A Walk in the Dark by Gianrico Carofiglio
When Martina accuses her ex-boyfriend – the son of a powerful local judge – of assault and battery, no witnesses can be persuaded to testify on her behalf and one lawyer after another refuses to represent her. Guido Guerrieri knows the case could bring his legal career to a premature and messy end but he cannot resist the appeal of a hopeless cause. Nor deny an attraction to Sister Claudia, the young woman in charge of the shelter where Martina is living, who shares his love of martial arts and his virulent hatred of injustice.
About the author
Gianrico Carofiglio now a member of the Senate in Italy was an anti-Mafia prosecutor in Bari, a port on the coast of Puglia. He has been involved with trials concerning corruption, organized crime and the traffic in human beings. He is a best-selling author of crime novels, literary fiction and most recently has authored a graphic novel illustrated by his brother. A fourth Guerrieri novel is in the works.
Review
‘A Walk in the Dark’ was a riveting return to the Guido Guerrieri series, that was full of legal and personal drama. The narrative was punchy, the pacing was superb with it building up to a high octave and devastating ending. Although, this is the second in the series you can definitely read this as a stand-alone.
Guido meets with the enigmatic Sister Claudia who asks him to represent a woman called Martina who is pursuing a civil claim against an ex-partner who is the son of a prominent local judge. Guido has to delve into the world of obsession, stalking, aggression and ‘the old boys club’ of Bari.
These books have made me want to visit Bari as the way the author describes the city is full of love, with all the quirky sides showing a way of life which appeals to me. Imagine having late night bookshops, late night art house cinemas and pizza shops where there are only two choices! Maybe I should go and actually visit my friend who lives there.
I really enjoyed this book. Although, the story was harrowing, dark and gritty there is is still an inner light in the book and I think that comes down to all personal aspects of Guido’s life that is included in the plot. It’s was these very human aspects that counterbalances the dark! However, the focus needs to be on the legal aspect and the case. It’s a startling reminder that harassment and violence against women is still hard to prove in court. For many cases it’s ‘he says she says’ and who comes across as the most believable rather than the evidence. It’s still an important topic that needs to be discussed and highlighted.
It was such an enjoyable return to a series which I have begun to love. Let me know if you pick this one up!
