The Dogs of Rome (Commissario Alec Blume Series #1)

On a hot summer morning, Arturo Clemente is sloppily murdered in his Roman apartment by a mysterious slasher. When his wife, an eminent politician, finds his body, she swiftly springs into action--by calling the Ministry of the Interior. By the time police inspector Alec Blume arrives at the scene, evidence has been collected, command taken, and, in short--his investigation has been compromised. As the details of the case continue to trickle out, Blume soon realizes he is being watched from on high--and that solving this crime may be the least of his worries. Losing sleep and unsure who to trust, Blume feels the case spinning out of control: does anyone involved even want justice? At what price will it come? And who runs this town--the police, the politicians, or organized criminals? In this riveting novel, we are introduced to Blume, an American expatriate and seasoned police veteran. Intelligent yet sometimes petulant, instinctive yet flawed, Blume is a likeable and trustworthy protagonist for this, the first installment of a gritty and promising series. An engrossing novel of murder, organized crime, and politics in contemporary Italythe first in a series of Italian crime novels by a promising new writer. On a hot summer morning, Arturo Clemente is sloppily murdered in his Roman apartment by a mysterious slasher. Though the murder appears amateurish, even random, Clemente is no ordinary victim. An animal rights activist campaigning against dogfighting, he is married to a prominent politician and sleeping with Manuela Fusco, the daughter of a dangerous crime boss. Police inspector Alec Blume has a favorite suspect, but the investigation is already being manipulated by both the Senate and the Fusco crime ring. As the details of the case continue to trickle out, Blume soon realizes he is being watched from on highand that solving this crime may be the least of his worries. Angry, sleep-deprived, and unsure who to trust, Blume is losing control of his investigation. As the mob tightens its grip on the city, and with the killer still at large, Blumes struggle for justice may cost more innocent lives. In this riveting debut novel, we are introduced to Blume, an American expatriate and seasoned police veteran. Intelligent yet sometimes petulant, instinctive yet flawed, Blume is a likable and trustworthy protagonist for this first installment of a gritty and promising series. Arturo Clemente Is Sloppily Murdered In His Roman Apartment By A Mysterious Slasher. Police Inspector Alec Blume Has A Favorite Suspect, But The Investigation Is Already Being Manipulated By Both The Senate And The Fusco Crime Ring. As The Details Of The Case Continue To Trickle Out, Blume Soon Realizes He Is Being Watched From On High--and That Solving This Crime May Be The Least Of His Worries. As The Mob Tightens Its Grip On The City, And With The Killer Still At Large, Blume's Struggle For Justice May Cost More Innocent Lives. Conor Fitzgerald.