Customer Reviews

Blue Demon

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The publication of a new Nic Costa novel by David Hewson is an annual reminder of all of the elements that contribute to the joy of reading. The books that comprise the series are smart, original and riveting. Their unifying theme --- other than, of course, their memorable primary and supporting casts --- is that the past informs and shapes our present in ways obvious and otherwise. And while each and all are properly and accurately classified as mysteries (highly complex ones) and thrillers (of the literary sort, relying only secondarily on explosions and bloodletting), Hewson never loses sight of the human condition as his narrative expertly slices into and out of the lives of his characters and the situations that their interactions create.

Nic Costa is one of the more quietly intriguing characters in genre fiction. A Rome police sovrintendente who is the son of a late, well-known Communist, Costa is no stranger to either dark tragedy or subdued triumph. While the series nominally features an ensemble cast of characters, it is Costa who remains first among equals and, yes, superiors, as he navigates the cesspool of Italian politics with a quiet deftness in a system that often impedes the apprehension of criminals. History plays an important part in CITY OF FEAR as in the other Costa novels. Rome, being one of the world's greatest and ancient cities, has provided a broad canvas for Hewson with which to paint and play. Yet it is Rome's more recent past that figures prominently in the novel.

CITY OF FEAR opens on the eve of the G8 conference, with the world's leaders assembling in a Rome that is uneasy with and ill-suited for a conference of this magnitude. Security for the event is immediately and violently breached, apparently by the Blue Demon, an enigmatic terrorist individual or organization first introduced into Rome in the early years of the latter half of the 20th century. Taking its name from an ancient Etruscan entity, the Blue Demon intends to disrupt the conference through abductions and terrorists acts. After the initial terrorist act, the city goes into lockdown, threatening the livelihood of the Roman citizens and the future of the conference.

Costa, initially lacking jurisdiction in the matter, is asked to conduct a clandestine investigation by Italian president Dario Sordi, a former colleague of Costa's late father. Sordi is locked in an ongoing power struggle with Ugo Campagnolo, the Italian Prime Minister who recklessly invited the Summit to Rome. Sordi is now charged with controlling the mess that Campagnolo created. When Costa and his team dig into the history of the Blue Demon's origin in search of a trail to bring the Blue Demon down, they discover discrepancies in the record that may well affect the present government and that points to a larger conspiracy with roots in Rome and beyond. As always, Costa lets the evidence take him where it may, and he is well-matched by his professional colleagues who are of similar independent mind. As with other volumes in the series, CITY OF FEAR is complete in itself, but by story's end, enough has changed to provide welcome grist for yet another highly anticipated new volume.

No one is writing books quite like these --- books set in an exotic yet deceptively familiar site that combine elements of history, politics, and mystery in equal and exotic dollops that produce something unique and different each time while utilizing ingredients familiar and otherwise. CITY OF FEAR is a welcome addition to a series worth reading and revisiting on a regular basis.

I have read all eight of David Henson's Nick Costa and sight unseen, I pre-ordered this one and got it last week. After I finished my current novel, I started this book and read it during most of my free time, including one night up to 2am. It takes a bit of getting use to the intimate exposure to Italy, Rome and the characters, but if you put the time in, you will find this book a most exciting read. I had expected it to end in the traditional way (cops get the bad guys and find a new love), but David again threw in some new techniques and plot twists. It is not my place here to expose the plot or how it ends, but Nick and his team of cohorts (plus one or two more) live to fight the big fights! For those new to this series, David Henson has his own site and blog: [...]. He is without doubt one of the best authors I have read and I have been reading (and soon writing) for many years now!

Highly Recommended!

I doubt I would ever have considered reading this title had it not been for the Italy in Books Reading Challenge for 2011. Thrillers and mysteries are a genre I do not read a great deal of although I have a few authors of this genre I enjoy. In fact I usually only read this genre if it is one my husband has read and recommends to me. This was the case with this one and also to be honest I was hunting around our bookshelves for something set in Italy for the final book of the challenge. So although this title would maybe not be my first choice I did find it a good read and the fact that it was set in places I am familiar with added to the interest considerably.

With mainly Italian characters, lots of references to Italian history, art and culture, use of Italian and familiar places how could I fail to enjoy this novel. Having visited some of the Etruscan tombs in this region it was fascinating to read a novel weaved around the legacy of the lost race of the Etruscans. The storyline is complex with many twists and turns and will keep you guessing right to the very end.

The story commences with the kidnapping of a government minister and his driver murdered, just days before an important conference with leaders of the G8 in Rome. When a ritual murder takes place, performed it seems by someone dressed as The Blue Demon from Etruscan history. It is then that Detective Nic Costa suspects that a twenty year old case where a mysterious group committed a series of crimes in the style of the infamous Blue Demon of Etruscan history was never really solved. The group has reformed and are planning attacks on Rome with devastating consequences. Old Etruscan myths, conspiracy and murders old and new are all part of the investigation.

Well worth reading if you are not only a lover of all things Italian but enjoy a good mystery.

If you love history (and anything Italian) and conspiracy theories, buy this book! I wasn't expecting all the political intrigue and background, so I got bogged down in the first few chapters - that won't happen if you like that stuff. But the characters are really well drawn and the story draws you in. I couldn't read fast enough once I got halfway through. Very exciting ending.

This book was also (originally) published with the title "The Blue Demon." It is a very improbable story regardless of title. I think Hewson has come to the end of his Costa series.

Terrorism. Political conspiracies. The fate of empires. Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The costs to everyday people. Nic Costa and buddies are back and caught up in the games played by the power elite. There's a series-changing (please not series-ending!) conclusion. Mostly this is a good summer read, but as an American I found reading this book interesting b/c of the parallels with America as empire. The ideas presented here are not new, but they're simply put. Kudos to Hewson for entertaining as well as educating. Woe betide he who does not learn from history!

City of Fear is an excellent book. Hewson has outdone himself. All the characters I have grown to love and follow are in Rome forced to stand aside during a G-8 Summit and told to "do what they do best-direct traffic" by the Prime Minister of Italy. Not one to sit back, while people are murdered in a ritualist very nasty way and Rome is under seige with citizens scared and confined to their homes, Nic is recruited by the President of Italy and so begins a wild and mysterious ride through old and new legends of a Blue Demon. No spoilers here -this is Must read!

At the same tourists are flocking to Rome for the summer, the G8 summit meeting is beginning. Security is tight yet an assault on a government vehicle leads to the killing of one occupant and abduction of Ministry of Interior official Giovanni Batisti.

The country is in shock while the world is as stunned. Detective Nic Costa and his Questura team drop everything to investigate. However, they are quickly removed from the inquiry and placed on protective service duty insuring the G-8 participants remain safe. When they attempt to conduct any investigation, the Ministry of Interior's security chief and a powerful prime minister interfere. Meanwhile Italy's President Sordi directs Costa to look into the Blue Demon terrorist group that demands a return to the ancient Etruscan society; to achieve this they kill government officials. Costa does not need to be an experienced law enforcement official to know nothing is quite right, but how to proceed when everyone seems to be watching is elusive.

This is a great Italian police procedural thriller that showcases how much interference government officials can do to harm or prevent an investigation especially during a major international event that is used to further fog the scenario. Fast-paced and loaded with terrific plausible twists and spins, sub-genre readers will appreciate Costa's latest case as he and his Questura squad struggled with leadership preventing them from doing their job.

Harriet Klausner

I really wish they'd quit screwing with the titles on Hewson's books. I just got the audiobook, but there was some confusion until I read both descriptions & figured it out (I haven't seen anything to indicate that on the precis). I like Hewson's Nic Costa series, but keep thinking new ones have come out only to find they're old ones with different titles. (btw, "Dante's Numbers" = "Dante's Killings").

Will add a review after I actually listen to it (I gave it 4 stars because of his earlier books).