Hewson, David - THE VILLA OF MYSTERIES

[LJ Roberts]

THE VILLA OF MYSTERIES (Police Procedural-Rome-Cont) – G David Hewson – 2nd in series
Macmillan, 2004 – U.K. Hardcover

Detective Nic Costa is investigating the apparent kidnapping of a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to a body found in a peat bog. Because of the dress and items found with the body, the pathologist first thinks the corpse is 2000 years old, but Nic proves the murder to have been much more current and is afraid history is about to repeat itself.

Although there’s an interesting ensemble cast and the background of ancient and modern Rome, I found the story a bit disjointed, in part because you have Italians written by an Englishman, sounding like Americans. But there is good suspense and several very good twists.