In case you don’t speak Italian, the title of the book means redhead. It also is the surname of the protagonist, a Los Angeles homicide detective by way of Brooklyn and a somewhat ambiguous NYPD background. His father also was a New York cop, which always is in the background, introducing each chapter of the novel.
The plot is a relatively standard detective story, embellished with a love angle to provide an insight into Testarossa’s mind and psyche. The main investigation involves the use of steroids by college and professional athletes and those who sell them. It is a pretty good police procedural and gives the reader a good look into how a case progresses and the frustrations of the detectives along the way.
On the whole, for a first effort, the story is well-written and proceeds at a fairly steady pace. There is some schmaltz in depicting the detective’s relationship with the love of his life, but, I suppose, that can be forgiven for the dramatic effect intended. Recommended.
Fabulous read,break a leg Julie!!