Bread for the bastards of Pizzofalcone

Early in de Giovanni's witty, elegantly plotted sixth police procedural set in Naples, Italy (after 2020's Puppies for the Bastards of Pizzofalcone), Lt. Giuseppe Lojacono is called to the scene of a shooting. He finds Pasquale Granato sprawled face down in the narrow alley behind the bakery his family has owned for generations. Based on the stray bullets lodged in the wall behind the body, Lojacono concludes that the shooter was an amateur. Meanwhile, imperious Diego Buffardi, "the most media-ready magistrate in the whole city, the living breathing symbol of the crusade against the Mafia," arrives with a small platoon of police officers. He immediately declares the baker's death to be an organized crime hit and orders Lojacono to leave. Lojacono, convinced that Buffardi's assumptions are wrong, goes to another magistrate, who arranges for simultaneous investigations. De Giovanni once again showcases his characters' humanity as he delicately balances humor and pathos, following the subtle changes in the lives of the ragtag collection of misfits who comprise the officers of the Pizzofalcone precinct while never losing sight of the mysteries to solve. This is a treat for fans and newcomers alike. (July)

The murder of a popular Neapolitan baker has the floury fingerprints of the Mafia all over it. But does the trail of breadcrumbs lead elsewhere? De Giovanni's fifth Bastards of Pizzofalcone novel begins by picking up the careful early morning routine of a beloved baker known as the Prince of Dawn just minutes before he's murdered. The discovery of the body is preceded by a flavorful synopsis of the series' crime-busting team, disgraced cops who've recaptured their reputations after a stint in prison and a number of successful cases. Lojacono, Romano, Palma, and Aragona each has a backstory and an evocative nickname. When Lojacono and Romano arrive at the crime scene, they find other cops, bakery employee Mario Strabone, and TV personality Dottor Diego Buffardi all surrounding the corpse of Pasquale Granato. Buffardi, an assistant prosecutor, posits that the baker's recent testimony against the Mafia has led to his execution. The duo meets up with their partners at the station house, where the police chief, Crispi, has already called in, directing the team to pursue this Mafia theory. Lojacono thinks otherwise, and the team interrogates a wide array of persons of interest, including female bakery employees and the baker's ex-wife. The hectic personal lives of the bastards also merit narrative detours. De Giovanni writes with the long-winded charm and droll tone of a master yarn spinner, adorning descriptions of even minor events with telling detail and atmosphere. A crackling good crime yarn, overstuffed but juicy, with a thick Italian accent. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.