A Funeral in Mantova: A Rick Montoya Italian Mystery

Wagner’s enjoyable fifth Italian mystery (after 2016’s Return to Umbria) takes American Rick Montoya, a Rome-based interpreter, to Mantova in Lombardy. Wealthy Chicago businessman Angelo Rondini has hired Rick to act as his interpreter at the funeral of his late cousin, Roberto, who apparently drowned in the local river. During the ceremony, Insp. Giulio Crispi of the Mantova police, a former colleague of Rick’s policeman uncle, tells him that Roberto was in fact murdered. With Angelo’s permission, Rick agrees to assist Giulio in the investigation. Wagner displays his usual profound understanding of—and respect for—the Italian mentality. His characters are fully developed, and their dialogue rings true. He treats readers to just enough information about the production of parmigiano reggiano cheese and the art, architecture, and history of Mantova, as well as lovingly detailed and mouth-watering descriptions of every great meal that comes Rick’s way. This is a book for armchair travelers as much as it is for mystery lovers. (Mar.)