Sometimes only a sharp burst of crime fiction will do. Pushkin Press have just launched a new imprint for 20th-centurycrime in translation, Pushkin Vertigo. I tried one of their first titles, Piero Chiara’s The Disappearance of Signora Giulia.
The respected lawyer Esengrini, confides in Commissario Sciancalepre, that his wife Giulia – 22 years his junior – has vanished. Sciancalepre investigates, following up a lead suggesting that Giulia may have been seeing another man – but it comes to nothing; and several years go by, with progress on the case piecemeal at best.
Despite the lengthy duration of its narrative time, The Disappearance of Signora Giulia is only 120 pages long, and so has no room to hang about. Chiara’s novel has the efficiency of a well-run investigation, and there’s also a cool and business-like tone to Jill Foulston’s translation from the Italian. One thing I particularly like about the book is that, for all its twists and revelations, the full truth still feels elusive. Something has happened beyond the confines of the narrative, and we’re left in a similar position to a detective plunged into another person’s life, having to piece together incomplete information. The Disappearance of Signora Giulia turned out to be just the brisk literary walk that I needed, and I’ll be keen to see what else Pushkin Vertigo has to offer in the months ahead.
Book details (Foyles affiliate link)
The Disappearance of Signora Giulia (1970) by Piero Chiara, tr. Jill Foulston (2015), Pushkin Vertigo paperback
17th September 2015 at 3:08 pm
This one is on my TBR pile as well. I am very interested to see what Pushkin does with this new series! Great review.
20th September 2015 at 6:54 pm
Thanks! I think it looks set to be a really good series.
17th September 2015 at 8:42 pm
This sounds the perfect thing to read after I have got through all the review copies I have lined up.
20th September 2015 at 6:55 pm
I think it would make a good palate cleanser – certainly worked for me.
18th September 2015 at 3:58 pm
It’s a really interesting and exciting venture this one from Pushkin. This was the title that least tempted me of their initial four, but you make a very good case of it. 120 pages makes it particularly tempting. Crime espresso.
20th September 2015 at 6:59 pm
I can see why it might not appeal from the synopsis, but (as so often) it’s all in the reading. And, as you suggest, 120 pages is short enough for a punt… 🙂