River of Shadows is the first in a series of detective novels set in Italy’s Po Valley. The novel begins with the Po River in flood and a barge floating down the torrent out of control. When the barge is finally brought to rest, its owner has disappeared. That same day, his brother falls from a window in a local hospital.

Commissario Soneri pushes to have these two seemingly unrelated cases investigated, against his superiors' wishes. He heads to the Po, giving priority to the bargeman’s baffling disappearance, crossing swords with taciturn locals determined to give him little to go on.

The plot of this novel is not that remarkable, developing gradually rather than with any breathtaking twists. Varesi’s real achievement is how he has placed the Po River at the centre of the story, providing an atmospheric and unusual setting for a murder mystery. His description of life on the river and its vicissitudes is compelling.

Soneri is not a bad character as the basis for a series. My one demurral is that every good Euro detective needs a source of angst, and Soneri's mostly seems to be that his girlfriend is a nymphomaniac who likes to have sex in semi-public situations. I find that less believable and less compelling than the dark forces haunting characters such as Wallender and Erlendur. ( )

un excellent policier, lent, brumeux, mais pourtant clair. ( )

I actually read Gold, Frankincense and Dust - but cant find it here ! ( )

The book did't come up fully to the expectations created by the promotional text. I'd have like to read more about Italy's 'dark past'. Yet the author almost reaches perfection when he evokates the chilly atmosphere of the Po valley in times of flood. A book with the feel of autumn! ( )

First outing for Commissario Soneri - at least in English translation - moody atmosphere in the Po river valley as Soneri attempts to solve the murder of two brothers- both involved with facist activity in WW11. OK read but more character development needed for Soneri and not sure what to make of Angela, his love interest. Generally very weak on female characters. ( )