At the start of British author Adam's superb second mystery to feature Gianni Castiglione (after 2006's The Rainaldi Quartet
), the accomplished luthier has the honor and privilege of repairing an Italian national treasure, Nicolo Paganini's priceless il Cannone
(“the Cannon”), in time for a rising young Russian, Yevgeny Ivanov, to play it at a recital that same evening in the Cremona cathedral. After Ivanov's triumphant performance, events takes a sinister turn with the puzzling murder of a well-connected art dealer and the even more perplexing find of a rare and valuable Paganini artifact. Though Castiglione is by no means a detective, his knowledge and musical expertise prove indispensable to his policeman friend, Antonio Guastafeste, as they travel around Europe in search of the killer (or killers). Readers will find Adam's full-bodied characters captivating but never transparent as the clever plot, enriched by meticulously detailed historical intrigues, builds to its satisfying conclusion. (Jan.)
