I Kill [Hardcover]

Giorgio Faletti (Author), Antony Shugaar (Translator), Muriel Jorgensen (Translator), Lenore Rosenberg (Translator), Jeremy Parzen (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2008

A detective and an FBI agent embark upon the most harrowing case of their careers as they attempt to track down an enigmatic killer in this relentlessly suspenseful thriller. The killer announces his heinous acts in advance with desperate phone calls and ties his crimes together with songs that point to his victims; he then mutilates them and removes their faces. Set in Monte Carlo and featuring an international cast of intriguing characters, the hunt for the deranged perpetrator remains gripping and unsettling, possibly even more so, after the killer’s identity is revealed and the detectives must close in on their target before he strikes again. Written with richness and aplomb, this international bestseller presents a major talent to the American market for the first time, providing its audience with a memorably horrific thrill that may ultimately prove unshakable.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Personal tragedies affect almost everyone involved in Faletti's well-constructed serial killer novel set in glitzy Monte Carlo. FBI agent Frank Ottobre is recovering in Monaco from his wife's death by visiting his friend police commissioner Nicolas Hulot when the first deaths occur, of an American race car driver and the celebrated driver's chess champion girlfriend. Ottobre is soon drawn into a baffling case where the killer goads police with untraceable phone calls to Jean-Loup Verdier, the principality's most popular radio host, before each murder. As the victim count mounts, so does the suspense in this fine cat-and-mouse game of skill and subtlety. A smooth translation and several intriguing subplots, one of which features a powerful American general intent on vigilante justice, keep the pace moving briskly, despite the unusual length. First published in Italy in 2002, this winning novel marks Milan-based publisher Baldini Castoldi Dalai's entry into the U.S. market. (June)
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From Booklist

A best-seller across Europe, Italian author Faletti’s first novel is a top-notch thriller. Monte Carlo, in Monaco, is supposed to be one of the safest places on earth, with a police force more concerned with paparazzi than with homicide, but that all changes when a mystery man calls a popular radio show. The next day two faceless bodies are discovered, along with I kill written in blood. The substantial cast of characters that assembles to find the killer is led by Frank, a former FBI agent; Frank’s best friend, Nicholas, the police commissioner; and the charismatic DJ Jean-Loup Verdier. All the characters are fully fleshed and three-dimensional, which makes the use of multiple viewpoints particularly enjoyable. The dialogue and narration could have been a little tighter, but Faletti manages to pull it off, maintaining a good pace and masterfully building tension through 600 pages, a clear sign of a major new talent. This one will appeal not only to devotees of European crime fiction but also to thriller fans in general. --Jessica Moyer

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 597 pages
• Publisher: Baldini Castoldi Dalai Editore Inc; First edition. edition (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8860732956
• ISBN-13: 978-8860732958
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,275,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars not for the queamish, April 10, 2011

By 

Colin G. Manuele (windy city) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Kill (Hardcover)

if you like murder and grisly descriptions you will love this book and belong in jail - i had to stop reading it - my stomach wasnt that strong

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, rivals Silence of the Lambs, April 30, 2011

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balchenb (Jonesport, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: I Kill (Hardcover)

This book is gripping from page 1. The plot is superb and holds you up there throughout the entire book. The storyline is like a rollercoaster of suspense right to the very end, and the end could not have been wrapped up any more satisfying for the reader. This book will not disappoint any reader and is written with such expertise I was shocked to learn it's the author's first novel! Keep them coming Mr. Faletti!! A must, must read.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story, November 20, 2010

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Sten Sundblad (Uppsala, Sweden) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Kill (Hardcover)

I read the Swedish translation, which was good and allowed me to enjoy the author's basic work. It's a fantastic story, and it's very well written. I only wish that more Giorgio Faletti books were available in English (or Swedish for that matter). I'm going to buy the next one in Italian, and it won't be easy to read it. But I'm willing to give it a try because the first one was so good.