Crossing the Line

Giuseppe Bianchi #1

by Isabella Muir

Tragic accident or cold-blooded murder?

Retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi, travels to England to escape one tragic death, when he comes face-to-face with another. When the body of a teenager is found on a Sussex beach, Giuseppe is drawn to the case – a case with no witnesses, and a case about which no one is prepared to talk.

National news reports of a missing twelve-year-old in Manchester spark fear across the nation. The phrase ‘stranger-danger’ filters into public consciousness. Local reporter, Christina Rossi, already has concerns about her local community. Families are not as close-knit as they first appear.

As the sea mist drifts in and darkness descends, can Giuseppe and Christina discover the truth and prevent another tragedy?

Crossing the Line is the perfect summer read for everyone who loves Agatha Christie style twists and turns, with a Mediterranean flavour. Imagine the charismatic Italian police series, Montalbano, combined with those TV favourites set in the 1960s - Endeavour, George Gently and Call the Midwife.

‘A dashing Italian detective. A very English mystery. What more could you want?’ – Christoffer Petersen – bestselling Greenland crime and thriller author

264 pages, ebook

Published July 1, 2020

About the author

Isabella is never happier than when she is immersing herself in the sights, sounds and experiences of family life from the Second World War years through to the 1960s. Researching all aspects of life back then formed the perfect launch pad for her works of fiction. Isabella rediscovered her love of writing fiction during two happy years working on and completing her MA in Professional Writing and since then she has gone on to publish six novels, three novellas and two short story collections.

Her love of Italy shines through all her work and, as she is half-Italian, she has enjoyed bringing all her crime novels to an Italian audience with Italian translations, which are very well received.

Her latest novel, After the Storm, is the second novel in a new series of Sussex Crimes, featuring retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi who is escaping from tragedy in Rome, only to arrive in the quiet seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, to come face-to-face with it once more.

Her first Sussex Crime Mystery series features young librarian and amateur sleuth, Janie Juke. Set in the late 1960s, in the fictional seaside town of Tamarisk Bay, we meet Janie, who looks after the mobile library. She is an avid lover of Agatha Christie stories – in particular Hercule Poirot. Janie uses all she has learned from the Queen of Crime to help solve crimes and mysteries. As well as three novels, there are three novellas in the series, which explore some of the back story to the Tamarisk Bay characters.

Isabella’s standalone novel, The Forgotten Children, deals with the emotive subject of the child migrants who were sent to Australia – again focusing on family life in the 1960s, when the child migrant policy was still in force.
Find out more about Isabella and her books by visiting her website at: www.isabellamuir.com

Reviews

[Carol Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retired detective Guiseppe Bianchi is visiting with family on the Southern coast of England, when a local child is found dead, probably not an accident. Guiseppe can’t stop himself from thinking about the case. He teams up with his niece, reporter Christina Rossi, to do their own investigating, sharing information with the police as they go. It’s the 1960s, at a time when ‘stranger danger’ was becoming part of the national consciousness, and that fear is woven into the story.

Guiseppe is charming, but sad. This open-ended vacation may be good for him. Christina is smart, but has a lot on her plate and lacks confidence in her own skills. They make a good team.

I listened to the audio and thought the narrator did a fine job. The characters were well-distinguished and his tone fit the seriousness of the crime.

The plot was put together well. It’s not a quick-moving mystery, but I enjoyed the pace. The characters feel real and each of the suspects has their own secrets. This is very much a story about family and love and loss. The ending pulled all the various strands together in a satisfying way.

[Heidi Gallacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic accident or cold-blooded murder?

I enjoyed this well-written, gentle mystery, that is set in England and infused with a sprinkling of Italy and her customs.

Retired detective Guiseppe Bianchi is forced to face his demons from a previous case when he travels to the South coast on a holiday to meet a long-lost cousin. This all happens in 1964, at a time when ‘stranger danger’ was becoming part of the national consciousness. The author weaves this fear into the story as the body of a boy is found on the local beach.

Much to the chagrin of the local police force, Guiseppe teams up with the daughter of his cousin, Christina Rossi, to investigate the crime. Christina is a local news reporter.

This is a well-plotted book with many twists and turns along the way and I would like to read more from this author.

[Jéssica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this wasn't the first book by Isabella Muir I had the pleasure of enjoy, it is the first in a series and it's an audiobook, which made the experience different.

I'm realizing now that I actually enjoy mystery/crime novels when they are in audiobook format. There is this amazing storytelling and spooky element to it and the narrator of this book (Charles Johnston) did a brilliant job in taking me on the journey. Even thought I was doing other basic chores at home while listen to the story, I found myself multiple time pausing. I was completely captivated by the narrative and the plot and characters.

It's not a crazy fast pace, everything happening at the speed of light kind of story. No, I found it to be a slow pace that allowed me to focus on details and the characters in a way that I appreciate.

Speaking of the character, I hope I can read the book in the future because I want to see if my understanding of the characters and the connection I felt were thanks to the narrative and the voice of the narrator, or because I really caught the feeling of their personalities. Plus, I always love to see if I missed something and to compare the images I create by reading and by listen.

I had fun with the audiobook. It kind of reminded me of listening to the true crime podcast, but this time, while the mystery was happen in real time. If that makes sense. I enjoyed the plot and I felt like everything made sense.

Overall, I believe it was a good start of a series and I very good audiobook. I can't wait to know more about the characters and how the series will continue.

[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, Isabella Muir for the Audible Codes of this book. Thank you for allowing me to join in the fun and being a part of the blog tour with my honest review of the book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t my first read by Isabella Muir, so when Crossing the Line was available to review, I didn’t want to pass it up. What I enjoy about this author, is that while this is a crime novel, it is not filled with brutality.

I like the characters in this. Complex, and they had lots of things to discover about them. I also enjoy watching characters grow, and they did.

This is a bit of a slower pace. It was still compelling, but worth noting that I wasn’t on the edge of my seat.
I like the writing and the characters. This is a good book and I’d recommend giving it a shot.

3.5☆ rounded to 4

*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

[Carmen Radtke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery unfolds at a leisurely pace, like a good passata that can’t be rushed.
Retired Roman policeman Giuseppe comes to Bexhill to visit his cousin Mario, only to become involved in the death of a teenaged boy. His cousin’s daughter Christina, a budding reporter has discovered the dead body. Together they try to piece together what happened and solve the case for the police.
I very much enjoyed the atmosphere, and Giuseppe is a charming, slightly melancholy character who added most of the flavour to this Anglo-Italian treat. 3.5 stars!

[Mahasweta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Isabella Muir book, and I found it quite gripping from beginning to end. An Italian detective comes to Bexhill to escape his own tragedy but ends up being embroiled in another tragedy. He teams up with a relative, who is also a reporter, to find the truth behind the death of a young boy. It is a well-written engaging mystery with many twists and turns. The characters are very well developed and the character of detective Giuseppe Bianchi is very likeable. Overall, I really enjoyed the book although the pace was a little slow for my taste, but that could be because it reflects the slow pace of society of the 1960s.

[Pam Devine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5 stars.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. The storyline was enjoyable but a little slow for my taste. Perhaps it was the pace of life in the 1960s and it is my impatience. I liked the character development and would like to see where they go next.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feels to me like a great start to a new series. Absolutely loved the characters in this and I have to say I really felt the fear captured within the storyline. Really enjoyed it and highly recommend it!

[KT · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something nice about curling up with a crime novel which is on the gentle side, they are compelling and urge you to solve the crime without providing the horror and grit which can leave you uneasy. This novel filled that expectation with an Agatha Christie/Heartbeat type crime and conclusion. 
 Based in the 1960s in Eastbourne, it was a joy to read the description of the era when life was at a slower pace. Isabella Muir captures the time perfectly, making it easy to slip into the story with the Beatles on the radio and the news of JFK’s assassination still fresh in people’s minds. It follows an intriguing Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi, who I loved. He has a backstory I long to know more of and a calm, knowledgeable personality making him the ideal person to notice things others have missed. Together with his junior reporter, Christina Rossi, they set out to investigate the death of a young boy, George. The suspects all have secrets leading you to question who had done what as the story twisted and turned. I guessed some twists, but it did not stop me enjoying this adventure. 
The dynamics of Giuseppe Bianchi and his cousin’s family, the Rossi’s were complex and made me feel this is much to discover about them in the upcoming series. For these characters alone, I am putting the next books on my TBR list. The death of George was the thread holding the story together, but I felt it was not in the plot’s forefront as I expected but the novel is about the detective himself which made it a delightful read.  
 

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Isabella Muir for providing me with an Audible copy of Crossing the Line with a request for an honest review.

Crossing the Line is a fantastic murder mystery. The intrigue is captivating. I enjoyed every minute of listening to the gentle tones of Charles Johnston. Johnston captures the mood in every sentence. There were parts where I couldn’t catch my breath from the intensity of the scene. Isabella Muir may be my new favorite murder mystery author.

The story plays out along the beach in Sussex, England. I felt the waves pushing against the shoreline. I felt the cold sea-mist on my face as Christina found the body that fateful afternoon. The blooms in Rose’s cottage garden were easy to see and smell. Being able to get lost in the atmosphere of the book was amazing.

My only problem with the audio was that Guiseppe’s accent was too strong. I had trouble grasping the words. The Italian accent was strong. But, even still, the tone was soothing. Johnston is a great narrator.

I award Crossing the Line 4 out of 5 stars. The audio version will satisfy any fan of the format. I highly recommend this book to those of you who love the titles of Agatha Christie. Muir is similar and a delight to read.

[Elaine white · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossing the line by Isabella Muir
Genre: Crime/ mystery

Blurb:
Tragic accident or cold-blooded murder?
Retired Italian detective, Giuseppe Bianchi, travels to England to escape one tragic death, when he comes face-to-face with another. When the body of a teenager is found on a Sussex beach, Giuseppe is drawn to the case – a case with no witnesses, and a case about which no one is prepared to talk.

As the sea mist drifts in and darkness descends, can Giuseppe and Christina discover the truth and prevent another tragedy?

Set in 1964, Crossing the Line is the first in a new series of Sussex crime stories featuring Giuseppe Bianchi and Christina Rossi.

My Review: 4 broomsticks.

A really interesting mystery set in 1960s England .
Written well.
With the mix of Italian and British you get a good mix and a good team working together .It's a slow paced story but picks up every missed details.
Secrets and lies abound and not all is as it seems x

An interesting read. x

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable and easy read. It was well written with great characters. I particularly liked Guiseppe and was very pleased when I saw the book listed on Amazon as A Guiseppe Bianchi Mystery Book 1!! I sincerely hope there will be more from Guiseppe and I hope a future novel might explore the case he was unable to solve back in Italy.

My reason for the 3 stars (probably more 3.5) is that the story was a bit slow moving for me and it didn't really have me gripped. I could have happily put the book down and picked it up again in a few weeks. If you have a very hectic life and find it difficult to find time to read then this would be perfect. If like me, you love to be enthralled in a book and on the edge of your seat then bare in mind that this novel has a more laid back pace. It would be ideal for a lovely lazy day on the beach.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook is the first in the Guiseppe Bianchi mystery's featuring an Italian ex-detective on a semi-permanent retirement in mid-1960s England. Set in Sussex like the author's previous mystery series, this atmospheric story rich in period details unfolds at a gentle pace in keeping with 1960s England.

Guiseppe has regrets and secrets. They don't affect his investigation skills which he puts to good use solving a particularly poignant case. The investigation is poignant and with a culture of silence and misinformation.

The narrator is easy to listen to and professional. This story works well in audiobook format and has a conclusion with a satisfying twist.


I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in return for an honest review.

[Amanda Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. This was a mysterious book. I was not sure how everything would end up fitting together but it did. It was very well written and the author was able to bring everything together so smoothly. It is very hard to review this book without giving spoilers. This book felt like more of a relaxed mystery book if that makes sense. It was the sort of book you can stay calm while reading it but yet it had a mysterious who done it factor. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for those seeking a more relaxed laid back type of mystery book.

[Brenda Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gripped me from beginning to end. The whole suspense of wondering if the young boy was murdered or killed. An ex Rome detective went to Bexhill to see his family and escape his own tragedy just to be swept into another tragedy. This book was chalk full of family loss and love and twists and turns. I loved the happy ending for Matthew and Rose.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giuseppe is a great new character and in his Brice Christina we have another strong female character as well. This keeps the 60’s era crime fiction cosy mystery feeling we get from the Janie juke mysteries whilst being refreshingly different. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and hope we hear more from Giuseppe and Christina in the future

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story.

Wonderful story. The characters are real and interesting. Can't wait to read the next book. . . .. .

.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read.

[Claire (c.isfor.claire_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review.

This is the second audiobook I've listened to by Isabella Muir in recent months.

This was another cosy mystery, set in the 1960s. The first in a series featuring Giuseppe Bianchi. It had all the feels of Agatha Christie and bygone tv police series set in the same era. The pace is leisurely which I thought captured and portrayed life during this time perfectly. A different world from what we live in today. The characterisation was strong.
A perfect audiobook to lose yourself in. Highly enjoyable.

[L A King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first visit to an Isabella Muir novel. It was absolutely amazing. I fell in love with it from the beginning. The characters were so believable. Giuseppe, who was in the Italian police force had retired. He decides to go and visit his cousin Mario and family in England to try and forget about the reason he left his job. Christina, Mario’s daughter is a reporter and on her way to the beach with her nephew finds a young boy in the road. Raising the alarm for an ambulance to be called she waits with the youth. Giuseppe gets his adrenaline pumping when he finds out. Was this just a fatal accident or something more sinister. Sean, who lives in a caravan opposite the sea shore became a suspect. A man of few words. I loved this character. I could just imagine him in his caravan looking out at the sea from his door and living in cramped conditions. Children seemed to like him. He told wonderful stories of his time at sea. Giuseppe was a warm character who thought a lot. He was very caring too. He was also very mindful of Pearce the Inspector in charge and didn't want to upset him. Christina, I felt sorry for. She really had drawn the short straw in love and with her one sister. As the story unfolds it is intertwined with stories from the past which all come together. It is set in Italy, England and WWII and 1964. This was beautifully written and descriptive. It reminded me a little of a male Agatha Raisin. I thoroughly recommend this book. Thank you, Isabella, for a wonderful read.

[Pulpworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Well written, strong characters with well rounded back stories and the mystery kept me engaged too. Also touching on issues that women face also added more depth. Definitely recommended.

[Alison Alice-May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Isabella Muir book I had read. The book is based in the sixties, the decade in which I was born. I remember lots about the sixties and the book felt very real for the time period.

I fell a little bit in love with retired Italian detective Giuseppe Bianchi, whose character was so well drawn I feel like I would know him if I met him. He has come to England to get away from an unsolved death in his home town, which he was unable to get involved in as it happened so close to his home. However, he has barely set foot in England when he is faced with another death, this time on a Sussex beach.

Real life bisects the time period as everyone becomes aware of a missing child from the Manchester area. It will be some years before the killers of that child and others are brought to justice. I well remember “stranger danger” and grew up with an awareness of the concerns if you were approached by someone you didn’t know. This national fear is well immersed into the book.

Local reporter, Christina Rossi, is the daughter of the cousin Giuseppe has come to stay with, and they make a good team investigating the story of the dead boy on the beach. As they speak to the community it becomes obvious that local families are not as close-knit as they first appear.

A number of stories come together to result in them solving the mystery surrounding the boy’s death. This includes a trip to London and also delving back to the Second World War when children were sent to the countryside to keep them safe. It’s a well plotted mystery with a reassuring end. I hope Giuseppe and Christina get to work together in another mystery as they make a great partnership.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://book-bucket.com/2020/06/21/cr...

This is a genre, an era, and a setting that appeal to me so there was a lot to like about this book.

The main character of Guiseppe, a retired Italian police detective visiting his cousin in a small seaside community in England, is very likeable. As his train is arriving it stops due to an accident. A teenage boy is dead. Guiseppe can't help himself. He has to know whether it was an accident or something more sinister.

In addition to Guiseppe there is Christina, his cousin's daughter who is an aspiring journalist at a time when women who worked were more likely to be typists and telephonists. She and Guiseppe form a mutually beneficial partnership to investigate the boy's death.

There are other threads running through the book too, which I expect will be picked up and developed in future books - Marco's past; Christina's complicated relationship with Tony; and I hope we haven't seen the last of Sean or Pearce.

The twists were a little too well signposted and I guessed them all, but everything that needed to be wrapped up did so nicely, and the things that weren't leave a nice sense of anticipation for the next book.

https://book-bucket.com/

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written mystery set in 1960s England with an Italian flavour in the form or detective Giuseppe Bianchi. The story flows at a gentle pace as Giuseppe teams up with the daughter of his cousin, and local reporter, Christina to solve the death of a young boy found on the beach. They form a good partnership and work well together. As they investigate we discover that all is not what it seems among these close-knit families in this community. Giuseppe and Christina do everything they can do find out the truth of this young boy’s death.
I believe this may be the start of a very good series.