Customer Reviews

Last Enemy (Soho Crime)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Brophy's terrific writing seamlessly immerses the reader in her story. Be prepared to read it in only a few sittings because you won't want to put it down. But it isn't just a page-turner. The characters are multi-dimensional with quirks and imperfections that not only endear them to the reader (and sometimes repulse the reader) but make the reader think. I loved her use of Umbria and the city of Assisi and Italian politics, art and culture - no gratuitous descriptions of lovely architecture and countryside or trite comments on food and art, but rather the action and intrigue are woven into the characters living in the place such that the mood of the city and life there comes alive realistically and moves the plot along. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

The Last Enemy is a terrific read, an Italian police procedural that caught me up in a conflict between turning its pages fast and slowing down to savoring its luscious tastes, fascinating vignettes, and sights full of Umbrian local color. From its very first chapter, where the Penitente parade winds its way through the streets of Assisi and we learn of Count Casati's childhood failures and subsequent treatment of his own family (which includes the murder victim), we are hooked.

The story is told with an Austen-like wry wit from the point of view of its appealing and sensitive but sexy Police Commission Alessandro Cenni, whose fiancé had been kidnapped years ago by political terrorists. This is what has spurred him into his work with the State Police, and the novel's back-story promises many engaging return runs. Brophy's lush prose makes its host of vivid characters come alive in all their quirky individuality: Rita Minelli, the murder victim, the priest with whom she had an affair, the Count and Countess Casati and their daughter Artemesia, one of the first women curators of a regional art museum, the Croatian immigrant Sophie who tends the cemetery where Rita's body is found. Some characters, I hope we meet again, including Elena and Piero, his seconds in command, Cenni's twin brother Renato, and even Cenni's cat, Rachel, with her late night wake-up ritual. This is a must-read and a new name to watch out for avidly.

Brophy gives an excellent sense of place in this novel. Having studied in Rome for several years, her impressions of Italians were right on; her descriptions of Assisi and Umbria were vivid. The story was engaging as were the characters. My biggest quibble is that her descriptions of Catholicism were inaccurate. A few examples: Good Friday (an essential element in the story) is not the holiest day of the year (it's Easter); there is never a Mass on Good Friday (It's the only day of the year that there isn't one); and there would never be a first Communion on the same day as the ordination of a bishop. Also, a minor slip: She gives the temperature at one point in Fahrenheit, not Celsius.

Overall, though, this story will breeze you along and give a satisfiying read.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time, combining a twisted plot with even more twisted suspects. The characters are wonderful, with villains on both sides of the law. I love Assisi, and the beautiful ancient town is such an interesting part of the whole experience. Sit down with a cappuccino and a biscotti and enjoy a great read. I can't wait to see what lies in store next for Alex Cenni and company.

"The Last Enemy" is the first book in Grace Brophy's Commissario Alessandro Cenni Investigation series and it is a knockout debut effort. Set principally in the Umbrian cities of Assisi and Perugia, "The Last Enemy" is a complex, layered murder mystery that is populated with wonderful, well-developed characters and a taut story line that barrels through right to the book's epilogue.

The story revolves around the return of an Italian-American woman, Rita Minelli, to her dead mother's Umbrian homeland. The woman is subsequently murdered after she imposes on the hospitality of her aristocratic and snobbish Italian relatives, occupying a prized room in their in their Medieval palazzo in Assisi long beyond the acceptable three days. When Rita Minelli turns up dead in the family burial vault, her Italian relatives react strangely to the death. The story moves on from that weirdly staged crime to reveal almost a dozen murder suspects with strong motives for the ultra-cool Commissario Cenni to sort through before uncovering the true killer or killers.

Along with a great story line, author Brophy provides a rich portrait of Assisi and Perugia and an insightful look into contemporary Italian politics and society. Brophy knows a lot about the country and its people and has built that knowledge and an obvious affection for Italy into a fine story of murder, sexual intrigue, and dysfunctional family behavior.

This is an interesting read--great fun throughout--and promises the potential of a wonderful series of books. With the great losses of Michael Dibdin and Magdalen Nabb in the past year, Grace Brophy's arrival on the Italian crime scene is timely and very heartening for readers who love the locale.

I purchased and read "A Deadly Paradise" prior to knowing "The Last Enemy" existed and was the first in a series. This book helped me understand a little bit more about Grace Brophy's characters as it presents a foundation as to who they are.

I think Ms. Brophy has a nice series in the making with Inspector Cenni. The character is interesting and lacks super-human qualities. He relies on his subordinates, thinks through possibilities, and makes mistakes. He's a typical human being. You can't get better than that.

What I liked about The Last Enemy is the great job in presenting the potential for any one of a number of people to have been the culprit. Even though at the end we are presented a murderer, we get to see how money and the willingness of high level government and police officials to brush aside certain facts can leave one wondering if the story is that clean cut. Brophy's willingness to leave a little bit of ambiguity works well here.

Only other comment would be that I hope there is a little bit of tightening up as the series progresses and hopefully Cenni solves the problem of his ex-girlfriend in the next book. I don't look forward to having to follow his problems of yearning for love lost, no matter how unusual the circumstances of its ending, as the series progresses.

Enjoy, good series.

What a treat this novel is. As an avid reader of mystery fiction as well as a lover of travel, I found Brophy's book to be doubly rewarding. Her characters are richly drawn, and her knowledge of Italian culture, art, and politics make the book more than just another mystery. Brophy captures the allure of Assisi and its charming atmosphere. I was sorry when I came to the end of this story but I'm looking forward to getting to know Commisario Cenni and his colleagues better in future books. This was one of the most enjoyable mysteries I've read in a long time.

The Last Enemy introduces Alessandro Cenni, a maverick state police commissario, in Assisi, Umbria, Italy. On Good Friday, Rita Minelli, the visiting American niece of Count Umberto Casati, is murdered in the Casati family vault. Rita brought her mother's body back Assisi for burial several months earlier, and then over-stayed her welcome with her snobbish aristocratic relatives, none of whom seem saddened by her death. Casati, who has retained his title despite the act abolishing all Italian titles in 1947, uses his connections to try and shield his family from investigation, but Cenni is convinced that one of the family is the killer. Cenni's superior would prefer that Cenni arrest Sophie Orlic, a Croatian flower seller who discovered the body, but Cenni refuses to be pressured into arresting an innocent woman. Cenni, who joined the police after his fiancee was kidnapped by political terrorists, is a complex and engaging protagonist. The supporting characters, Cenni's family and colleagues as well as the suspects, are quirky and fully-developed. This debut police procedural deftly places the intrigue of contemporary Italian politics and society in context with the historical Umbrian setting.

[...]

I love carefully crafted novels set in interesting locations, populated with interesting characters. "The Last Enemy" is just such a book. The Commissario is clever, complex, flawed and introspective. He is also someone who values his principles over Italian power politics (not, it seems a recipe for success).

I have been to many of the towns mentioned in the novel and the author has captured the feel of the streets and the people very well. However, this is not arm chair travel. It's a crime story with more twists than a bowl of aldente spaghetti. More than just a good who done it, it's also a why done it wrapped in a when done it.

The dialogue is realistic and the use of insights into the speakers' unspoken thoughts was a wonderful touch. Also, the realistic "work chatter" among the officers was unique and it helped humanized the characters. In my case, it made me care more about their eventual fates.

The ending is not wrapped up in a pretty bow - somewhat like real life. I think it shows courage by the author to end as the tale as she did - especially since it's going to be a series.

I will look forward to reading the rest of the series - Grace Brophy, a new, exciting author.

I love mysteries and I really went for "The Last Enemy" by Brophy. The richness of the characters and family dynamics were so interesting, I hardly had to know `who-dun-it.' There were no too easily predictable `good guy' - `bad guy' roles and an unexpected pleasure was the painless education on medieval Italian history and culture. I obviously missed a lot when I was in Italy.