Roman Count Down
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Readers who have enjoyed Wagner's Rick Montoya mysteries will be happy to discover how he ended up in Rome. This prequel provides the backstory. As the child of a diplomat stationed in Rome, Rick attended school there and, later, with language skills and an uncle willing to provide an apartment, returned to Rome to start a translation business and catch up with old school friends. Uncle Piero is a police officer who wastes no time in getting Rick to help him solve a case involving the death of a count. As Rick juggles the investigation with setting up a household and a business, he reacquaints himself with Rome's rich history and culinary delights. Meanwhile, he uncovers information that convinces him that the count's death was not accidental and that the lives of some of his school friends have taken surprising turns. The tour of Rome, the food and wine, the colorful characters, and the intriguing mystery will keep Montoya fans happy and may well interest those unfamiliar with the series to catch up on the adventures of this engaging translator and sleuth.--Barbara Bibel Copyright 2019 Booklist

Wagner's solid sixth Rick Montoya Italian mystery (after 2018's A Funeral in Mantova), a prequel, covers Rick's move from New Mexico to Rome and explains how he evolved from translator to sleuth. Who killed Count Umberto Zimbardi, whose death seems to be the result of a random mugging? His wife wants the murderer found and puts pressure on Commissario Piero Fontana, Rick's policeman uncle. The count had been researching the history of the streets of Rome and had kept his notes and his diary in English. Rick is assigned to translate the material, to see whether it sheds any light on the crime. Like previous entries, this installment is heavy on travelogue and meticulous description of Italian food, such as saltimbocca ("Two thin pieces of veal were topped with thinner slices of prosciutto and sage leaves... sautéed in butter with a splash of Marsala, giving the dish contrasting, yet complementing, sweet and salty flavors"), but the sleuthing is more perfunctory. This one will satisfy hungry travelers headed for Rome more than mystery buffs. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Readers who have enjoyed Wagner's Rick Montoya mysteries will be happy to discover how he ended up in Rome. This prequel provides the backstory. As the child of a diplomat stationed in Rome, Rick attended school there and, later, with language skills and an uncle willing to provide an apartment, returned to Rome to start a translation business and catch up with old school friends. Uncle Piero is a police officer who wastes no time in getting Rick to help him solve a case involving the death of a count. As Rick juggles the investigation with setting up a household and a business, he reacquaints himself with Rome's rich history and culinary delights. Meanwhile, he uncovers information that convinces him that the count's death was not accidental and that the lives of some of his school friends have taken surprising turns. The tour of Rome, the food and wine, the colorful characters, and the intriguing mystery will keep Montoya fans happy and may well interest those unfamiliar with the series to catch up on the adventures of this engaging translator and sleuth. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.

Wagner's solid sixth Rick Montoya Italian mystery (after 2018's A Funeral in Mantova), a prequel, covers Rick's move from New Mexico to Rome and explains how he evolved from translator to sleuth. Who killed Count Umberto Zimbardi, whose death seems to be the result of a random mugging? His wife wants the murderer found and puts pressure on Commissario Piero Fontana, Rick's policeman uncle. The count had been researching the history of the streets of Rome and had kept his notes and his diary in English. Rick is assigned to translate the material, to see whether it sheds any light on the crime. Like previous entries, this installment is heavy on travelogue and meticulous description of Italian food, such as saltimbocca ("Two thin pieces of veal were topped with thinner slices of prosciutto and sage leaves... sautéed in butter with a splash of Marsala, giving the dish contrasting, yet complementing, sweet and salty flavors"), but the sleuthing is more perfunctory. This one will satisfy hungry travelers headed for Rome more than mystery buffs. (May)