Lead Review (Deadly Autumn Harvest)

• Book: Deadly Autumn Harvest
• Location: Brașov (Brasov)
• Author: Tony Mott

Review Author: tripfiction

Deadly Autumn Harvest by Tony Mott is a first for me – a Romanian Noir. Dr Regina (Gigi) Alexa is tasked with using her forensic pathology skills to help the Behavioural Analysis Unit of Braşov police. Her first case with the team involves a female victim who bears an uncanny resemblance to Gigi. The woman has been strangled and left, naked, in the gateway of her home. The author allows us an insight into the crime itself from the perspective of the unnamed perpetrator. This pattern repeats with a second, apparently unconnected, murder. Gigi becomes embroiled in further cases, and they begin to affect her personally: is she in danger too?

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Details of Gigi’s private life form a large part of the novel. She’s currently in a rather unsatisfactory relationship with Radu. He demands more from her than she is able to give, particularly as her new job becomes increasingly busy. It is apparent that Gigi’s love life is quite complicated, as the chief inspector that she is working with, Matei, is an old flame. Then comes the news that another former lover, Vlad, has been sent to oversee the cases they are working on.

And this is where the book becomes slightly annoying. It is not the first of the Gigi Alexa series, as published in Romania, but it is the first to be translated into English. This means that there are frequent references to events from an earlier case: the fallout from it still hangs over the department and it apparently put Gigi herself in jeopardy. There are also complications from Gigi’s previous relationships with Vlad and Matei which colour her reactions and attitudes in Deadly Autumn Harvest. It isn’t essential to know all the background in order to enjoy this novel, but anyone who enjoys a good detective story is going to be a little frustrated. Currently you can only satisfy your curiosity if you speak Romanian!

Deadly Autumn Harvest takes place in the city of Braşov in Transylvania. The city itself isn’t greatly important to the plot but the city’s setting – the deep, dark forests populated by bears and the precipitous mountain scenery with its unpredictable weather – provides a wonderful atmosphere of foreboding.

Dr Gigi Alexa is an endearing character, full of fun but complex. Her closeness with her colleagues contrasts with her sad upbringing, which hangs like a shadow over her attempts to form an intimate relationship. I really enjoyed Gigi’s investigations in Deadly Autumn Harvest, which is an engaging read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and strong female characters.

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