Death in Autumn (Crime, Penguin) (Paperback)

by Magdalen Nabb (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Magdalen Nabb is so good she's awesome." --The Philadelphia Inquirer

"The standard police procedural . . . is transformed into a stylish mystery with delicacy and elegance." --The Washington Post Book World
-- Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
The body of a woman, clad only in a fur coat and jewelry, is found floating in the Arno at dawn. Marshal Guarnaccia of the Florentine carabinieri identifies her as a missing hotel guest. But how and why did she die? Was it a bizarre suicide? Or murder?
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (January 6, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140094806
• ISBN-13: 978-0140094800
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #299,200 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dry Police Procedural, April 5, 2006

By	Elfinstone (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death in Autumn (Hardcover)

I can't believe the other reviewer read the same book. There is no Florentine atmosphere whatsoever in this book and the Marshal is indistinguishable from his captain and neither has much of a sense of humor. She uses so many Britishisms that the story might as well have taken place in London. I haven't a clue how the caribinieri are organized and the author doesn't enlighten us. I keep confusing the captain with the marshal and vice versa. I usually breeze through mysteries but this one is tough slogging. I was 2/3 of the way through before I even got interested. I had hoped for a series featuring a detective the likes of Camilieri's Montalbano or Leon's Brunetti. They are smart, witty, compassionate and reflect the character and charm of their respective territories (Sicily and Venice). Very disappointed.

4.0 out of 5 stars Italian Police Procedural, July 12, 2009

By	Scott Kirby (Chatsworth, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Death in Autumn (Paperback)

While I prefer Donna Leon's Venetian series featuring Commissioner Brunetti, I still enjoyed this intriguing novel set in Florence. Leon's strength is in her characters, while Nabb's seems to be in the day-to-day workings of the Carabinieri. I would compare this (favorably) with Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series - without the humor. I look forward to reading another of Nabb's, specifically "The Marshall at the Villa Torini" - which has been very hard to track down until a new re-publishing of it this month. As for those who didn't like "Death in Autumn", all I can say is there are worse ways of spending a couple of hours.

3.0 out of 5 stars An unusual police procedural, April 9, 2009

By	L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Death in Autumn (Hardcover)

First Sentence: Dawn still hadn't broken and the river water lapping the sides of the black rubber dinghy was of the same darkness as the sky except for a path of moving light coming from a lamp attached to the dinghy's side.

The body of a middle-aged, woman, wearing only jewelry and a fur coat, is found floating in the river. Marshal Salvatore Guarnaccia of the Carabinieri and Captain Maestrangelo must work together to find the identity of the woman and her killer.

This book is not my favorite of the series. I do wish authors would avoid portents, but that is a particular irritant of mine.

Because both Marshal and the Captain worked the case, I often found myself confused as to who was doing what, when. We get bits and pieces about Marshal, but not really a fully-developed picture. What we do get is intriguing. He is married, has a child, is allergic to sunlight, and a dogged investigator. One thing I did particularly like in this book was seeing his humanity and particular concern for all the young men in this story.

The plot was interesting. It went places that were completely unexpected, particularly the ending, which was very different from the norm.

Nabb's sense of place is not as strong as some authors, but it is there and her love of Italy is apparent from her writing. There is a subtlety to her writing that I do enjoy.

While this may not have been, what I'd consider to be, her best book, I enjoyed it and will continue on with the series.