I Kill

A best-seller across Europe, Italian author Faletti’s first novel is a top-notch thriller. Monte Carlo, in Monaco, is supposed to be one of the safest places on earth, with a police force more concerned with paparazzi than with homicide, but that all changes when a mystery man calls a popular radio show. The next day two faceless bodies are discovered, along with I kill written in blood. The substantial cast of characters that assembles to find the killer is led by Frank, a former FBI agent; Frank’s best friend, Nicholas, the police commissioner; and the charismatic DJ Jean-Loup Verdier. All the characters are fully fleshed and three-dimensional, which makes the use of multiple viewpoints particularly enjoyable. The dialogue and narration could have been a little tighter, but Faletti manages to pull it off, maintaining a good pace and masterfully building tension through 600 pages, a clear sign of a major new talent. This one will appeal not only to devotees of European crime fiction but also to thriller fans in general.

Suspense e Mistério