Ratking

 

Ratking by Michael Dibdin  266 pp.

This is the first book in the Aurelio Zen mystery series. Zen whose police career has stalled after an unsuccessful kidnapping case and he's stuck in a dead-end office job within the Rome police. Zen is a dark and brooding character with a chip on his shoulder, trying to redeem himself with this investigation. When no one else is available, Zen is sent to Perugia in Umbria to investigate the kidnapping of a powerful industrialist named Ruggerio Miletti. The family has paid a ransom but the kidnappers want more. Zen's investigations reveal dysfunction and dissention within the Miletti family and he suspects this isn't a "typical" Italian kidnapping. The death of Ruggerio after he was released by the kidnappers turns the tale into a murder mystery. The family are suspect, but who fired the deadly bullet? 

This book was narrated by British actor, Michael Kitchen. While I am a fan of his work in Foyle's War and other television shows and movies, I found his very distinctive voice to be a distraction. I'm sure those not familiar with him will think it is fine.

The Paris Apartment

 

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley (2022) 360 pages

Jess has left London in a hurry after a bad incident with a boss who had harassed her one time too many. She's concerned that the police will be looking for her and she asks her brother, Ben, if she can stay with him in Paris for a bit. Ben agrees, but he isn't there when Jess arrives. All she has is a voice mail message from him, telling her that he'll let her in when she rings the buzzer. 

Jess wonders how Ben could even afford to stay in this massive building on his salary as a restaurant reviewer. The apartment building has 6 floors, one apartment on each floor. It's an old building with secret passages and "a cave" in the basement with a huge amount of wine. There's also a shack on the property that houses a scary old woman who serves as a concierge. 

Jess picks the lock to get into Ben's apartment. There are no towels in the apartment, and there is large section of lighter-colored wood and a strong smell of bleach on the floor near the door, quite troubling. Jess has no money and nowhere else to go, so she stays. She finds some clues that indicate Ben was investigating something big, trying to get a scoop on a story that could advance his career. Everyone in the building seems to be avoiding Jess or trying to get her to leave. Everyone has their secrets in this compelling and suspenseful story.