Death in a Bookstore: An Inspector De Vincenzi Mystery

Originally published in 1936 and now available for the first time in English, this exceptional entry in De Angelis’s Inspector De Vincenzi series takes the witty inspector into a Milanese bookshop, where the store clerk earlier discovered the body of senator and surgeon Ugo Magni with two bullets in his skull. De Vincenzi vows to the police superintendent of Milan that he will find and arrest Ugo’s murderer in eight days. His investigation leads him to interviewing nearly a dozen colorful suspects, from Ugo’s dishonest widow to the skittish housemaid. Unlike his colleagues, De Vincenzi mostly relies on studying human nature and uses psychological methods to sniff out the killer. As a result, he uncovers secrets that aren’t always related to the crime, but are nonetheless fun to read. The foreword hails De Angelis (1888–1944) as “the most important Italian mystery writer in the first half of the twentieth century.” Based on the book’s memorable characters, clever red herrings, and vibrant backdrop of pre-WWII Milan, it’s easy to see why he ranks this high. This is a treat for classic mystery fans. (Dec.)