A Private Venus: A Duca Lamberti Noir (Duca Lamberti #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

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Feb 11, 2014 Tony rated it liked it · review of another edition

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Originally published in 1966, this first book in the "Milan Quartet" introduces readers of English to an unusual detective. Dr. Luca Lamberti has just emerged from three years in prison on a manslaughter charge for his role in an assisted suicide. This makes him a prototypical noir detective: a dark past, squandered hopes and dreams, distrust of society and the law, and a cynical view of life, all leavened with a dark sense of humor.

Barred from practicing as physician, a family friend lines him Originally published in 1966, this first book in the "Milan Quartet" introduces readers of English to an unusual detective. Dr. Luca Lamberti has just emerged from three years in prison on a manslaughter charge for his role in an assisted suicide. This makes him a prototypical noir detective: a dark past, squandered hopes and dreams, distrust of society and the law, and a cynical view of life, all leavened with a dark sense of humor.

Barred from practicing as physician, a family friend lines him up with a job for a wealthy industrial engineer. The man's 20-something son has turned into an alcoholic, and wants discreet help in curing him. Lamberti immediately discards all conventional cures as temporary in nature, seeking instead to hone in on the cause of the pain that's driving this otherwise healthy young man to drink. This leads to the body of a young woman the man was briefly acquainted with, and whose death he believes is on his hands. Lamberti rather quickly spots the flaws in the official handling of the death, and soon the two are on the trail of a high-end prostitution ring -- with some off-the-books help from some police friends.

The story oozes with noir ennui and fatalism, so it's a little disappointing that the plot relies on a few contrivances. The first is the rather basic botching of the initial investigation of the woman's death (without which, the young man would never have blamed himself, and thus, no story). The second is rather more extreme -- a young woman who followed Lamberti's euthanasia trial and found him to be heroic, just happens to also have been acquainted with the victim, and then becomes a key ally in tracking down the villains. It's an especially irritating flaw, because it's totally unnecessary -- the character could have been just the same, minus being a fan of Lamerti's with no loss of motivation or anything.

Aside from those weaknesses, the book is quite good. In addition to the interest provided by the '60s Italian setting, the book's dark tone holds a certain cruel attraction. Lamberti is an interesting protagonist, and I'll definitely read the next in the series, Traitors To All. ...more

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Around the World in 80 Books