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Daniel Leicester #3
Requiem in La Rossa
'Devoured it. Great characters and brilliant use of the history and architecture of Bologna. His best yet' Trevor WoodIn the sweltering heat of a Bologna summer, a murderer plans their pièce de résistance...Only in Bologna reads the headline in the Carlino after a professor of music is apparently murdered leaving the opera. But what looks like an open-and-shut case begins to fall apart when English detective Daniel Leicester is tasked with getting the accused man off, and a trail that begins among Bologna's close-knit classical music community leads him to suspect there may be a serial killer at large in the oldest university in the world. And as Bologna trembles with aftershocks following a recent earthquake, the city begins to give up her secrets...Praise for Requiem in La Rossa'I absolutely loved this book. Bologna is perfectly captured, the crime plot is fresh and intriguing, and the characterisation remains spot on. I found myself totally immersed and swept through this stunner of a story in 24 hours. Highly, highly recommend' Philippa East 'An atmospheric, intelligent crime novel that is an intricate portrait of the heart of Bologna. Beautiful, gripping, and very clever' Victoria Dowd'A brilliant, involving crime novel' Louise Hare'Clever and beautifully written... his best yet' Louise Fein'I was so hooked on story, I read the whole novel in a couple of days despite trying to make it last as I didn't want it to end' Mystery PeoplePraise for Tom Benjamin'The locale is brought to life . . . the plot keeps you guessing' The Times'A slow-burning, tense and brooding thriller' The Herald Scotland'Tom Benjamin's debut novel blows the lid off a political cauldron in which Leftist agitators, property moguls, the police and city elders struggle for survival and dominance' Daily Mail'It's an immensely promising debut, which leaves the reader feeling they really know the city.' Morning Star'Another great crime novel set in Bologna' Reader Review'The mystery smolders away nicely and the wrap-up throws some curve balls. Another indulgent offering in this rewarding series.' Reader Review
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2021
40 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Tom Benjamin
6 books48 followersTom began his career as a reporter in north London before becoming a spokesman for Scotland Yard where he was a frequent visitor, for strictly professional reasons, to its famed Black Museum. He went on to work in international aid and public health before moving to Bologna with his Italian wife. Tom's first job in Bologna as a doorman at a homeless canteen exposed him to an Italy less travelled and helped inspire his debut A Quiet Death In Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 21, 2023
Bologna, La Rossa, is a major character in this book “red for its bricks, its politics.” Beautifully depicted. I want to go right now after the author has told me about its architecture, history, music, food, and drinks. But that is only the background of the book. Tom Benjamin tells a story of murder, academic jealousies, threats, and corruption (of course, this is Italy). Benjamin is an English born author with a journalist’s background who now lives in Bologna. I trust his instincts.
Blessedly, the detective character isn’t a jaded half-suicidal drunk but a widower and loving parent of a teenage daughter. He is a member of his late wife’s household and their detective business. Most of the story takes place in and around Bologna’s renowned university, Europe’s oldest dating back to 1088. My only complaint is that for much of the book the pace is very slow, making it seem longer than it is. As a detective book should, it heats up in the end.
Blessedly, the detective character isn’t a jaded half-suicidal drunk but a widower and loving parent of a teenage daughter. He is a member of his late wife’s household and their detective business. Most of the story takes place in and around Bologna’s renowned university, Europe’s oldest dating back to 1088. My only complaint is that for much of the book the pace is very slow, making it seem longer than it is. As a detective book should, it heats up in the end.
May 10, 2022
Requiem in La Rossa is the third book in the author’s crime series set in Bologna featuring British private detective Daniel Leicester. I’ve read both the previous books in the series – A Quiet Death in Italy and The Hunting Season – and loved each one. Although I’d obviously recommend reading the series from the beginning, Requiem in La Rossa can definitely be read as a standalone.
It was great to be reunited with characters from the previous books such as trainee investigator Dolores, Daniel’s father-in-law, Giovanni Faidate (known as the ‘Comindante’) and the other employees of Faidate Investigations. Oh, and of course, Daniel’s girlfriend, ‘the svelte and unapologetically visceral’, Stella Amore, who also happens to be his daughter Rose’s art tutor. Once again there’s some nice verbal sparring between Daniel and Commissario Rita Miranda of the Polizia di Stato. She dismissively refers to Daniel as ‘the English detective’ and mocks his approach to investigation: ‘It’s all about the clues with you, isn’t it, Sherlock?’
Daniel is a great character. He has a keen sense of justice and is not afraid to push the limits of the law when necessary. Being a qualified locksmith helps, although not when he’s in a police holding cell. He’s fiercely protective of his daughter and I loved seeing his pleasure at his daughter’s burgeoning artistic talent and how she is growing into a young woman his late wife would have been proud of. Daniel’s Italian is improving as well. In fact, at one point he’s complimented on his English by some tourists who take him for an Italian. Perhaps an experience the author has had?
One of the things that makes the series so enjoyable is the Bologna setting. You really feel as if you are walking the streets alongside Daniel and the other characters and, dear readers, there are maps! The level of detail could only have come from someone with an intimate knowledge of the city. ‘With the chime of the nine o’clock bell from San Procolo came il vento della sera, the breeze that blew east across the city each evening like a relieved sigh for having made it through another day.’
Amongst other things the labyrinthine plot involves a suicide that may be murder (or perhaps is suicide after all?), a death from natural causes that may be murder (or perhaps is from natural causes after all?), evidence of corruption amongst Bologna’s academic institutions and an outbreak of food poisoning (or is it?). Quite honestly if you managed to work out the identity of the culprit(s) and their motivation before the final chapters, well done you!
Requiem in La Rossa is another wonderful addition to the series. It’s a skilfully-crafted mystery with great characters and lots of local colour. Book that trip to Bologna now!
It was great to be reunited with characters from the previous books such as trainee investigator Dolores, Daniel’s father-in-law, Giovanni Faidate (known as the ‘Comindante’) and the other employees of Faidate Investigations. Oh, and of course, Daniel’s girlfriend, ‘the svelte and unapologetically visceral’, Stella Amore, who also happens to be his daughter Rose’s art tutor. Once again there’s some nice verbal sparring between Daniel and Commissario Rita Miranda of the Polizia di Stato. She dismissively refers to Daniel as ‘the English detective’ and mocks his approach to investigation: ‘It’s all about the clues with you, isn’t it, Sherlock?’
Daniel is a great character. He has a keen sense of justice and is not afraid to push the limits of the law when necessary. Being a qualified locksmith helps, although not when he’s in a police holding cell. He’s fiercely protective of his daughter and I loved seeing his pleasure at his daughter’s burgeoning artistic talent and how she is growing into a young woman his late wife would have been proud of. Daniel’s Italian is improving as well. In fact, at one point he’s complimented on his English by some tourists who take him for an Italian. Perhaps an experience the author has had?
One of the things that makes the series so enjoyable is the Bologna setting. You really feel as if you are walking the streets alongside Daniel and the other characters and, dear readers, there are maps! The level of detail could only have come from someone with an intimate knowledge of the city. ‘With the chime of the nine o’clock bell from San Procolo came il vento della sera, the breeze that blew east across the city each evening like a relieved sigh for having made it through another day.’
Amongst other things the labyrinthine plot involves a suicide that may be murder (or perhaps is suicide after all?), a death from natural causes that may be murder (or perhaps is from natural causes after all?), evidence of corruption amongst Bologna’s academic institutions and an outbreak of food poisoning (or is it?). Quite honestly if you managed to work out the identity of the culprit(s) and their motivation before the final chapters, well done you!
Requiem in La Rossa is another wonderful addition to the series. It’s a skilfully-crafted mystery with great characters and lots of local colour. Book that trip to Bologna now!
June 20, 2022
Crime mystery set in BOLOGNA
If you want inspiration for where to go in Italy, and Bologna is on your radar, then the novels of Tom Benjamin will inspire you to visit in person and marvel at this beautiful – and often overlooked – city. The author lives in the city and brings the full colour of the historical buildings and the ambience to life, both the positives and the negatives.
The cover of the book shows some of the UNESCO porticos that are an integral part of the city, built to project over the pavements to offer more floor space to residents above and of course offer shelter from the strong sun during the Summer months. The cover in fact is one of the author’s own photographs and if you follow him on Instagram you will be able to enjoy a virtual tour of the city through his amazing photography (link below).
This is no. 3 in the Daniel Leicester series, who is tasked with looking into the young man charged with a purported mugging, which ended in the death of the victim, a professor of music. He has to prove the innocence of the perpetrator, a young man who has been involved in drugs and perhaps hasn’t made too much of his life to date.
The inspiration for the novel came from a visit the author took to the International Music Museum and Library, where he became aware of the history of some of the instruments and the order of sisters at Santa Cristina, women who had been incarcerated by their families – at one point 13.8 per cent of Bologna’s total female population (around 30,000 women) were nuns. After learning about their plight, he was determined to slide into the narrative some kind of tribute to them.
As a reader the author’s full application of the culture, music, food (of course) and history and this series is a wonderful way to learn about Bologna – I guarantee you will want to visit, so I hope the author has a good and fruitful relationship with the Bologna Tourist Board!
If you want inspiration for where to go in Italy, and Bologna is on your radar, then the novels of Tom Benjamin will inspire you to visit in person and marvel at this beautiful – and often overlooked – city. The author lives in the city and brings the full colour of the historical buildings and the ambience to life, both the positives and the negatives.
The cover of the book shows some of the UNESCO porticos that are an integral part of the city, built to project over the pavements to offer more floor space to residents above and of course offer shelter from the strong sun during the Summer months. The cover in fact is one of the author’s own photographs and if you follow him on Instagram you will be able to enjoy a virtual tour of the city through his amazing photography (link below).
This is no. 3 in the Daniel Leicester series, who is tasked with looking into the young man charged with a purported mugging, which ended in the death of the victim, a professor of music. He has to prove the innocence of the perpetrator, a young man who has been involved in drugs and perhaps hasn’t made too much of his life to date.
The inspiration for the novel came from a visit the author took to the International Music Museum and Library, where he became aware of the history of some of the instruments and the order of sisters at Santa Cristina, women who had been incarcerated by their families – at one point 13.8 per cent of Bologna’s total female population (around 30,000 women) were nuns. After learning about their plight, he was determined to slide into the narrative some kind of tribute to them.
As a reader the author’s full application of the culture, music, food (of course) and history and this series is a wonderful way to learn about Bologna – I guarantee you will want to visit, so I hope the author has a good and fruitful relationship with the Bologna Tourist Board!
August 19, 2022
I read Requiem in La Rossa during the recent heatwave but I'd have been transported to the searing heat of a Bologna summer even if it had been the middle of winter. This is the third book in Tom Benjamin's Daniel Leicester series but the first I have read. It can very easily be enjoyed as a stand alone but I'm going to go back and read the previous books because I loved this one and already know I've found a new favourite series.
The immersive sense of place is evident right from the start of the novel as Daniel and his dog, Rufus walk in the woods early in the morning. The evocative descriptions here are so inviting but even as he enjoys the ancient hillside fragrances of rosemary, mint and sage, Daniel notes that his Italy is not up amongst the summer herbs but down in the smouldering city. It's very clear that Tom Benjamin knows Bologna intimately; Requiem in La Rossa never feels like a tourist brochure and he reflects upon the city's quirks and less savoury aspects as well as its long history and undoubted architectural charms. The headline that screams, 'ONLY IN BOLOGNA' is indicative of the contrasts within the ancient city walls and although the newspaper's report of the death of a respected university professor is typically choleric, the juxtaposition between the wealthy theatre-goers and desperate drug addicts is stark. While this intermingling of rich and poor isn't unique to Bologna, of course, I thought the description of the 'peculiar brazenness and squalor' around Piazza Verdi, decorated with its radical banners and murals gave a clear idea of how the city is viewed by its inhabitants.
Daniel is asked to investigate the apparently straightforward case of the professor's death but it seems as though the facts are irrefutable. He isn't sure that he will discover anything that changes the outcome but agrees to see if he can uncover any mitigating circumstances that could be used in the accused young man's defence. As I mentioned above, this is the first book I've read in this series and so it was my introduction to the close-knit team that he works with. There are obviously some events from the past referred to here but my ignorance of what came before never caused me to become confused and I appreciated being brought up so speed so unobtrusively.
The references to the city's rich historical and cultural heritage provide a fascinating backdrop to proceedings and are a highlight of Requiem in La Rossa but the superb characterisation is equally as impressive. Daniel is clearly no stranger to tragedy, being a widower with a teenage daughter but is surrounded by the affectionate support of his family and friends. His relationship with his father-in-law, still known by almost everybody by his honorific title, the Commandante is particularly interesting; their mutual respect as they discuss the case allows them to disagree and admit when they have been mistaken. Likewise, Daniel and his daughter, Rose have a warm, loving relationship and he encourages her to follow her artistic passions. While he still misses his wife, he isn't alone and as much as I enjoy a troubled detective, it was gratifying for a change to read about a likeable man who hasn't become weighed down by his demons. He's no angel, however, and his resolute pursuit of the truth means he is prepared to bend the rules when necessary.
Art and music play a vital role in the storyline and not just because the dead man was a professor of Musicology. As the body count starts to rise and the deaths appear to be linked to the city's classical music society, Daniel is drawn into a world where talent isn't always enough and this becomes a rather sobering observation of the inherent advantages that come with money and influence. The serpentine plot proves to be as labyrinthine as the streets and passageways of Bologna with a murder that might actually be due to natural causes and a suicide that may be murder just the beginning of a perplexing and shocking investigation.
Nothing feels rushed and the simmering pace of the novel enables the tension to build steadily, becoming particularly nerve-racking towards its sinister, surprising conclusion. Requiem in La Rossa is a beautifully written book; atmospheric, intelligent and utterly compelling, I very highly recommend it.
The immersive sense of place is evident right from the start of the novel as Daniel and his dog, Rufus walk in the woods early in the morning. The evocative descriptions here are so inviting but even as he enjoys the ancient hillside fragrances of rosemary, mint and sage, Daniel notes that his Italy is not up amongst the summer herbs but down in the smouldering city. It's very clear that Tom Benjamin knows Bologna intimately; Requiem in La Rossa never feels like a tourist brochure and he reflects upon the city's quirks and less savoury aspects as well as its long history and undoubted architectural charms. The headline that screams, 'ONLY IN BOLOGNA' is indicative of the contrasts within the ancient city walls and although the newspaper's report of the death of a respected university professor is typically choleric, the juxtaposition between the wealthy theatre-goers and desperate drug addicts is stark. While this intermingling of rich and poor isn't unique to Bologna, of course, I thought the description of the 'peculiar brazenness and squalor' around Piazza Verdi, decorated with its radical banners and murals gave a clear idea of how the city is viewed by its inhabitants.
Daniel is asked to investigate the apparently straightforward case of the professor's death but it seems as though the facts are irrefutable. He isn't sure that he will discover anything that changes the outcome but agrees to see if he can uncover any mitigating circumstances that could be used in the accused young man's defence. As I mentioned above, this is the first book I've read in this series and so it was my introduction to the close-knit team that he works with. There are obviously some events from the past referred to here but my ignorance of what came before never caused me to become confused and I appreciated being brought up so speed so unobtrusively.
The references to the city's rich historical and cultural heritage provide a fascinating backdrop to proceedings and are a highlight of Requiem in La Rossa but the superb characterisation is equally as impressive. Daniel is clearly no stranger to tragedy, being a widower with a teenage daughter but is surrounded by the affectionate support of his family and friends. His relationship with his father-in-law, still known by almost everybody by his honorific title, the Commandante is particularly interesting; their mutual respect as they discuss the case allows them to disagree and admit when they have been mistaken. Likewise, Daniel and his daughter, Rose have a warm, loving relationship and he encourages her to follow her artistic passions. While he still misses his wife, he isn't alone and as much as I enjoy a troubled detective, it was gratifying for a change to read about a likeable man who hasn't become weighed down by his demons. He's no angel, however, and his resolute pursuit of the truth means he is prepared to bend the rules when necessary.
Art and music play a vital role in the storyline and not just because the dead man was a professor of Musicology. As the body count starts to rise and the deaths appear to be linked to the city's classical music society, Daniel is drawn into a world where talent isn't always enough and this becomes a rather sobering observation of the inherent advantages that come with money and influence. The serpentine plot proves to be as labyrinthine as the streets and passageways of Bologna with a murder that might actually be due to natural causes and a suicide that may be murder just the beginning of a perplexing and shocking investigation.
Nothing feels rushed and the simmering pace of the novel enables the tension to build steadily, becoming particularly nerve-racking towards its sinister, surprising conclusion. Requiem in La Rossa is a beautifully written book; atmospheric, intelligent and utterly compelling, I very highly recommend it.
June 1, 2024
I enjoyed this novel as much as the first 2 in the Daniel Leicester series. Full of interesting characters, intrigue and history of Bologna, it made me want to return again to that wonderful city.
January 11, 2024
Third in the series, not as good as first two, but still a reasonable read.
May 13, 2022
Thank you to Randomthingsbooktours and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy of Requiem in La Rossa.
This was my first experience of British Detective Daniel Leicester and his adverntures in Bologna, Italy. Right away you are immersed in the mystery of the story, with the death of a professor, which at first it seems cut and dry, but is definately not as simple as it may seem.
I found it both an easy read and one that held my attention from start to finish, feeding in little droplets of details and with some unexpected twists. I really enjoyed Daniel's intuition and ability to think outside the box, his relationships and the cheeky regard to the local authorities.
Overall a really good read and I will be picking up the others in the series after this.
The wee book lady. xx
This was my first experience of British Detective Daniel Leicester and his adverntures in Bologna, Italy. Right away you are immersed in the mystery of the story, with the death of a professor, which at first it seems cut and dry, but is definately not as simple as it may seem.
I found it both an easy read and one that held my attention from start to finish, feeding in little droplets of details and with some unexpected twists. I really enjoyed Daniel's intuition and ability to think outside the box, his relationships and the cheeky regard to the local authorities.
Overall a really good read and I will be picking up the others in the series after this.
The wee book lady. xx
May 17, 2022
I love this mystery series as it's realistic and the descriptions of Bologna are always fascinating and out off the beaten track.
I don't always agree with the remarks but I like the humour and the characters.
The mystery is solid and it kept me guessing.
I hope to read another story soon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I don't always agree with the remarks but I like the humour and the characters.
The mystery is solid and it kept me guessing.
I hope to read another story soon.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 10, 2024
My first Daniel Leicester book. I understand that this is the third book of the series (so far). Set in Bologna the way the book eloquently describes/markets this city and there are a number of plots throughout the book. It certainly makes it a city to visit to take in the culture and atmosphere. If I do so I might however decide to give the gelato a miss!!
July 26, 2024
This was my first of Tom Benjamin's detective novels set in Bologna. In many was this is a pretty standard and formulaic whodunnit, with good characters and setting. Indeed it is the setting that puts this book a notch above many. Having just visited the city I would give Benjamin great credit for the way he captures the heat, architecture and feel of Bologna. The actual plot was OK but ultimately I didn't find it convincing or believable. It is well paced and a good entertainment perfect for a lazy day in the sun.
July 3, 2022
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to review.
This was an enjoyable and well written murder mystery set in Bologna, Italy. It's not a surprise considering the setting that music and art are at the centre of this story. It can be a cut-throat world for those in creative fields and we see this when a very talented musician loses out because someone else could afford a bribe.
I did find the mystery surrounding the death of the professor interesting and I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen! The pacing was good throughout and I liked how it all concluded and made sense by the end. I did also like the inclusion of local history and the story of the nuns who played music.
The characters were all interesting individuals but because I didn't realise this was the third in a series I feel I missed something here. I will say it can be read as a standalone and I wouldn't mind going back and picking up the other two now.
Overall an enjoyable and gripping read with good characters, a well done plot and a really beautiful setting!
This was an enjoyable and well written murder mystery set in Bologna, Italy. It's not a surprise considering the setting that music and art are at the centre of this story. It can be a cut-throat world for those in creative fields and we see this when a very talented musician loses out because someone else could afford a bribe.
I did find the mystery surrounding the death of the professor interesting and I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen! The pacing was good throughout and I liked how it all concluded and made sense by the end. I did also like the inclusion of local history and the story of the nuns who played music.
The characters were all interesting individuals but because I didn't realise this was the third in a series I feel I missed something here. I will say it can be read as a standalone and I wouldn't mind going back and picking up the other two now.
Overall an enjoyable and gripping read with good characters, a well done plot and a really beautiful setting!
March 9, 2022
A more enjoyable read than the previous book in series, an enjoyable plot and several sub plots.
The characters really bring the narrative alive as well as the setting, a very interesting read. I do hope there will be another entry in the series. I would be very interested to read more.
The characters really bring the narrative alive as well as the setting, a very interesting read. I do hope there will be another entry in the series. I would be very interested to read more.
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May 8, 2022Confession Time: when I agreed to be part of the blog tour for Tom Benjamin’s Requiem in La Rossa, I didn’t realise that the novel was the third in a series. If I had, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up as I always like to begin a series of books with the first in the series. How glad I am, therefore, that I did not realise this as I’d have missed out on a fantastic crime novel that combines a skilfully crafted plot with a highly relatable protagonist and a fantastic sense of place.
Requiem in La Rossa is, it turns out, the third outing for Tom Benjamin’s English-born but Bologna-based private detective, Daniel Leicester, following on from A Quiet Death in Italy and The Hunting Season (both of which will, on the strength of this book, be going on to my TBR). Newcomers to the series need not worry, however, as the novel features an entirely standalone investigation focusing upon the sudden and unexpected death of a professor of music. But when Daniel is tasked with proving the accused man’s innocence, what appears to be an open-and-shut case of a mugging-gone-wrong soon leads him to suspect that a serial killer may be lurking in the midst of the city’s close-knit classical music community.
The author’s bio tells me that Tom Benjamin is himself a British ex-pat now living in Bologna and his familiarity with – and love for – his adopted city comes across on every page. Reading Requiem in La Rossa on a rainy May afternoon was akin to being transported into the heat of an Italian summer, listening to the bells of San Procolo whilst il vento della sera provides respite to the city’s overheated residents.
Which isn’t to say that Benjamin writes his novel as a tourist brochure: the darker side of the city is well-represented as Daniel’s investigation unveils accusations of professors taking bustarella (a bribe) in exchange for sought after conservatory places, and encounters some of the drug-addicts who mingle alongside the students and tourists at the edges of the Piazza Verdi. Whether describing Bologna’s sun-soaked beauty or it’s darker elements, Requiem in La Rossa has a fantastic sense of place that, for me, utterly immersed me in Daniel’s world.
I also really warmed to Daniel as a protagonist. I sometimes find myself bouncing off crime novels – and private detective novels in particular – because of clichéd ‘noir’ protagonists who, faced with challenging family or work circumstances, seek solace in drink, drugs, and/or violence. It was refreshing, therefore, to spend time with a detective who, despite the death of his wife, is surrounded by supportive family and friends, has a warm and loving relationship with his well-adjusted teenage daughter and, when he does encounter personal setbacks, deals with these in the manner of a reasonable – albeit fallible -adult human.
Whilst some of the elements of Daniel’s personal life and relationships are clearly hangovers from – or references to – earlier novels in the series, the details provided and ongoing interpersonal storylines made me intrigued to read the earlier books rather than feeling as if I was missing something crucial. Occasional scenes at the Faidate family home – particularly those featuring Daniel’s father-in-law and boss, The Commandante – made for a welcome break in the action and, at times, provided some light comic relief amidst all the murder.
Combing a stylishly written and well-plotted mystery with an engaging protagonist and an immersive sense of place, Requiem in La Rossa is a classic detective novel in the vein of P D James, Colin Dexter, and Donna Leon. Fans of detective fiction should definitely take this opportunity to jet off to sunny Italy and explore the streets of Bologna, whilst those who have already discovered the series are sure to enjoy this latest instalment.
NB: This review appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Requiem in La Rossa is, it turns out, the third outing for Tom Benjamin’s English-born but Bologna-based private detective, Daniel Leicester, following on from A Quiet Death in Italy and The Hunting Season (both of which will, on the strength of this book, be going on to my TBR). Newcomers to the series need not worry, however, as the novel features an entirely standalone investigation focusing upon the sudden and unexpected death of a professor of music. But when Daniel is tasked with proving the accused man’s innocence, what appears to be an open-and-shut case of a mugging-gone-wrong soon leads him to suspect that a serial killer may be lurking in the midst of the city’s close-knit classical music community.
The author’s bio tells me that Tom Benjamin is himself a British ex-pat now living in Bologna and his familiarity with – and love for – his adopted city comes across on every page. Reading Requiem in La Rossa on a rainy May afternoon was akin to being transported into the heat of an Italian summer, listening to the bells of San Procolo whilst il vento della sera provides respite to the city’s overheated residents.
Which isn’t to say that Benjamin writes his novel as a tourist brochure: the darker side of the city is well-represented as Daniel’s investigation unveils accusations of professors taking bustarella (a bribe) in exchange for sought after conservatory places, and encounters some of the drug-addicts who mingle alongside the students and tourists at the edges of the Piazza Verdi. Whether describing Bologna’s sun-soaked beauty or it’s darker elements, Requiem in La Rossa has a fantastic sense of place that, for me, utterly immersed me in Daniel’s world.
I also really warmed to Daniel as a protagonist. I sometimes find myself bouncing off crime novels – and private detective novels in particular – because of clichéd ‘noir’ protagonists who, faced with challenging family or work circumstances, seek solace in drink, drugs, and/or violence. It was refreshing, therefore, to spend time with a detective who, despite the death of his wife, is surrounded by supportive family and friends, has a warm and loving relationship with his well-adjusted teenage daughter and, when he does encounter personal setbacks, deals with these in the manner of a reasonable – albeit fallible -adult human.
Whilst some of the elements of Daniel’s personal life and relationships are clearly hangovers from – or references to – earlier novels in the series, the details provided and ongoing interpersonal storylines made me intrigued to read the earlier books rather than feeling as if I was missing something crucial. Occasional scenes at the Faidate family home – particularly those featuring Daniel’s father-in-law and boss, The Commandante – made for a welcome break in the action and, at times, provided some light comic relief amidst all the murder.
Combing a stylishly written and well-plotted mystery with an engaging protagonist and an immersive sense of place, Requiem in La Rossa is a classic detective novel in the vein of P D James, Colin Dexter, and Donna Leon. Fans of detective fiction should definitely take this opportunity to jet off to sunny Italy and explore the streets of Bologna, whilst those who have already discovered the series are sure to enjoy this latest instalment.
NB: This review appears on my blog at https://theshelfofunreadbooks.wordpre... as part of the blog tour for the book. My thanks go to the publisher for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 6, 2022
‘Jesus, this is Italy. Anything’s possible.’
Not so long ago I reviewed the first in Tom Benjamin’s detective series featuring Daniel Leicester. It is a testament to how much I enjoyed it that I remember so much about it. The beautiful backdrop of Bologna, the English detective abroad with a poignant backstory - a widower with a young daughter. I hadn’t read the second book in the series but took a leap of faith and arrived back in Bologna to read the third in the series where I found Daniel a little older - anxious enough about his fitness to run up the stairs on a stiflingly hot day - and with a young girlfriend in tow. He has been employed to investigate the circumstances of a Professor’s death which looks like a cardiac arrest..A young musician has been arrested and Daniel has been paid to get him off.
It was a delight to be back in this beautiful series. Benjamin creates an amazing sense of place visually, politically and culturally. The Italian police system fascinated me enough to go and check out how the various components worked together and adds an extra dynamic to the investigations..with not one but two police forces thwarting his investigation. The aged buildings, shuttered against the glare of an Italian sun mirror the darkness of this city with a drug scene in touching distance of the city’s cultural high spots. Added to a couple of suspicious deaths, an adulterous couple, there are the unnerving seismic tremblings..
The English detective in Italy is a wonderful dynamic and I was curious to see how the Brits adored in pre-Brexit book 1 - ‘pragmatic and trustworthy’ might be regarded in post Brexit book 3. While they regard him as something of a curiosity; Daniel is equally amused, ‘I had to laugh - it was no coincidence that the Italian lexicon did not contain a word for ‘privacy.’
This had everything for me - an intriguing detective; an excellent plot centred on the oldest university in the world with lots of tension and plenty of danger. Add to this the power of the descriptions which transported me to Italy, ‘the sun had risen sufficiently to banish that early morning cool and cast a sultry shadow even along the porticoes..’ And I could almost taste that limoncello.
Not so long ago I reviewed the first in Tom Benjamin’s detective series featuring Daniel Leicester. It is a testament to how much I enjoyed it that I remember so much about it. The beautiful backdrop of Bologna, the English detective abroad with a poignant backstory - a widower with a young daughter. I hadn’t read the second book in the series but took a leap of faith and arrived back in Bologna to read the third in the series where I found Daniel a little older - anxious enough about his fitness to run up the stairs on a stiflingly hot day - and with a young girlfriend in tow. He has been employed to investigate the circumstances of a Professor’s death which looks like a cardiac arrest..A young musician has been arrested and Daniel has been paid to get him off.
It was a delight to be back in this beautiful series. Benjamin creates an amazing sense of place visually, politically and culturally. The Italian police system fascinated me enough to go and check out how the various components worked together and adds an extra dynamic to the investigations..with not one but two police forces thwarting his investigation. The aged buildings, shuttered against the glare of an Italian sun mirror the darkness of this city with a drug scene in touching distance of the city’s cultural high spots. Added to a couple of suspicious deaths, an adulterous couple, there are the unnerving seismic tremblings..
The English detective in Italy is a wonderful dynamic and I was curious to see how the Brits adored in pre-Brexit book 1 - ‘pragmatic and trustworthy’ might be regarded in post Brexit book 3. While they regard him as something of a curiosity; Daniel is equally amused, ‘I had to laugh - it was no coincidence that the Italian lexicon did not contain a word for ‘privacy.’
This had everything for me - an intriguing detective; an excellent plot centred on the oldest university in the world with lots of tension and plenty of danger. Add to this the power of the descriptions which transported me to Italy, ‘the sun had risen sufficiently to banish that early morning cool and cast a sultry shadow even along the porticoes..’ And I could almost taste that limoncello.
July 20, 2022
Tom Benjamin is on superb form with Requiem in La Rossa, the third gripping installment of his fantastic crime series set in the city of Bologna featuring English detective Daniel Leicester.
Shockwaves are rippling throughout the Italian city of Bologna when a music professor is apparently murdered while leaving the opera. With the police having apprehended the culprit already, this seems to be an open-and-shut case. However, when Daniel Leicester begins to look into this case, it quickly transpires that maybe the police shouldn’t crack open the champagne just yet. There is something about this particular investigation that is sounding alarm bells for Daniel and with his curiosity aroused, he begins to do some investigating of his own…
Daniel’s sleuthing takes him deep into the heart of the close-knit classical music community of Bologna and he quickly uncovers a hotbed of deceit, betrayal and resentment. But which one of them is behind the professor’s murder? What had driven them to kill him? And will Daniel manage to get to the bottom of this case when he seems to be coming up with more questions than answers? The more Daniel digs, the more he is convinced that there is a serial killer at large biding their time and waiting for the opportune moment to strike again. Can Daniel unmask the murderer? Or will the recent earthquake that had reverberated all around the city’s streets end up burying the killer’s identity and their dastardly secrets?
Tom Benjamin’s Daniel Leicester series continues to get better with every new installment and Requiem in La Rossa is the best one yet. Full of atmosphere, tension and foreboding and with a sprinkling of wry wit and delicious humour, Requiem in La Rossa is a fantastic crime thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats eagerly turning the pages desperate to figure out whodunnit.
Daniel Leicester is a brilliant detective readers will enjoy spending time with. He is smart, clever, forensic, methodical and somebody I hope will have further adventures in the brilliantly evoked city of Bologna.
A first-rate crime thriller, Tom Benjamin’s Requiem in La Rossa is not be missed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Shockwaves are rippling throughout the Italian city of Bologna when a music professor is apparently murdered while leaving the opera. With the police having apprehended the culprit already, this seems to be an open-and-shut case. However, when Daniel Leicester begins to look into this case, it quickly transpires that maybe the police shouldn’t crack open the champagne just yet. There is something about this particular investigation that is sounding alarm bells for Daniel and with his curiosity aroused, he begins to do some investigating of his own…
Daniel’s sleuthing takes him deep into the heart of the close-knit classical music community of Bologna and he quickly uncovers a hotbed of deceit, betrayal and resentment. But which one of them is behind the professor’s murder? What had driven them to kill him? And will Daniel manage to get to the bottom of this case when he seems to be coming up with more questions than answers? The more Daniel digs, the more he is convinced that there is a serial killer at large biding their time and waiting for the opportune moment to strike again. Can Daniel unmask the murderer? Or will the recent earthquake that had reverberated all around the city’s streets end up burying the killer’s identity and their dastardly secrets?
Tom Benjamin’s Daniel Leicester series continues to get better with every new installment and Requiem in La Rossa is the best one yet. Full of atmosphere, tension and foreboding and with a sprinkling of wry wit and delicious humour, Requiem in La Rossa is a fantastic crime thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats eagerly turning the pages desperate to figure out whodunnit.
Daniel Leicester is a brilliant detective readers will enjoy spending time with. He is smart, clever, forensic, methodical and somebody I hope will have further adventures in the brilliantly evoked city of Bologna.
A first-rate crime thriller, Tom Benjamin’s Requiem in La Rossa is not be missed.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 12, 2022
‘Requiem in La Rossa’ was a delight to read! It was extremely well-plotted, created a great sense of location in the beautiful city of Bologna and had a protagonist that you can't help but fall in love with. This is the third book in ‘The English Detective’ series but it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the previous two books and I found I was able to immerse myself into the plot very easily. I will be picking up the previous two books though - ‘The Hunting Season’ and ‘A Quiet Death in Italy’ - as I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Thankfully, we aren't too far into the series as I do like to catch up when possible!
There is something about Italy that just captures the heart and this book shows the love of Bologna all the way through. I feel as if I know so much about this city now - I love when an author combines the history of the location into a narrative. You can find some academic references about the Sisters in the Afterword and I will be looking into the history behind the inspiration for the novel. It is clear that the author is writing from their love of their home city and this makes for an authentic read.
Despite a great storyline what made this book was a fabulous roster of characters that didn't conform to the normal private detective tropes of a troubled main character etc. What we get is a rounded specimen in Daniel - a loving father, a great colleague and a man full of integrity with an inner core of wanting justice for those that need it. Yes, he may break into a few places since he is a locksmith but hell who doesn't do that in crime fiction?!
Overall, despite the horrible narrative, this was a book that radiates warmth, hope and love and I fell hard for the characters. It wasn't a series I was aware of and I will be putting on my other hat of indie bookseller and listing them on the site!
I am looking forward to the next outing! Bring it on.
There is something about Italy that just captures the heart and this book shows the love of Bologna all the way through. I feel as if I know so much about this city now - I love when an author combines the history of the location into a narrative. You can find some academic references about the Sisters in the Afterword and I will be looking into the history behind the inspiration for the novel. It is clear that the author is writing from their love of their home city and this makes for an authentic read.
Despite a great storyline what made this book was a fabulous roster of characters that didn't conform to the normal private detective tropes of a troubled main character etc. What we get is a rounded specimen in Daniel - a loving father, a great colleague and a man full of integrity with an inner core of wanting justice for those that need it. Yes, he may break into a few places since he is a locksmith but hell who doesn't do that in crime fiction?!
Overall, despite the horrible narrative, this was a book that radiates warmth, hope and love and I fell hard for the characters. It wasn't a series I was aware of and I will be putting on my other hat of indie bookseller and listing them on the site!
I am looking forward to the next outing! Bring it on.
March 1, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a review copy of Requiem in La Rossa, the third novel to feature Bologna based PI Daniel Leicester.
A professor is murdered as he leaves the opera and a young drug addict is arrested. Daniel Leicester is engaged to exonerate the accused and even at the start of his investigation he realises there is more to it than the police are admitting to.
I thoroughly enjoyed Requiem in La Rossa, which has an interesting mystery and an obvious love for Bologna. It is told entirely from Daniel’s point of view so the reader can settle in and get absorbed in the investigation.
The plot held my attention from start to finish with its mysterious cause of death, a well concealed perpetrator and little hint of a motive. These, naturally, make the novel all about the investigation and it’s well done with some unexpected twists, a touch of lawlessness, more bodies and a certain amount of logic. In between all this investigating there are a couple of minor subplots for distraction and a great sense of uneasiness when Daniel feels he might be being targeted.
The city of Bologna is as much a character in the novel as Daniel. The descriptions of the buildings, the history and especially the food are warm and loving, giving the reader a desire to visit, but he doesn’t miss the downsides either, homelessness, heat, drug abuse and cronyism, all of which are treated with a shrug of the shoulders.
Requiem in La Rossa is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A professor is murdered as he leaves the opera and a young drug addict is arrested. Daniel Leicester is engaged to exonerate the accused and even at the start of his investigation he realises there is more to it than the police are admitting to.
I thoroughly enjoyed Requiem in La Rossa, which has an interesting mystery and an obvious love for Bologna. It is told entirely from Daniel’s point of view so the reader can settle in and get absorbed in the investigation.
The plot held my attention from start to finish with its mysterious cause of death, a well concealed perpetrator and little hint of a motive. These, naturally, make the novel all about the investigation and it’s well done with some unexpected twists, a touch of lawlessness, more bodies and a certain amount of logic. In between all this investigating there are a couple of minor subplots for distraction and a great sense of uneasiness when Daniel feels he might be being targeted.
The city of Bologna is as much a character in the novel as Daniel. The descriptions of the buildings, the history and especially the food are warm and loving, giving the reader a desire to visit, but he doesn’t miss the downsides either, homelessness, heat, drug abuse and cronyism, all of which are treated with a shrug of the shoulders.
Requiem in La Rossa is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 25, 2022
Requiem in La Rossa is a well written crime novel with an interesting plot and engaging characters which together with a gorgeous setting combine to make this a really enjoyable read.
This is the third book in this series featuring private investigator Daniel Leicester but it works perfectly well as a stand alone. I’m surprised that I haven’t come across this series before as a long time lover of Donna Leon and novels set in Italy generally.
Daniel is engaged by an old friend to try and prove the innocence of a young man who has been charged with murder. As he investigates, he begins to suspect that there has been more than one murder and that there is something very wrong inside the University.
The story is told by Daniel which immediately draws the reader into the mystery. He is a likeable protagonist whose family details are interesting and woven well into the story as a whole. All of the main characters are well developed and I particularly liked Dolores and the interactions between Daniel and the Commissario Rita Miranda. The plot is cleverly worked out and there are a couple of sub plots too.
The series is set in Bologna and the city is definitely one of the main characters in the book. The setting is a key part of the plot and the descriptions really bring it to life.
This was a great read and I will certainly seek out the previous two books in this series.
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the third book in this series featuring private investigator Daniel Leicester but it works perfectly well as a stand alone. I’m surprised that I haven’t come across this series before as a long time lover of Donna Leon and novels set in Italy generally.
Daniel is engaged by an old friend to try and prove the innocence of a young man who has been charged with murder. As he investigates, he begins to suspect that there has been more than one murder and that there is something very wrong inside the University.
The story is told by Daniel which immediately draws the reader into the mystery. He is a likeable protagonist whose family details are interesting and woven well into the story as a whole. All of the main characters are well developed and I particularly liked Dolores and the interactions between Daniel and the Commissario Rita Miranda. The plot is cleverly worked out and there are a couple of sub plots too.
The series is set in Bologna and the city is definitely one of the main characters in the book. The setting is a key part of the plot and the descriptions really bring it to life.
This was a great read and I will certainly seek out the previous two books in this series.
Thank you to Net Galley and Little Brown publishers for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 20, 2022
This is the third book in the Daniel Leicester series. It's the first I've read and works well as a stand alone. I was keen to read this thriller because of the setting, I really love Italy although I've yet to visit Bologna (La Rossa for it's red tiled rooftops). The book evokes a tangible sense of place and I'm even keener to visit!
This is a slow burn thriller, but no less compulsive reading because of it. I enjoyed watching the private investigator Dan work the case and how slowly more and more intriguing findings came to light. The tension builds up and the plot becomes gripping. I found it an original and engaging storyline.
The characters were well developed and I enjoyed learning about their individual quirks and personalities. Dan is a likeable protagonist and has a good team around him. I also liked the character of Vesuvio the rock star and that the readers are offered the opportunity to learn more about Guido who is prime suspect in the case. A case which superficially looks open and shut, yet there are some intriguing elements to the situation concerning both Guido and the victim, a professor of musicology.
Having enjoyed this novel, I'm keen to read the previous two and I think this is a series I will really enjoy.
There are also lots of interesting facts about Bologna peppered throughout the story as well as plenty of wonderful details referencing food, architecture etc. it's truly transportive.
This is a slow burn thriller, but no less compulsive reading because of it. I enjoyed watching the private investigator Dan work the case and how slowly more and more intriguing findings came to light. The tension builds up and the plot becomes gripping. I found it an original and engaging storyline.
The characters were well developed and I enjoyed learning about their individual quirks and personalities. Dan is a likeable protagonist and has a good team around him. I also liked the character of Vesuvio the rock star and that the readers are offered the opportunity to learn more about Guido who is prime suspect in the case. A case which superficially looks open and shut, yet there are some intriguing elements to the situation concerning both Guido and the victim, a professor of musicology.
Having enjoyed this novel, I'm keen to read the previous two and I think this is a series I will really enjoy.
There are also lots of interesting facts about Bologna peppered throughout the story as well as plenty of wonderful details referencing food, architecture etc. it's truly transportive.
May 11, 2022
Requiem In La Rossa - Tom Benjamin
I just loved being back in Bologna for this 3rd book in the Daniel Leicester series. These are great detective novels and this one is slow burning and superb. I felt like I was walking the sweltering streets of Bologna, immersed in Italy, it’s really atmospheric, full of wonderful detail and just makes me want to book a trip - minus the murder of course!
Daniel Leicester has been tasked with proving a man’s innocence. A music professor is apparently murdered leaving the opera, but what looks like and open and shut case begins to fall apart. The trail leads to the darker side of the classical music community, there is more death and with earthquake aftershocks shaking the city, secrets begin to be revealed - is there a serial killer at large?
I really loved following this trail, it feels so Italian, the food, the family, the heat. Daniel is a great character, a little bit fish out of water, and it makes for some great scenes. I felt immersed in it and it felt like real life somehow - despite the murder! and this is the best complement I can give this book.
I’m so glad I have found this series, it’s a gem of a find! And I can’t wait for more.
✩✩✩✩
Thanks to Random Things Tours, Constable books, Little Brown and Tom Benjamin for my copy of this book and spot on the tour.
I just loved being back in Bologna for this 3rd book in the Daniel Leicester series. These are great detective novels and this one is slow burning and superb. I felt like I was walking the sweltering streets of Bologna, immersed in Italy, it’s really atmospheric, full of wonderful detail and just makes me want to book a trip - minus the murder of course!
Daniel Leicester has been tasked with proving a man’s innocence. A music professor is apparently murdered leaving the opera, but what looks like and open and shut case begins to fall apart. The trail leads to the darker side of the classical music community, there is more death and with earthquake aftershocks shaking the city, secrets begin to be revealed - is there a serial killer at large?
I really loved following this trail, it feels so Italian, the food, the family, the heat. Daniel is a great character, a little bit fish out of water, and it makes for some great scenes. I felt immersed in it and it felt like real life somehow - despite the murder! and this is the best complement I can give this book.
I’m so glad I have found this series, it’s a gem of a find! And I can’t wait for more.
✩✩✩✩
Thanks to Random Things Tours, Constable books, Little Brown and Tom Benjamin for my copy of this book and spot on the tour.
June 7, 2024
3.5 stars I think. This is the third in the series, but the first that I had read, so I wonder if that’s why I found it a little hard to visualise how the characters looked, if that had maybe been covered before. There was enough information to be able to piece together most of the family/work set up, which is helpful - you want enough that new readers can follow, but not enough that readers from the beginning are bored.
I love detective stories, and have lived in Italy though never been to Bologna. But I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t immediately fall for this book - it should have ticked all the boxes for me! I think with the first person narrative, it felt like it was one step away from being a James Patterson thriller, and so it felt to me as if it couldn’t make its mind up on whether it was detective or thriller.
There was a lot of research clearly done, and a few “academic expositions” aside (where I felt like I was reading someone’s academic paper), it was interesting, well researched and unusual in terms of the nuns and their music.
Overall I will check out the rest of the series I think, especially as Benjamin did tie the fairly steady pace of the book and all the different pieces together at the end.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.
I love detective stories, and have lived in Italy though never been to Bologna. But I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t immediately fall for this book - it should have ticked all the boxes for me! I think with the first person narrative, it felt like it was one step away from being a James Patterson thriller, and so it felt to me as if it couldn’t make its mind up on whether it was detective or thriller.
There was a lot of research clearly done, and a few “academic expositions” aside (where I felt like I was reading someone’s academic paper), it was interesting, well researched and unusual in terms of the nuns and their music.
Overall I will check out the rest of the series I think, especially as Benjamin did tie the fairly steady pace of the book and all the different pieces together at the end.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. Apologies for the delay in providing this.
June 14, 2022
I read this book fully aware that it was the third in ‘The English Detective series featuring private detective Daniel Leicester, and while it was a great standalone novel, with the benefit of hindsight, I think I would have preferred to read them in order of publication. That said, it takes nothing away from this superb book from Tom Benjamin. The author’s skill at descriptive text beautifully demonstrated his obvious love for Italy and in particular Bologna. The richness of the scenes made me feel like I was there among the characters, taking in the sights, the sounds, and the smells of Bologna.
Daniel is the protagonist. His character is very well written, and three dimensional, which makes him likeable, and totally credible. His love for his daughter was very clear, and he is fiercely protective, with her being his last link to his late wife. I liked both and was rooting for Daniel throughout.
Overall, I really enjoyed the read which had made me seriously consider Bologna as a place to visit in the future. This was a compelling book, and I hope the author continues to write more books with Daniel in this beautiful setting. I have already ordered books one and two. I gave Requiem in LaRossa, by Tom Benjamin, five stars.
Daniel is the protagonist. His character is very well written, and three dimensional, which makes him likeable, and totally credible. His love for his daughter was very clear, and he is fiercely protective, with her being his last link to his late wife. I liked both and was rooting for Daniel throughout.
Overall, I really enjoyed the read which had made me seriously consider Bologna as a place to visit in the future. This was a compelling book, and I hope the author continues to write more books with Daniel in this beautiful setting. I have already ordered books one and two. I gave Requiem in LaRossa, by Tom Benjamin, five stars.
August 22, 2022
This is the third book in a series featuring private investigator Daniel Leicester. Based in Bologna, La Rossa, the red city of the title, Dan is employed to investigated the death of a musicology professor against the background of a festival celebrating 500 years of Resistance. I really enjoyed this setting, and the way that the story was entwined around the Italian culture, academia, art and music both ancient and modern. The investigation was involved and required a bit of concentration but I liked the complexity. I was a bit disappointed that the team of investigators relied quite heavily on picking locks and other slightly dodgy methods to obtain information, where are the little grey cells when you need them? and at times the narrative became a bit educational describing the history and background of Bologna. But there were some great characters, distinctive and individual, and the plot was interesting and unusual. I have added the two earlier Tom Benjamin Books to my wish list and look forward to more cases for Faidate investigations
May 9, 2022
Requiem in La Rossa
Tom Benjamin
Genre: Crime/Thriller
“I’m discovering the world of classical music is unexpectedly murky”
THOUGHTS:
I devoured this book in a day. And I knew that the moment I saw a map of Bologna at the beginning of the book. (Which, for the sake of fictional necessity, the author made some things up. But wow! Just the same..)
The story is gripping that you can’t put it down. There’s always some new information thrown and next thing you know, you are neck deep into the scandals and dramas happening. Also, everything was described in such a way that makes you feel transported into the heart of the action and can vividly imagine Bologna, and its sweltering weather, and its inhabitants.
This is my first novel from Tom Benjamin but you can be certain I will be picking up the rest of his work because this book is just beautiful.
Book out now
Tom Benjamin
Genre: Crime/Thriller
“I’m discovering the world of classical music is unexpectedly murky”
THOUGHTS:
I devoured this book in a day. And I knew that the moment I saw a map of Bologna at the beginning of the book. (Which, for the sake of fictional necessity, the author made some things up. But wow! Just the same..)
The story is gripping that you can’t put it down. There’s always some new information thrown and next thing you know, you are neck deep into the scandals and dramas happening. Also, everything was described in such a way that makes you feel transported into the heart of the action and can vividly imagine Bologna, and its sweltering weather, and its inhabitants.
This is my first novel from Tom Benjamin but you can be certain I will be picking up the rest of his work because this book is just beautiful.
Book out now
January 15, 2025
Daniel Leicester is a British detective turned Italian PI investigates a series of murders in Bologna. The story, the mystery ebbs and flows as the PI searches for clues and sometimes wrangles with the police.
There's some history tipped into the tale which does come into play with a few cunning clues.
The characters are a mix of eccentric and determined, musicians and academics. The scenery is stunning and the crime is chilling. Leicester, colleagues, and family figure it out in the end, but not before running into a few dead ends, some brutal fights, and a series of scary poisonings.
On to book 1 to learn more about these characters.
Thanks to Mac's Backs-Books on Coventry https://www.macsbacks.com/ for a great selection of mysteries and thrillers, new and used.
There's some history tipped into the tale which does come into play with a few cunning clues.
The characters are a mix of eccentric and determined, musicians and academics. The scenery is stunning and the crime is chilling. Leicester, colleagues, and family figure it out in the end, but not before running into a few dead ends, some brutal fights, and a series of scary poisonings.
On to book 1 to learn more about these characters.
Thanks to Mac's Backs-Books on Coventry https://www.macsbacks.com/ for a great selection of mysteries and thrillers, new and used.
April 22, 2022
4/5 Very Good
The 3rd book in this excellent series from Tom Benjamin is possibly the best so far and certainly my favourite.
As usual there is an elegant way to both the writing and stories, held up by the beautiful setting. But as beautiful as the stories and setting, Benjamin tells us the true Italy, the gritty side and the darker side.
This story is as artfully told as much of the subject in the book that focuses on the death of a prominent professor.
With all of the team returning, this well crafted , perfectly paced thriller has some light humour to go with the murder and it’s another joy to read from Tom Benjamin.
The 3rd book in this excellent series from Tom Benjamin is possibly the best so far and certainly my favourite.
As usual there is an elegant way to both the writing and stories, held up by the beautiful setting. But as beautiful as the stories and setting, Benjamin tells us the true Italy, the gritty side and the darker side.
This story is as artfully told as much of the subject in the book that focuses on the death of a prominent professor.
With all of the team returning, this well crafted , perfectly paced thriller has some light humour to go with the murder and it’s another joy to read from Tom Benjamin.
May 1, 2022
4/5 Very Good
The 3rd book in this excellent series from Tom Benjamin is possibly the best so far and certainly my favourite.
As usual there is an elegant way to both the writing and stories, held up by the beautiful setting. But as beautiful as the stories and setting, Benjamin tells us the true Italy, the gritty side and the darker side.
This story is as artfully told as much of the subject in the book that focuses on the death of a prominent professor.
With all of the team returning, this well crafted , perfectly paced thriller has some light humour to go with the murder and it’s another joy to read from Tom Benjamin.
The 3rd book in this excellent series from Tom Benjamin is possibly the best so far and certainly my favourite.
As usual there is an elegant way to both the writing and stories, held up by the beautiful setting. But as beautiful as the stories and setting, Benjamin tells us the true Italy, the gritty side and the darker side.
This story is as artfully told as much of the subject in the book that focuses on the death of a prominent professor.
With all of the team returning, this well crafted , perfectly paced thriller has some light humour to go with the murder and it’s another joy to read from Tom Benjamin.
April 27, 2022
This is the third in the series set in Bologna and the key characters are now becoming familiar. This is a tale of academic jealousy and revenge. A tight plot with plenty of historical and Italian social perspective added in to the plot. Private detective Daniel Leicester is once again called upon to investigate the death of a lecturer and with the support of Dolores and other colleagues , they encounter a range of life threatening situations. Suspend belief and enjoy this detective story full of Italian charm.
January 6, 2023
More than a three, but not quite a four. It's a solid book, and the real strength is its description of the great city of Bologna. However, the plot goes back and forth, which is great for a crime-solving suspense book, but in this case, it's all wrapped up in a too matter-of-fact, and not particularly clever, approach.
Benjamin develops compelling characters in his English detective series, and, in my opinion, his books get better with each subsequent installment.
This book is a good book. His next book in the series is better.
Benjamin develops compelling characters in his English detective series, and, in my opinion, his books get better with each subsequent installment.
This book is a good book. His next book in the series is better.
March 9, 2024
The author's knowledge and appreciation of Bologna, its history and culture, lends an extra dimension to this series of novels. Daniel Leicester is an engaging protagonist and, as an Englishman living in Italy, his perspective on Italian society and way of life is also interesting.
The murder mystery element was over-reliant on extraordinary coincidences for its resolution - I found my credulity stretched to an irritating level - but I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
The murder mystery element was over-reliant on extraordinary coincidences for its resolution - I found my credulity stretched to an irritating level - but I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
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