The Murdered Banker by Augusto De Angelis introduces his Milan detective, Police Inspector De Vincenzi, star of a series of 20 mysteries written in the 1930's. Today regarded as the father of Italian crime fiction, De Angelis was enormously popular but considered an enemy by the Fascists during the Second World War and imprisoned, dying of a fatal beating. Written during the Golden Age of mystery writing that includes Agatha Christie and Dashiell Hammett, this is quite theatrical with it's central location and few characters.
On a fog bound Milan night, Gianetto Aurigi (in top hat and tails, fresh from the Opera) visits his old friend Inspector De Vincenzi at the police station. As they talk a call comes in about a murder - at Aurigi's house! A banker has been shot in the head in the living room, a man to whom Aurigi owed a fortune. Soon we find Aurigi had indeed been at his home during the evening, as was his beautiful fiancée, and her wealthy father Count Marchionni. Besides a servant there is also a mysterious man in the apartment above - all have unusual reasons for arriving, but as each is interviewed by De Vincenzi - they all claim to be the murderer!
De Vincenzi has a methodic style that is probing and friendly, examining each clue before deduction. He is not above using all the usual means, all the legal rules, and when they are not enough, all other means, whatever they may be, to get to the truth. This is a classic set-up, with all characters in the living room over the course of the one night it could very easily become a play, and fans of Agatha Christie will want to check it out.
First published in 1935, there are interesting asides, like a newly installed device called a telephone De Vincenzi rhapsodizes has a thousand voices, a thousand faces, a thousand expressions... as it announces some tragic crime of passion.
Although written 83 years ago, it's not at all stale and the mystery still twisted enough to entertain.
Overall recommended for fans of the Golden Age.
1935 / Tradeback / 187 pages
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