complex for me to guess. This book has show bis personalities and interesting characters. The added complications of the hero’s family's past add another element to this hero. It’ll be a great tv series.
Nicola
There were a lot of characters, which aided the complexity of the story. This allowed us to doubt our own guesses about who was behind the kidnap of the Proiettis. One member thought a book like this should have a roll call of names and descriptions at the start. We felt it is a busy novel, which helps its realism. We liked that the characters were complex; we can see it as television series and can predict that names like Fiammetta di Bondi and Zac Dandini, as well as our interesting detective will live on in people’s consciousness. A strength is that situations and characters’ motives remain a conundrum and we liked (as in life) not everything is resolved. We are excited that there will be a fourth Scamarcio novel that, we hope will reveal more of our hero and ask more questions of the world he lives in.
Below are some individual reviews from our group:
I wouldn’t normally choose to read about the Italian Mafia and its murky underworld, but I find Dalbuono’s writing both exciting and enthralling. “The Hit” is an extremely well written and fast moving thriller with amazing twists and revelations. The many and diverse people who might be involved in the kidnapping of the wife and “son” of the notorious television magnate, Micky Proietti, make this an extremely complex plot. Scamarcio’s many, at first seemingly unconnected, lines of enquiry reveal many possible motives and connections and there are surprises right up to the very end. At the book’s conclusion there are still some unresolved issues and not all those involved in both the kidnapping and the subsequent killing of Maia, in her brother’s bungled attempt to rescue her, are identified or brought to account. This makes the story more realistic and also paves the way for further revelations or developments in subsequent books in the Scamarcio series.
At times the number of people involved seems bewildering, but a key to Dalbuono’s success in steering her reader through the intricacies of the plot lies in her attention to detail in describing key characters; giving very memorable, precise physical images and subtle clues to personality and role.
I also feel strangely sympathetic to Scamarcio. I don’t accept his grim view of humanity;
“Human beings weren’t made to get along.” page 56.
But I can see how he came to this conclusion, given his job and more especially his family background. There would also seem to be parallels between his life and that of Antonio, since both are robbed of their youthful innocence by becoming victims of horrific crimes that will continue to haunt them long after the event.
“In the Few,” page 202, the prison chaplain said,
“Evil is not an absolute ……. It is always tempered by some kind of goodness from within, some kind of light. It’s the light that we work with, try to make it stronger.”
Perhaps naively I keep hoping that Scamarcio will be able break free of his Mafia connection and finally find happiness and contentment in his personal life, even though I know this to be extremely unlikely. Similarly, I cling to the hope that Antonio won’t become as bitter, cruel and manipulative as Proietti, but I suspect he could well be among the villains in future Dalbuona novels. For me, it is the hope of the ultimate triumph of good over evil, even in such a corrupt society as that portrayed by Dalbuona, which made “The Hit” such a page turner and will make me want to read more of her work in the future.
I enjoyed “The Hit,” just as I had earlier enjoyed “The Few.” Both books stand-alone but are best appreciated in the context of a continuing narrative. For this reason I will also look out for “The American,” the second in the series which I’ve not yet read.
Pamela
I loved it! I found the novel gripping and even better than ‘The Few’.
Heather
‘The Hit’ is a page turner. I must admit it was difficult to separate characters and places (because of their foreign names/ places) but I liked Scamarcio; I could understand this detective. Now he’s leaving ‘Doctor Who’, maybe Peter Capaldi could be cast as Scamarcio in a television or film adaptation?
Jean
I haven’t read the earlier novels in the series, so I was discovering Scamarcio and his world for the first time. This didn’t dilute my appreciation of the novel. Inevitably, there were elements described that perhaps I would have had a better understanding, if I had read the earlier books. However, I found it a book that stood up on its own. ‘The Hit’ is a good read.
Rosemary
Complex, rewarding and satisfying. Superior to ‘The Few’; I really want to read ‘The American’ next.
Richard
Riveting. Next one, please!
Aidan
The opening of ‘The Hit’ sets the scene for a terrific novel; a worthy addition to the Scarmarcio canon. One can imagine the car crash and kidnap in a pre-title sequence of a film adaptation of the novel.
The characters are large but not too much larger than life. Maybe to exist and survive in Scamarcio’s world would need great characters and the novel provides them in abundance. This time the celebrity world goes hand in glove with the criminal fraternity. The focus, the cynicism and ambition of the players in television described within, underline that celebrity and entertainment is not all candyfloss.
The dialogue, the array of show business and underworld characters, the deceptions, the affairs, the locations and tragedy bring life to the novel. An advantage of a series and a strength of the novel is that the reader is not provided with all the answers; there is no rushed ending. One can easily imagine that as I write this, outside a café in Trieste, Scarmarcio is trying to deconstruct his past and decipher the unanswered questions of the present.
The Hit is aptly named as it’s sure to be widely acclaimed. Comparisons will inevitably be made with Mario Puzo but I think Nadia Dalbuono is a worthy successor to Ian Fleming. ‘The Hit’ describes a chilling reality that is both shocking and absorbing to read.
Huw
I found The Hit gripping. It had a sense of place. It’s very Italian. I do care about the hero. I found myself worrying about the amount of cappuccinos he drinks, the cost of them all and how he never seems to eat. I had an idea who the protagonist is but this was dashed three quarters of the way through, only to resurface as a possibility later, but the plot is too complex for me to guess. This book has show bis personalities and interesting characters. The added complications of the hero’s family's past add another element to this hero. It’ll be a great tv series.
Nicola
Read
May 24, 2018A racy thriller.
Joseph Farrell, TLS
Brilliantly conceived … A captivating yarn in every sense.
Jon Wise, Weekend Sport
Dalbuono has an intimate knowledge and understanding of Italy, its criminal underbelly and the often twisted and corrupted state that functions on the back of its relationship with the Mafia … A fresh voice in a well-trodden field … This is Euro-noir of the highest order.
New Books
[A] fast-moving and complicated story … difficult to put down once started.
Crime Review
Joseph Farrell, TLS
Brilliantly conceived … A captivating yarn in every sense.
Jon Wise, Weekend Sport
Dalbuono has an intimate knowledge and understanding of Italy, its criminal underbelly and the often twisted and corrupted state that functions on the back of its relationship with the Mafia … A fresh voice in a well-trodden field … This is Euro-noir of the highest order.
New Books
[A] fast-moving and complicated story … difficult to put down once started.
Crime Review
December 28, 2017
The continuation of the series is great! There are twists and turns that make the story very interesting and I loved it! I look forward to the next one with interest!
June 28, 2024
3 ⭐️ - 28 jun 2024
December 28, 2017
Another hit from Nadia Dalbuono. Scamarcio has become one of my favourites, and, once again, this one doesn't disappoint. Finally, we have Scamarcio's mafia roots exposed as he cracks another case using his gut and intellect. I read this book through The Pigeonhole book club, which meant I got the book in instalments. Had that not been the case, I would have struggled to put it down. But, on the other hand, it gave me a chance to catch my breath from the fast-paced action, and digest all the twists and turns in the plot.
December 3, 2016
I started this book a few weeks ago and then decided to save it - much as one might a bar of quality dark chocolate or some other much anticipated pleasure - as I knew I'd be on holiday in Mauritius later in the month and would appreciate a good read whilst there. I'm so glad I saved it and not a little impressed with my self discipline!
I really enjoyed the two books previous to this but The Hit surpassed all expectations. As a regular visitor to Rome I enjoy recognizing the locations and Nadia Dalbuono does a superb job of conveying the madness and beauty of that city.
I like Leone Scamarcio - I feel as though I know him or would enjoy a glass of Brunello with him.
The Hit was a cracking good read and I will wait impatiently for the next book. I'm interested to see where he goes and how he moves on in both his professional and personal life. I'm glad Aurelia is out of the picture - for now at least - I never warmed to her!
I really recommend these books to anyone who has enjoyed Montalbano, Bruno Courreges, Jacquot or others in the European 'Noir' style.
I really enjoyed the two books previous to this but The Hit surpassed all expectations. As a regular visitor to Rome I enjoy recognizing the locations and Nadia Dalbuono does a superb job of conveying the madness and beauty of that city.
I like Leone Scamarcio - I feel as though I know him or would enjoy a glass of Brunello with him.
The Hit was a cracking good read and I will wait impatiently for the next book. I'm interested to see where he goes and how he moves on in both his professional and personal life. I'm glad Aurelia is out of the picture - for now at least - I never warmed to her!
I really recommend these books to anyone who has enjoyed Montalbano, Bruno Courreges, Jacquot or others in the European 'Noir' style.
December 11, 2016
Dalbuono (again) delivers a thrilling story. 'The Hit' really delivers as the third Leone Scamarcio book, and both develops and engages readers in a way that leaves you unable to put the book down.
May 21, 2017
Leone Scamarcio does it again!
So far I have enjoyed all three of the books in this series and am looking forward to number four later this year.
To my mind, I like reading Italian crime novels. Nadia Dalbuono might be relatively new to the genre but she is one of its better authors. You need to remember that these books are a translation and there is the odd grammatical error (very few in fact). This has no effect on the quality of the plot and its narrative. The kidnapping of the wife and child of a media executive, the twists and turns and the melodrama of its eventual revolution could only be an Italian story.
I did enjoy The Hit and look forward to book number four.
Regards,
Peter
So far I have enjoyed all three of the books in this series and am looking forward to number four later this year.
To my mind, I like reading Italian crime novels. Nadia Dalbuono might be relatively new to the genre but she is one of its better authors. You need to remember that these books are a translation and there is the odd grammatical error (very few in fact). This has no effect on the quality of the plot and its narrative. The kidnapping of the wife and child of a media executive, the twists and turns and the melodrama of its eventual revolution could only be an Italian story.
I did enjoy The Hit and look forward to book number four.
Regards,
Peter
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
The Hit is the third in the Leona Scamarcio detective series, which is set in Rome. This is a new series for me, and what better place to read the book than in stunning Rome itself. I took The Hit away with me on my six-day summer break last month.
I enjoy reading police procedurals, but even more so when they're set in another country, as you learn so much about the culture there through the eyes of the locals. This twisty police procedural contains enough description to give the reader a great sense of place, but not too much to slow down the plot. This was an enjoyable gripping read, filled with tension and humour and a lead detective with murky family roots.
The book can easily be read as a standalone, although I'm now intrigued enough to buy the first two books to catch up on Scamarcio's family background. I also loved the insight into Italian culture, organised crime and police corruption.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.
I enjoy reading police procedurals, but even more so when they're set in another country, as you learn so much about the culture there through the eyes of the locals. This twisty police procedural contains enough description to give the reader a great sense of place, but not too much to slow down the plot. This was an enjoyable gripping read, filled with tension and humour and a lead detective with murky family roots.
The book can easily be read as a standalone, although I'm now intrigued enough to buy the first two books to catch up on Scamarcio's family background. I also loved the insight into Italian culture, organised crime and police corruption.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.
January 2, 2018
Wow! Another great read from Nadia Dalbuono about our very flawed hero Leone Scamarcio. This is the third in a brilliant series which hopefully will go on for a good while longer, maybe until our hero can retire stress free on a deserted island in the sun!!
Once again I enjoyed the journey round Italy, the great writing really brought the place to life. I feel it should be read with a nice glass of wine, I should have made note of the ones Scararcio enjoys. The characters are all strong whether they are likeable or not. I will be recommending this book (and #1 and #2) to friends and family. Thank you for a great read Nadia.
Once again I enjoyed the journey round Italy, the great writing really brought the place to life. I feel it should be read with a nice glass of wine, I should have made note of the ones Scararcio enjoys. The characters are all strong whether they are likeable or not. I will be recommending this book (and #1 and #2) to friends and family. Thank you for a great read Nadia.
December 21, 2023
“My next project?… Oh, it’s a good one.”
#italiannoir from Nadia Dalbuono. Picked this up cheaply, apparently no.3 in the Leone Scamarcio thrillers, but the first I’ve read.
A detective, Tv & film producers and actors, the Mafia, a femme fatale… though what I liked the most was the twist at the beginning. Clever.
#italiannoir from Nadia Dalbuono. Picked this up cheaply, apparently no.3 in the Leone Scamarcio thrillers, but the first I’ve read.
A detective, Tv & film producers and actors, the Mafia, a femme fatale… though what I liked the most was the twist at the beginning. Clever.
December 27, 2017
Another enjoyable outing for Scamarcio. Really enjoying this series
July 27, 2019
7/27/19 3.5 stars. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
May 10, 2020
#3 in the series and better read than #2. Having been to Reggio de Calabria made it interesting and anything set in Roma will get my attention. More than likely read others in the series.
October 22, 2021
Best so far
Complicated plot very twisty. But got there in the end. Some colourful characters. Scarmarcio as tortured as ever. Page Turner.
Complicated plot very twisty. But got there in the end. Some colourful characters. Scarmarcio as tortured as ever. Page Turner.
October 31, 2024
Enjoyed this book from start to finish great read
December 26, 2016
Complex and layered police procedural set in contemporary Italy. It's hero, Leone Scamarcio, represents good in the face of evil of all sorts - pornography, corruption, money laundering, murder, kidnapping and of course the mafia - although he's always on the edge of falling into some of the same traps. There were some elements of this story telling that felt forced but overall, a good read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews