A Commissario Beppe Stancato novel (7)
Commissario Beppe Stancato’s first task, after his appointment as Questore in the town of Terramonti, is to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer officially a policeman, but a civil servant – albeit a high-ranking one. He rejects this concept from the outset – earning himself the nickname of Commissario Number Two. His first act as a Questore had been to dismiss a couple of corrupt cops – thereby gaining the unreserved respect of his new team.
The stealing of a priceless statue from the town’s Cathedral throws Beppe into the unchartered waters of Art Theft. His first shock, as he and a team of police officers enter the cathedral to investigate the crime, is the discovery of one of the officers whom he had suspended from duty lying seriously wounded on the altar steps.
This discovery is only the beginning of a complex international investigation, in which Beppe is obliged to adopt a radically new approach to his notion of leadership. A hard lesson to learn – but one which ultimately saves the life of his wife and children.
An intriguing new case for our now promoted ‘Commissario’ during which Beppe, his team of devoted police officers and his family rub shoulders with a host of fascinating new characters – both good and evil, comical and menacing. A gripping and entertaining story from beginning to end. It’s the humour in this author’s novels which make them so readable.
Riccardo Quarto – March 2026