by Carlo Lucarelli
Pbk published August 2003 by Harvill at £9.99 ISBN: 184343086X
Oonagh Stransky (Translator)
Book Description
An exquisitely plotted and unique psychological thriller. The author narrates through the eyes of the protagonists, placing the reader right in the action. You will only be needing the very edge of your seat on which to read this fast-paced thriller.
Synopsis
An exquisitely plotted and unique psychological thriller. The author narrates through the eyes of the protagonists, placing the reader right in the action. You will only be needing the very edge of your seat on which to read this fast-paced thriller. A serial killer is terrorising the students of Bologna. Rookie female detective Grazia Negro is determined to solve the case. Only one witness can positively identify the killer... and he's blind. Simone spends his days in solitude, listening to Elvis Costello's Almost Blue and scanning the radio waves of the city to eavesdrop on other people's lives. He likes to imagine what people are like - based on the tone and 'colour' of their voice - and his acute hearing sets alarm bells ringing upon hearing the voice of the killer. The perspective alternates between the vulnerable and reclusive Simone and the dark and psychotic killer, obsessed with continually 'reincarnating' himself as his latest victim in a frantic bid to escape the torture of his inner demons. Lucarelli paints his villain in a brilliant and yet terrifying light and you will have to stop yourself from screaming out to Grazia and Simone to warn them of the looming danger.
Voted one of the Best Translated Mysteries by Booklist
"Almost Blue... has a nice punkish flavour in Oonagh Stransky's translation... It's a thrill being in that darkened room with Simone as he eavesdrops on the killer ... Eerie"
MARILYN STASIO, New York Times
"Lucarelli's Italian Noir flows with vivid sensuality: as I read it I could almost hear the sultry saxophone moaning a dim back-alley retrain ... Almost Blue is unique"
JESSICA L'ÉSPÉRANCE, SOMA Magazine
"disturbing, edgy book..."
MARCEL BERLINS, The Times
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