An entertaining and educational Artsy mystery
Dr. Edna Silvera is an art historian and semi-retired professor. Aa a favor to her university director, she reluctantly agrees to travel to a neighboring village to assist with a celebration for the author Dante. After a mishap with her car and a tree, Edna finds herself in a curious art and junk store hoping to find something to help her out, but instead she stumbles onto the dead body of Nando, the store owner. That’s not all she finds, however, as tucked away is a panel of a medieval polyptych that appears to be several centuries old. Wanting to know more about this curious piece and finding herself implicated by the local constabulary due to her presence at the crime scene, Edna sneaks the panel home to do more research. Is this potentially invaluable but clearly altered panel the reason for Nando’s demise or are there more nefarious actors at play? Edna enlists the help of her new neighbor’s tech skills to play amateur sleuth to not only clear her name but to potentially catch a murderer.
Pentimento Mori is the first book by Italian author Valeria Corciolani to be translated and released outside of her home country. Blending memorable characters, stunning locales, art history and murder Corciolani takes the reader on an immersive, entertaining, and educational murder mystery. Edna’s bombastic overly dramatic mother and her flamboyant neighbor are just a few of the larger-than-life characters inhabiting this book. These characters only serve to enhance the story and add a bit of comedic relatability to what could have been a very dry narrative. Additionally, I loved the way that that art is the focus of the story and how Edna’s attempts to enhance and restore the panel are described in a way that not only enlightens the reader but also gives depth to and advances the story. Not a big art buff, myself I relished the parts of the book where the art history was discussed. It was enlightening to learn the history of certain colors and how they are produced over the centuries. Looking through Corciolani’s listing of published books to date, I am hopeful that more are translated for a larger audience. After thoroughly enjoying Pentimento Mori, I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Whether it be more of Dr. Silvera and her colorful friend and family or a new cast of characters, I am sure it will not disappoint.
Full disclosure – I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own
Jennly Reads 