Crimes in Little Italy: Roy Tarantino's first case

by Daniele Bondi, Lindsay Eufusia (Translation)

A thriller you won't be able to put down! Roy Tarantino, a second-generation Italian-American, is a typical loser. He has lost everything-his business, his wife and son-and is about to commit suicide by jumping from his apartment on Mulberry Street, Little Italy, New York City. In the exact moment when he is about to jump, he hears a woman's scream coming from the apartment just across the street. This strange coincidence will turn his failure of a life into a success as he becomes, after an intriguing series of crimes that unexpectedly cross his path, a talented middle-aged detective. These crimes, a rape and a murder, concern two friends, Jessica and Laura, who seem to have been wrongly exchanged by the rapist and the killer. Behind these crimes, an intriguing multiple love story-on the model of Madame Bovary-creates the texture of a fantastic plot that gives the reader several surprises. Roy becomes able to solve the mystery thanks to his knowledge of psychiatric illnesses and of great classic literature. But just a page before the end . . . Crimes in Little Italy speeds from its beginning to its conclusion like a Ferrari on the open road in a very exciting and compelling way. The plot is very tightly constructed and carries a lot of very interesting material with grace and expertise. It hits the bull's eye on nearly every page and can be defined an "unputdownable" book that the reader will find impossible not to read from cover to cover in one sitting. With a meticulously precise eye on the streets of New York City and a clever undercurrent that recalls Flaubert's Madame Bovary, this novel offers an innovative approach to the thriller genre and will delight both lovers of thrillers and lovers of classic literature.

496 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2014

About the author

Daniele Bondi is one of the most awarded Italian writers as he has already won dozens of literary prizes. He graduated in Economics (University of Modena, 1989) and in Philosophy (University of Parma, 2012). He also received the Certificate of Proficiency in English (University of Cambridge, 1995) and a Master in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP School Milan, 2004). Since April 2014 he is a member of the Crime Writers Association. He is also a journalist and a brain fitness and creativity trainer.
He has published 4 novels in Italian launguage so far, the most important of which is "Il caso Cartesio" (available on Amazon) a best-seller in Italy capable of winning 6 Literary Prizes (including the well-known International Florence Prize).
He loves New York City and all of the United States and has done research regarding the immigration of Italians in America. This is the reason why he decided to write "Crimes in Little Italy" a psychological page-turner thriller set in NYC's Little Italy. The main character, Roy Tarantino, here involved in his first case, is an unlucky "loser" who finds here, by chance, the opportunity to give sense to his entire existence.

Reviews

[S.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of this thriller is smart, the reading is fluent.
The author style is excellent.
It's a good thriller, I hope to read Roy Tarantino's second case very soon.

[Bob Laerhoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a professional Belgian(Flemish) author who is labeled in his country as “the one and only representative of the cross-over", a mixture of literature and intriguing mystery-effects. It felt kind of lonely for a long time, but with “Crimes in Little Italy” of Daniele Bondi, a multiple award-winning Italian author, I’m definitely not alone anymore. Lovers of a smart crime thriller and at the same time of great 19th-century masters of literature will be delighted by this novel, just as I am. “Crimes in Little Italy” is such a many-faceted story: reading it is not only strongly entertaining but also a learning experience for everyone who is interested in the delicate balance between sanity and insanity and the shadowy regions in between. The novel not only has brains, but also balls. The raunchy New York streets are coupled to a sly, somewhat satiric, Mafia-tale with lots of suspense and unexpected twists. It’s hard to do this fine novel, which can be read at different levels, credit by giving a short summary, so I’m going to skip that to keep you enticed, and will only say that the plot is riveting and very, very clever. Roy Tarantino, a second generation Italian-American, may be a loser in the beginning of the novel, but evolves with style to a “fully rounded character”, as they say in the UK when they want to praise a novelist who can produce excellent characterization. While I conclude that “Crimes in Little Italy” is a fully-fledged, elegant yet suspenseful “cross-over” between literature and the crime novel, I tip my hat for Daniele Bondi. Mi Congratulazioni!

[Patrizia Verghi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!!! It should be a film! It is the first time I read a.thriller because normally I prefer different kinds of books, but I have to aknowlege it didn't deceive me! Chapeau Mr Bondi! I hope soon the next adventure of Mr Tarantino!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love this new detective, Roy Tarantino, a loser who finds his “mission” by pure chance…
The plot is very movie-alike and I would not be surprised if I will watch it at the cinema in the years to come…

[Gerard Tarpey · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's definitely NOT a good sign when you begin a new book and immediately dislike the first character that's introduced. Especially when that character is the main protagonist of the story. It's a very big sign a book might be a mistake when, in the 2nd chapter, you meet two more main characters, both mafia connected, who are more evil than normal and yet, at the same time, simplistic enough that you're ready to toss the book.

But, as a reader who cares and tries, you plow on.

By the time you reach the 7th chapter and realize you've come across not one individual interesting enough to care about and that all the characters you've met are unreal, simple and overly cliched it is just too difficult to keep going. Also, I found the overall writing (I believe this book was written in Italian and translated to English) to be mundane and formulistic. Having read some great reviews of this book it is a big disappointment to find it this bad. I've been beaten and the book has been closed never to be reopened.

I have no idea why anyone would find this a worthwhile read.

[Cyurry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot was interesting, especially with the development of the mystery, intermingled stories, and the protagonist Roy Tarantino. However, the character development for everyone else was severely lacking, especially when it came to the male suitors' motivations. I continually asked myself, Why are they so in love with this woman? Not having the answer to that question requires you to suspend a bit of belief when it comes to the suspects' motives. Overall though, quick, easy, straightforward to read as long as you can keep the characters straight. Not bad for a mystery but not necessarily amazing.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure if it was the author or the translator, but I found the book rather tedious & repetitive. The plot was so intricate that one could get lost. The Kindle version I read was not well edited. If Roy Tarantino has further cases, I probably won't be reading about them.