Review By Gabrielle
Robert Rotenberg is back with his best work to date in What We Buried.
Favourite Quote:
“I know it’s coming up to ten years since Michael’s murder,” he said.
Kennicott slumped back in his chair, closed his eyes. “Next week.”
“But, Daniel, listen,” Greene said, leaning over the table. “At last, I might have some news.”
Goodreads Synopsis:
It’s been years since Daniel Kennicott’s brother, Michael, was shot and killed the night before he was about to depart for Gubbio, Italy. The case, never solved, has haunted Daniel ever since. Long suspecting the killing was tied to Michael’s planned trip but overwhelmed with grief, Daniel has put off going there—until now, the tenth anniversary of the murder.
As he’s about to leave, Daniel learns that his two mentors, detectives Ari Greene and Nora Bering, have been more involved in the investigation of Michael’s murder than he ever knew. And they’re concerned about Daniel’s safety. But why? Is Daniel risking his life—and those of others—by trying to uncover the truth?
When Daniel arrives in the bucolic Italian hill town, he learns the past has not been put to rest. Residents are still haunted by the brutal Nazi occupation, the brave acts of the local freedom fighters, and the swift savagery of German retribution.
And as Daniel delves into his family’s deadly connection to Gubbio, Ari Greene searches for a killer closer to home.
Robert has got to be one of the most underrated Canadian mystery writers out there. I’ve been a huge fan for a few years now and made short work of devouring his entire back catalogue. I’ve also got my Dad super into his work and we’ve had a lot of fun trading his books back and forth. A criminal defense attorney by day, and a writer in his spare time, Robert’s books never disappoint.
This book is a bit of a departure for Robert and I for one, am all in on this journey. Much different than his previous police procedurals, this one has all the hallmarks I’ve come to love from his books, plus a bonus in-depth history lesson. I read the whole thing in one day; I simply couldn’t put it down.
Once again we catch up with some of our favourite characters – Detectives Daniel Kennicott and Ari Greene, and their boss, Chief of Police Nora Bering. This time, Ari brings in some fresh recruits Detectives Abdul Darvesh and Sadie Sheppard. Ari is hoping for a new perspective on the only case he hasn’t solved yet – the murder of Daniel’s brother ten years previous. Is there a connection to Daniel’s parent’s car crash in cottage country two years before that? For that they’ll need the help of Pam Opal, small town cop who handled the car crash case. Opal is a standout character for me. I just loved her. Robert, if you’re listening, please give Opal her own spinoff book. Meanwhile, Daniel heads to Italy to discover if the small town of Gubbio holds the key to unlocking this mystery.
This book is well layered with overlapping subplots that come together beautifully. Robert clearly did a lot of research for this book and it is masterfully incorporated into the plot. Many parts are based on true stories. He includes a bibliography in the back if you want to retrace his steps. One of my favourite parts of the book is getting to know Ari’s Dad Grandpa Y a little better through the eyes of Ari’s daughter Alison.
Don’t worry, if this is your first Rotenberg book, you won’t feel lost. This can be read as a standalone. I do highly recommend getting your hands on the previous books though, simply because they are that good. Longtime fans will enjoy appearances of favourite minor characters like Miguel Caldas with his tiny, hard croissants at his Portuguese bakery.
To date, I can confidently say Robert has never let me down and this is definitely his best work yet. I can’t wait to see if he continues with this style of book or goes back to straight police procedurals in the future. Either way, I know I’ll be reading it.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
