The black rose of Florence

*Starred Review* A pervading theme in Giuttari's mysteries is the belief that Florence is actually two cities, the one of magnificent architecture and art, and a darker twin, invisible to all except criminals, victims (perhaps for one wrenching moment, perhaps over a lifetime), and cops. Giuttari has credibility in putting forward this theme: he was the head of the Florence Police Force from 1995 to 2003. His hero and seeming alter ego (both men's first names are Michele) is Florence Police Chief Superintendent Ferrara of the Squadra Mobile, a man whose apartment offers commanding views of historic Florence (wonderful to read) and whose business brings him into contact with sometimes grotesque evil. These latest procedurals, the fifth and sixth in the series, are published together and connected. Both involve uncovering the depraved murders connected to the Black Rose branch of the Freemasons. In the first of this duo, The Black Rose of Florence, a young woman is found murdered, bound, and marked, with a black rose between her legs. More ritualistic murders occur, with Ferrara working against the killer's timetable to prevent more. The evil seeps into the second novel, The Dark Heart of Florence, starting with a particularly horrific staging of a murdered Florentine politician. Giuttari's including the point of view of a serial killer enjoying the sights of Florence between murders is especially chilling. Giuttari offers extremely credible procedure, a hero who gets more fascinating with each book, and scenes of Florence that may even surpass Donna Leon's of Venice.--Fletcher, Connie Copyright 2010 Booklist

In Giuttari's absorbing fifth mystery featuring Chief Supt. Michele Ferrara (after Death in Calabria), Ferrara's wife shows him a threatening note she found in their mailbox that reads: "We're coming for you and your..." Ferrara suspects that the message may have stemmed from his work on the Monster of Florence case, which he was forced to abandon. Before he can pursue those suspicions, Ferrara lands a high-profile-and bizarre-new case: the nude, strangled corpse of 36-year-old Giovanna Innocenti, the daughter of "internationally renowned Florentine entrepreneurs," is found in her Florence apartment, handcuffed to the bed, with a "long-stemmed artificial black rose" placed between her legs. The letter and the murder prove to be connected after Ferrara's anonymous correspondent sends him another note, which states: "Soon the roses will bloom again and the hooded ones will take leave of their senses." Giuttari does a good job of fostering an atmosphere of menace, with powerful dark forces operating behind the scenes. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.