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Pigeon
In the murder mystery Pigeon, Yancy Gallagher, a young American artist is invited to be a lecturer at the Italian university where he got his degree. Shortly after his arrival, he hears a radio broadcast about a bizarre murder and begins to suspect that the as-yet unidentified victim is the man he fell in love with during his student days.
The realization that his ex has come to an untimely end, brings back a flood of memories from his first stay in Italy, the friendships he made and the bittersweet romance from which he has never fully recovered. Enlisting the help of his ex’s mother and a sympathetic, small-town detective, he endeavors to prove the dead man’s identity and apprehend his killer.
The closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous his search becomes.
The realization that his ex has come to an untimely end, brings back a flood of memories from his first stay in Italy, the friendships he made and the bittersweet romance from which he has never fully recovered. Enlisting the help of his ex’s mother and a sympathetic, small-town detective, he endeavors to prove the dead man’s identity and apprehend his killer.
The closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous his search becomes.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 18, 2020
Originally published on nightingfae's blog
I thought it would be easy to review this book because I enjoyed it so much. But now, as I’m trying to write a deserving review, I realize that to tell someone how much you’ve enjoyed a book without releasing any spoiler is really complicated, especially with all the plot twists this story contains–and with that ending! I’d love to be able to talk about the ending without ruining the whole book. But since I can’t this review is turning into a real nightmare for me. That’s why I’ve lasted so many days until I’ve posted it, because I didn’t know how to write it without ruining the whole story.
So, the plot goes like this: the main character, Yancy, a 29-year-old American flies back to Italy to work at the university where he studied when he was 19. But he comes back to find out that the love of his teen years has been murdered–such a Shakespeare-worthy tragedy, if you think about it deeply. The story revolves around Yancy’s life, jumping from 1983 to 1993, from when he met him to how he helps in his ex’s murder investigation.
Honestly, the first pages seemed a bit slow to me but still necessary to understand the story, because without them you wouldn’t be introduced to some characters that appear through the book and who are important to the development of the main character. But in the end, Richard Natale with his writing style, gets to explain every part of the story without forgetting anything and tying up all the loose ends while describing every little detail very precisely. Altogether in less than 300 pages, which is great, because it doesn’t let the book become too long and stodgy, as the action is constant.
What I found really interesting was how the main character evolves through the story, how his social and personal life is built around what happened with his ex-boyfriend, how that changed him and the way he treats and trusts other people and his partners, making it difficult to him to get truly attached to someone, to trust them completely, which leads him to jump from one partner to another, making him emotionally unstable. That’s what I’d call a natural and real reaction to a traumatic breakup. For me, that’s the basis to make a story be trusted. And Richard Natale gets it.
Maybe the development of the crime's investigation is not enough explained. But after all, the story is centred in Yancy and he's not a detective nor a policeman, so it makes sense that the "research" is not that much explained. Even so, you can mainly follow the investigation through detective Lancellotti's chats with Yancy, so you stay constantly updated and never lose the thread of the investigation.
Finally, the way this book gives me warm Italy vibes is indescribable, although most of the story develops during winter times. I just have no complaints, this book is perfect and you should read it.
Thank you, Richard Natale for sending me your book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought it would be easy to review this book because I enjoyed it so much. But now, as I’m trying to write a deserving review, I realize that to tell someone how much you’ve enjoyed a book without releasing any spoiler is really complicated, especially with all the plot twists this story contains–and with that ending! I’d love to be able to talk about the ending without ruining the whole book. But since I can’t this review is turning into a real nightmare for me. That’s why I’ve lasted so many days until I’ve posted it, because I didn’t know how to write it without ruining the whole story.
So, the plot goes like this: the main character, Yancy, a 29-year-old American flies back to Italy to work at the university where he studied when he was 19. But he comes back to find out that the love of his teen years has been murdered–such a Shakespeare-worthy tragedy, if you think about it deeply. The story revolves around Yancy’s life, jumping from 1983 to 1993, from when he met him to how he helps in his ex’s murder investigation.
Honestly, the first pages seemed a bit slow to me but still necessary to understand the story, because without them you wouldn’t be introduced to some characters that appear through the book and who are important to the development of the main character. But in the end, Richard Natale with his writing style, gets to explain every part of the story without forgetting anything and tying up all the loose ends while describing every little detail very precisely. Altogether in less than 300 pages, which is great, because it doesn’t let the book become too long and stodgy, as the action is constant.
“Beware of cheap sentiment, it’s mighty intoxicating. One sip and you’re off your head.”
What I found really interesting was how the main character evolves through the story, how his social and personal life is built around what happened with his ex-boyfriend, how that changed him and the way he treats and trusts other people and his partners, making it difficult to him to get truly attached to someone, to trust them completely, which leads him to jump from one partner to another, making him emotionally unstable. That’s what I’d call a natural and real reaction to a traumatic breakup. For me, that’s the basis to make a story be trusted. And Richard Natale gets it.
Maybe the development of the crime's investigation is not enough explained. But after all, the story is centred in Yancy and he's not a detective nor a policeman, so it makes sense that the "research" is not that much explained. Even so, you can mainly follow the investigation through detective Lancellotti's chats with Yancy, so you stay constantly updated and never lose the thread of the investigation.
“When we're together, we speak in a language that is only our own.”
Finally, the way this book gives me warm Italy vibes is indescribable, although most of the story develops during winter times. I just have no complaints, this book is perfect and you should read it.
Thank you, Richard Natale for sending me your book in exchange for an honest review.
July 6, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
It is difficult to relate much of this story in a review, mainly because wrapped up in a discussion of the merits of the book are way too many spoilers. Suffice it to say that the real strength of Natale’s writing lay in the way he paints his characters with such a thorough and emotional brush. I love how Yancy becomes so much more than how he started out a decade before. He is slowly transformed, even while Rudi’s influence remains and still haunts Yancy, molding him into the man he is currently today. It is Yancy who will help the Detective Lancellotti solve the mystery. Along the way, he rediscovers himself and how to trust and love again and it is magical to read.
Perhaps my only criticism, other than the feeling that the story took a while to really get going, is the idea that the investigation portion of the novel seemed rather thin. But still, this really is Yancy’s story and not so much about the dead man who may or may not be Rudi. Along with the glut of backstory at the start—many characters are introduced and that is why I mentioned that it felt slow at the beginning—these two pieces are not as well done as watching Yancy evolve. Still, I must admit every person we meet is important to the story overall.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
It is difficult to relate much of this story in a review, mainly because wrapped up in a discussion of the merits of the book are way too many spoilers. Suffice it to say that the real strength of Natale’s writing lay in the way he paints his characters with such a thorough and emotional brush. I love how Yancy becomes so much more than how he started out a decade before. He is slowly transformed, even while Rudi’s influence remains and still haunts Yancy, molding him into the man he is currently today. It is Yancy who will help the Detective Lancellotti solve the mystery. Along the way, he rediscovers himself and how to trust and love again and it is magical to read.
Perhaps my only criticism, other than the feeling that the story took a while to really get going, is the idea that the investigation portion of the novel seemed rather thin. But still, this really is Yancy’s story and not so much about the dead man who may or may not be Rudi. Along with the glut of backstory at the start—many characters are introduced and that is why I mentioned that it felt slow at the beginning—these two pieces are not as well done as watching Yancy evolve. Still, I must admit every person we meet is important to the story overall.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
October 13, 2020
In Pigeon, a crisp corpse is found and an obsessive love revived, ultimately revealing as much about mysteries of the heart as the dead man's identity. Our charming, witty and sensitive guide in this American in Italy adventure is Yancy Gallagher, former art student and village barrista, now acclaimed artist and lecturing professor deft at sizing up people and relationships. The gay love explored here transcends gender and will appeal to people of all persuasions, though there is an extra measure of jeopardy for same sex affairs in this still restrictive, macho and oh so Catholic country.
Skillfully plotted with enough twists and turns for a Tuscan country road, Pigeon kept this reader guessing right up to the final dramatic moments—and the satisfying, endearing ending. I had previously enjoyed Natale’s short story collection Island Fever, and recommend Pigeon to anyone who appreciates not only a lively mystery but a writer gifted in his understanding of humankind. Add to that the Italian setting and you have pure reading pleasure!
Skillfully plotted with enough twists and turns for a Tuscan country road, Pigeon kept this reader guessing right up to the final dramatic moments—and the satisfying, endearing ending. I had previously enjoyed Natale’s short story collection Island Fever, and recommend Pigeon to anyone who appreciates not only a lively mystery but a writer gifted in his understanding of humankind. Add to that the Italian setting and you have pure reading pleasure!
September 1, 2020
I cared about every single character, even the shady ones. The two young male lead characters, and the emotional course of their love affair, are so real that the reader believes anything can happen, and it does. The book is short but thoughts about it linger for days. Natale's wonderful descriptions of the atmosphere, landscape, small towns and Italian mothers are so evocative that he made me want to learn Italian or at least have a double espresso. Ciao!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews