Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Rotenberg, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Robert Rosenberg returns after a few year hiatus with another story set in the heart of Toronto. This piece actually branches outside of Canada’s busiest city, sharing its setting with a small community in Italy, where a strong second plot delves into the factual story of a small group of men who warded off the Nazis during the Second World War. Rosenberg expressed that he brought a great deal of research into the piece, which shows as the story has a heartier feel to it and keeps the reader in the middle of the action. With strong themes and a great cast of characters, Robert Rotenberg shows why he is a master of his trade once more.
Daniel Kennicott is an established detective with the Toronto Police Department, but has always had a cloud over his head. His brother, Michael, was murdered days before a trip to the small Italian community in Gubbio, for reasons unknown. While Kennicott has always held onto the grief, not once has he had the mental stability to take the trip to Italy. Michael’s murder remains unsolved, which is another pain for Daniel, who begs for answers.
Ready to face the demons, Daniel decides to take the trip to Europe for answers of his own. He discovers that two of his colleagues and mentors, Ari Greene and Nora Bering, have never stopped looking for Michael’s murderer, working through theories to uncover new evidence. They say it is because they worry for Daniel’s safety and peace of mind, though there are always other reasons. Two mysteries on opposite sides of the world fuel a great dive into investigative activities.
When Daniel arrives in Italy, he discovers a secret his family has kept for many years, buried in the hills of Gubbio. As Daniel explores the Nazi occupation and treatment of the locals, he learns that there are secrets that could ruin him if they got out to the wrong person. While Daniel pieces all this together, Ari Greene remains in Toronto, running his own investigation and re-opening the vehicular homicide case that took the lives of the Kennicott parents a few years before Michael was killed. What Greene discovers may open new pathways and provide answers where none were sought. When it all comes together, the truth may be more troubling than anyone thought. Rosenberg does well with this piece, juggling two strong cases in this great thriller.
The novels of Robert Rotenberg always keep me hooked until the final pages. While I am used to his legal and local crime-based thrillers, this foray into a partial historical account of events was refreshing and kept me on my toes. I found myself pleased with Rotenberg’s presentation and quite impressed with the final result. A strong narrative flow and well-developed characters offset the turn towards history as one mystery heats up on each side of the Atlantic. While not Rotenberg’s best, it does highlight strong themes and kept the pace going with short chapters that keep the reader wondering.
There were strong plot points throughout the piece, delving into two active murders—Michael’s and the elder Kennicotts—while Daniel sought answers about why his brother might need to go to Italy. Rotenberg juggled them all fairly well, though there was some flopping back and forth, all of which keeps the reader on edge and wondering what’s happening. The twists that emerge are useful to push things along, though I might have liked things portioned off in sections to deal with each of the Italian exploration and Toronto crime investigations. Rotenberg has been on my radar since I read his first book years ago and I have been a keen fan since. I continue to want to read more about these strong characters set in Canada. Nothing like reading about a Timmy’s double-double on the way to the crime scene, eh?
Kudos, Mr. Rotenberg, for your great work with yet another thriller.
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