Book Review: The Innocent

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

The Innocent     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Magdalen Nabb
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Series: Marshal Guarnaccia
Soho Press 2005

Nabb's delightful character Marshal Guarnaccia returns. It's spring in Florence, and the air is heavily scented by blossoming lime trees. Visitors flock to public gardens to enjoy the ambience. Tourists flood the streets, blocking traffic. The Marshal and his staff swelter in their uniforms, everyone anticipating the long early afternoon break, with lunch and a nap beckoning.

But in one of the public gardens, a visitor stops on her way out to tell the staff that there might be a dead body in one of the many pools. Sure enough, a young woman has been there for more than a few days, the deterioration in her face makes identification difficult.

If that weren't enough, the Marshal has a new staff member who seems preoccupied and withdrawn. A group of artisans, shop keepers, and restaurant operators deal with changes in their midst, illnesses, business turnovers, and staff shortages. And one of the Marshal's teenage sons is in the midst of his first adolescent crush - is the Marshall ready to have his sons grow up?

As is the case in every book with the Marshal, his unconscious perceives the connections and significance of all the events before he himself can articulate them out loud. And in highly readable, suspenseful style, Nabb pulls everything together.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM