Murder in Pitigliano by Camilla Trinchieri

MURDER IN PITIGLIANO by Camilla Trinchieri is book five in a series and a recommended summer mystery read by The Washington Post. The main character is Nico Doyle, a retired American detective who has been rebuilding his life in Italy when 7-year-old Cilia asks him to save her father (Saviero), a fugitive accused of murder. Nico (and his faithful dog named One Wag/Rocco) cannot resist the little girl’s pleas and team up with the local police to look into the murder of Saviero’s business partner. There are a myriad of suspects and motives (necessitating a multi-page cast of characters) and the investigation drags out. It is interspersed with descriptions of food and cooking as well as the dog’s many antics. This was the first title I had read in this series and it worked as a stand-alone. The similarities to Walker’s Inspector Bruno series, however, were many: European setting, emphasis on food (and wine), pampered canine companion, romantic interest, collegiality with the local police and residents and I think that Walker provides a more succinct, engaging mystery.