I Will Have Vengeance

Commissario Ricciardi, Book 1

By: Maurizio de Giovanni

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

Naples, 1931. A bitter wind stalks the city streets, and murder lies at its chilled heart. When Maestro Vezzi, one of the world's greatest tenors, is found brutally murdered in his dressing room at Naples' famous San Carlo theater, the enigmatic and aloof Commissario Ricciardi is called to investigate. Arrogant and bad-tempered, Vezzi was hated by many. But with the livelihoods of the opera at stake, who would have committed such a callous act?

Ricciardi and his loyal colleague Maione are determined to discover the truth, but Ricciardi carries a secret of his own. Will it help him solve this murder?

©2007 Fandango Libri Srl. Translation © 2012 Anne Milano Appel (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Little right, a Lot Wrong

First mistake was buying three by the same author before listening to one. The second was since I had run out of everything by Donna Leon and starting to feel homesick for her Italy, the setting appealed. In comparison it felt like the author was using her template and filling in the blanks with a poorly crafted pen.

You're not going to fall into like with this character. Or any of the characters. The story was too contrived throughout and poorly done at that. Some dialogue very fast and choppy, sounding as if the reader did so simply to make another voice. Ever too much crystal balling.

If I'd purchased these as hard copies I would return the other two without taking out of the bag.

Compelling start to mystery series set in 1939s Italy

I was at first put off by the detective's apparent ability to "see" dead people, but the author primarily uses this as a metaphor for empathetic observation of the cruel inequities existing in fascist 1930s Naples. Good writing and strong characterizations in a dramatic setting. Will download the second book in this series.

series review: very good noir; a bit unusual

The 7 books in the series are good- some are very good. i have my quibbles and complaints about a couple of 'em (i.e. the author intentionally misleads) but mystery novels often have those issues.

the books also bring a nice flavor of naples.

grover gardner is great as always--yes, his italian is a bit off...but an excellent narrator.

Grover Gardner

Love anything narrated by Grover Gardner. This series is new to me, but the first book was good.

Love this series!!

I'm on book 2 but people this author's writing is so good! The main characters really grow on you and you are invested in them. The beginning of each book is a little confusing with the introduction of new characters but it fleshes out quickly and the added benefit of the main police officer seeing ghosts of the dead and murdered make it new levels of interesting!

Good Story

I enjoyed this story. It’s a different setting in another country, Italy, which is a nice change. I love this detective’s perceptions of people.

Love and Death in Napoli

This superlative detective story is set in Naples, Italy during the time if Mussolini in the 1930s. The plot is intertwined with a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci at the lavish Teatro San Carlo. As an opera fan i loved every minute. Readers follow a Commissario of the Naples police, whose investigation ranges from the poorest slums to the richest palaces.

Good first in the series.

An unusual setting - prewar Naples - unusual lead - detective who sees dead people. All the bits and pieces come together in this first effort to make an entertaining listen. #3 starts fine but fades fast in the middle and not really morish. I’ll next try #2 and 4 in the hope Maurizio resisted the temptation to recycle boring romantic subplots. However this first novel is a great listen.

great character study!

Never have I read a character in a novel who has challenged me this much as this commisario! (except for this kind of Bible character). Will read more! A desire to learn his calm patience with all kinds of impulsive and rash individuals. In James 3, it says that when someone keeps their mouth, their tongue like this, the same is a perfect (mature) man/woman.

Muddled storyline

The concept of the book is good. I like the period in which it is set and the social picture of life in pre WW2 italy. It is a different tack with a detective story. However the narrator doesn't really have any variation in characterisation, it feels very flat. An additional issue is the insertion of a main character in the plot near the end of the book and the way it is done is poor. l enjoyed the picture of Italian social issues during the period of facisim and how the people of this period lived their lives.

fascinating fantastic story telling

so many twists & turns reminiscent of Camillieri. I loved it & got more from this writer. can't wait for more. the reader has good tone & inflection & believes in his character. highly recommend x

An Unusual Take on the Murder Mystery

Of all the differently conflicted detectives I have read about , this one is the most unusual. It took me a while to get into the story, but after a while it became compelling. The narration has a rather bleak tone which fits very well with the era and the story, putting me in mind of a black and white film

sorry but totally let down by the narrator

I think if I've been able to read this or or listen to it in the Italian I would have loved it I think it has all the makings of a great story and great characters however I could not cope with the narrator and gave up after 30 minutes; because some of the pronunciation for me as an italian speaker was beyond excruciating and I'm very sorry I'm sure he's a professional but no, not for me which is a shame because I had really been looking forward to this one