- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press (Jan 1 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1904738133
- ISBN-13: 978-1904738138
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.9 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 358 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #830,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
The taxidermist of the title of Di Fulvio's grim but often subtly amusing first crime novel, published in Italy in 2000 and shortlisted for the European Crime Writing Prize, relishes watching creatures die. His victims also include humans. The first policeman to realize what's going on when a series of mutilated bodies start to show up in and around a city that sounds a lot like Genoa is Chief Insp. Giacomo Amaldi, in his own depressed way as strange a character as the killer. As a garbage strike turns the city into an evil-smelling symbol of modern life, Di Fulvio deftly walks both sides of the noir line by letting us in on the joke—adding more and more problems to Amaldi's load, but always transcending dreary genre parody with a beautifully written phrase or paragraph. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
In an unnamed city that bears a strong resemblance to Genoa, Chief Inspector Giacomo Amaldi burns with a singular need: "His talent was tracking down homicidal maniacs. That was his mission. That was all he had done for the last twenty years, even while he pretended to be busy chasing bag-snatchers and car thieves. He was especially interested in men who killed women." Luckily for Amaldi, an equally obsessive and grandiose fiend with a flair for taxidermy has begun murdering women for their body parts. And thanks to a series of astonishing coincidences--including Amaldi taking a break from his high-profile investigation to follow up a garden-variety harassment complaint--the detective is soon much closer to his prey than he realizes. The resulting melodrama plays out in the expected gruesome fashion. Di Fulvio makes a token attempt to create suspense, but Roger Ebert's Law of Economy of Characters immediately gives the game away. Die-hard Thomas Harris fans will find cheap thrills here, but this novel is more rote lecture than inspired Lecter. Frank Sennett
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
a powerful psycho-thriller
Sep 19 2007
Format:Paperback
The Mannequin Man is set in an Italian seaside town. The period covered in the novel coincides closely with a strike by the garbage collectors, and the putrid anarchy into which the city descends as the garbage piles up makes for a nice atmospheric setting to the novel.
The story begins with an amateur taxidermist hunting for prey. He comes across a young couple making love in a secluded area and notices an old man spying on them from behind a bush. Something snaps in him and he shoots and kills the two men before mutilating the young girl.
The writing flows beautifully; amazing for a translation and I found myself drawn into the book very quickly. This is not a novel where we are left guessing who the murderer is; the entertainment is following how the detectives work out who he is.
The story begins with an amateur taxidermist hunting for prey. He comes across a young couple making love in a secluded area and notices an old man spying on them from behind a bush. Something snaps in him and he shoots and kills the two men before mutilating the young girl.
The writing flows beautifully; amazing for a translation and I found myself drawn into the book very quickly. This is not a novel where we are left guessing who the murderer is; the entertainment is following how the detectives work out who he is.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
excellent Italian serial killer thriller
Dec 27 2006
Format:Paperback
In Italy, his passion is taxidermy. He accomplishes his craft in two clever steps. First he captures his prey and then he completes the conversion. Both stages provide his sadistic tendencies with euphoria as he appreciates the kill as much if not more so than the transformation. Still he remains ever diligent and careful not to make any mistakes especially since some of his subjects are human though he leaves behind mutilated corpses using taxidermist threads to complete his trophy.
Chief Inspector Giacomo Amaldi knows he is dealing with a brilliant serial killer at a time when he already feels overwhelmed. The garbage strike has turned the city into a big dump, making all investigations smell worse than usual while a questionable fire at the nearby orphanage should be tying up his time. Instead he walks amongst the trash seeking clues to a deadly killer one stitch at a time.
THE MANNEQUIN MAN is an excellent Italian serial killer thriller that uses satirical symbolism to delineate the human condition. Amaldi is a fascinating character as he wades through garbage in search of clues that will enable him to identify the killing taxidermist while his adversary is brilliant at both of his crafts. Police procedural fans will want to follow the Chief Inspector as he struggles to separate the trash from the clues.
Harriet Klausner
Chief Inspector Giacomo Amaldi knows he is dealing with a brilliant serial killer at a time when he already feels overwhelmed. The garbage strike has turned the city into a big dump, making all investigations smell worse than usual while a questionable fire at the nearby orphanage should be tying up his time. Instead he walks amongst the trash seeking clues to a deadly killer one stitch at a time.
THE MANNEQUIN MAN is an excellent Italian serial killer thriller that uses satirical symbolism to delineate the human condition. Amaldi is a fascinating character as he wades through garbage in search of clues that will enable him to identify the killing taxidermist while his adversary is brilliant at both of his crafts. Police procedural fans will want to follow the Chief Inspector as he struggles to separate the trash from the clues.
Harriet Klausner
You'll never want to play with a doll again
Oct 17 2011
Format:Paperback
Who needs Thomas Harris and 'Silence of the Lambs' when you have Luca De Fulvio and 'The Mannequin Man'? The cover alone is enough to chill, and you get colder and colder as you read. Serial killing and serious corruption in an anonymous city in Italy. Don't read it if you are alone at night in a creaking house.
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