Translated
from the Italian by Howard Curtis
Published
by Maclehose Press,
30 November 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-85705-690-0 (HB). 978-0-85705-691-7 (TPB)
30 November 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-85705-690-0 (HB). 978-0-85705-691-7 (TPB)
Documentary
scriptwriter Jeremiah Salinger has returned to his wife’s birthplace, the
village of Siebenhoch, in the Italian Dolomites. A rescue that went horribly
wrong leaves him with nightmares of ‘the Beast’ that lurks in the Bletterbach
valley ... then he learns of the murders there.
Part
thriller, part family story, constructed as the twistiest of whodunnits, and
with a hint of fantasy as well, this gripping novel is narrated by Salinger.
The reader gets to know him and his family: grandfather Werner, who founded the
Mountain Rescue service, Salinger’s wife, Anneliese, and their lively daughter,
Clara. The life of the village is also important, with scenes like the release
of the Krampus on St Nicolas’ day vividly described. The interaction between
Salinger and key villagers like Max, the local policeman, Hermann, the
businessman, and Brigitte, the drunken ex-girlfriend of one of the men who
found the bodies, is cleverly done, with city-man Salinger believing that he’s
running rings round the locals, only to find the tables turned.
The
novel begins with the rescue incident, goes back to explain how it began for
thirty pages, then moves on to the story of the murders, except that the story
threads are all woven together, so that Salinger’s determination to solve the
murders impacts on his marriage, and the pre-publicity of his documentary about
the mountain rescue team ruins his relationship with the villagers. The writing
is smooth and vivid, the Italian setting a key part of the story and the
frequent high-stakes action scenes make it hard to put down.
A
cleverly-plotted, page-turning thriller with characters who draw you in, and a
lot of action in a vividly-described Italian rural setting. Highly recommended.
------
Reviewer: Marsali
Taylor
Luca D'Andrea was born in 1979 Bolzano, Italy, where he
worked as a teacher for ten years. The Mountain, the most talked-about
and fastest-selling book at London Book Fair 2016, was sold in more than 30
countries before it was first published in Italy. D’Andrea worked as a
documentary maker himself, producing the film The Mountain for Italian TV
Howard Curtis is an award-winning translator of Italian
and French, including books by Fabio, Geda, Gianrico, Carofiglio, Jean- laude
Izzo and Giorgio Scerbanenco.
Marsali Taylor grew up
near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is
currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her
husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is
fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive
dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a
keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of
her local drama group. Marsali also does
a regular monthly column for the Mystery People e-zine.
A review of her recent book Ghosts of the Vikings can be read here.
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