Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions

July 18, 2016
Giordano’s winning debut and series launch unleashes 60-year-old Isolde “Poldi” Oberreiter, the daughter of a Munich police detective, on the unsuspecting populace of the Sicilian village Torre Archirafi, where the fiercest conflicts center on where to buy the best fish, or whether coffee should be drunk solely as a sugar delivery system. Poldi, who was once married to the anonymous narrator’s late uncle, arrives as a depressed retiree intending to drink herself to death. But she changes her mind after she decides to investigate the shotgun murder of 19-year-old Valentino Candela, whose body she finds on a beach. Poldi, who has a weakness for good-looking policemen, enlists the aid of a reluctant police detective, Vito Montana, who knows all too well that powerful local figures are best left undisturbed, regardless of the crime. Despite some clunky moments, such as the recurring appearance of the figure of Death, Poldi’s pursuit of Valentino’s killers is done with breezy good humor. Wry, appreciative observations of Sicilian food, people, and history herald a series worth tracking.

February 1, 2018

In this first novel translated into English, German/Italian author Giordano introduces Auntie Poldi, who, upon turning 60, leaves Munich to move to a village in Sicily where she intends to drink herself to death while looking at the sea. As described by the narrator, her nephew, Poldi is flamboyant, earthy, and always forthright. In her new home, she is watched over by a gaggle of relatives who are determined to keep her drinking down and her spirits up. Soon after settling in, Poldi finds the body on the beach. Her attempts to assist (and seduce) the local policeman, CommissarioMontana, result in run-ins with neighbors, local workers, and a possible mafia boss. Both charming and infuriating, with her overdone makeup and towering wig, Poldi brings a special flair to sleuthing. With references to her time on an ashram and acquaintances such as Ringo Starr and members of ABBA, she is no Miss Marple. VERDICT While the mystery is well-plotted and red herrings abound, the true draw of the book is the Sicilian setting and the eccentric Auntie Poldi. Fans of quirky stories such as Alan Bradley's "Flavia de Luce" series may enjoy this amusing romp. [Library marketing.]--Terry Lucas, Shelter Island P.L., NY

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