Book Review: Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions

                                                                                   BOOK INFORMATION:                                                                  

Book Title: Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions

Author: Mario Giordano

Publishing Date: March 6th 2018

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 

Page Count:  346 pages

Source: From the Library

On her sixtieth birthday, Auntie Poldi retires to Sicily, intending to while away the rest of her days with good wine, a view of the sea, and few visitors. But Sicily isn’t quite the tranquil island she thought it would be, and something always seems to get in the way of her relaxation. When her handsome young handyman goes missing—and is discovered murdered—she can’t help but ask questions . . .

Soon there’s an investigation, a smoldering police inspector, a romantic entanglement, one false lead after another, a rooftop showdown, and finally, of course, Poldi herself, slightly tousled, but still perfectly poised.

This “masterly treat” (Times Literary Supplement) will transport you to the rocky shores of Torre Archirafi, to a Sicily full of quirky characters, scorching days, and velvety nights, alongside a protagonist who’s as fiery as the Sicilian sun. 

Links for purchase: Amazon // Barnes and Noble // Abe Books // Book Depository // Better World Books // Indigo 

                                                                        MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK:                                                             

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions was a rather annoying book for me to read. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I was hoping. I picked this up on a whim at the library, and if I am honest, it was solely because of that beautifully well-done cover. 

Auntie Poldi is a super eccentric Bavarian woman who always wears a wig, enjoys photographing innocent traffic controller, and is intending on retiring in Sicily to feed her drinking addiction. Another character is in the book is her nephew who is writing a book, and spends most of his time visiting her, and narrating the story. 

Honestly, with the way the book is written, he shouldn't quit his day job. The book regularly had sentences that started with,  "My Auntie Poldi" which got old after a while. I think the book would have been much better if the book was told from a different perspective, and he used better sentence introductions. Anyways back to the nephew, he is spending most of the time helping out his aunt, in fact, almost every person in her life wants to help her out. 

This includes the handsome Valentino Candela, who performs odd jobs for her before disappearing from her life. Although she doesn't have the best relationship with him, it seems she is the only person in this guys life that cares that he is missing. She sets off on a mission to discover his whereabouts. 

This is a mystery where the plot is entirely revolved around the characters, which is really not my favorite type of mystery. It is kinda weak in a way and kind of a detriment from my enjoyment of the story. The concern that Poldi shows seem more like a plot device rather than her actually caring for him as the novel progresses. 

Even though it wasn't my favorite book, I am excited to read the second. This is a first in a series so perhaps the rest of the story will grab my attention more than the first installment did.