The Drowning River: A Mystery in Florence

Against a backdrop of the rising waters of the Arno in Florence, a recently disgraced police officer, Sandro Cellini, begins a new career as a PI in this slow-moving mystery from British author Kent (Late Season). While searching for Ronnie Hutton, a missing female art student from England, Sandro meets the insecure but attractive Iris March, Ronnie's roommate, in addition to a clutch of other young art students. Meanwhile, an intriguing older woman comes to Sandro for help in understanding why her husband committed suicide. Predictably, these two cases overlap. While the plot contains the right elements—sinister old-family Italians, evocative settings like the Boboli Gardens, and even a contessa—the story refuses to take wing. The threat of a flooding Arno may strike some as a superimposed device, though by the end it earns its place. Strong points include the gentle portrait of Sandro's marriage and the heartfelt relationship between Sandro and his old police partner, Pietro. (July)