This read
for Bettendorf Public Library's Mystery Book Club presented me with two obstacles right from
the beginning. Chapter one starts with an italicized summary of what to expect
within the first eighteen pages. It’s pertinent information, but was it
necessary? I’ve only run across this technique once before and was not
impressed with it at the time. And what is it called? Certainly not an epigram,
where a pithy saying or a snippet of poetry can entice a certain mood. I looked
up definitions of foreshadowing and that came closer, I think, to how the
author used the plot device to build anticipation. It must have worked on me
because I didn’t quit reading.
My second obstacle,
the nephew’s role as narrator. It was annoying at times to have Poldi’s dialog,
her seemingly smooth narration of important events, interrupted by the junior
novelist whining over his unstructured story and incomplete life. I felt it as
an intrusion and not helpful for the present story. It was more of an aid for
delivering historical background on Poldi and the family.
I did not
take the time to look up all the food and beverages mentioned. That’s my loss. However,
I can appreciate how the author portrayed and developed the local character of the
place and the people.
I was not
able to guess the villain, too many worthy suspects. And just when the ending felt
like it was being overly drawn out, it was saved in a most unexpected way. At least
for this tourist who hasn’t been to Sicily, yet.
It was a
good choice for the Mystery Book Club. I might look for the next installment of
Auntie Poldi.
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