I first discovered this author when I read his Lewis trilogy - which I loved - it was so evocative of the north west of Scotland.This book, set in France is just as gripping but totally different. It is the first in the series of Enzo files - so called because of the forensic scientist Lorenzo - a Scottish Italian!I particularly enjoyed the background to the story because I'm a Francophile, but I can imagine that people who don't like the French and don't understand the language, might not rate this book so highly as I have.Enzo had more cold cases to solve in the forthcoming books, so I'm looking forward to reading them over the course of the year, and also discovering more about his two daughters and their lives. Having read, and loved, the Lewis trilogy by the talented Peter May, I knew I had to read more. I started with The Critic, book #2 in the Enzo Files, and enjoyed it so much I read Extraordinary People (book #1 of the same series). Extraordinary People is full of mystery and murder, and feels a lot like a big cross-France scavenger hunt. There's a fun, almost playful, group dynamic in this series you will not find in Lewis. At one point I had a fleeting deja vu moment that made me think of Scooby Doo - the gang in a van solving mysteries. That's not really the crux of this book but it made me chuckle. If I am making parallels, I should add the intellectual jumps deciphering clues throughout the book brought to mind Da Vinci Code. Enzo shouldn't be confused with Robert Langdon, though. They are very different personalities.This book, as well as The Critic, are great solid efforts but very different to the Lewis trilogy. The Enzo Files are more casual, off the cuff and laid back with plenty of puzzles to keep the reader entertained. Enzo Macleod is a more flawed character than Fin Macleod (of Lewis, and no relation) and much more committed to his drink. Being in wine country, that makes perfect sense! Where the Lewis books were more deeply introspective, the Enzo books are a great tour guided romp through France, specifically Paris in this outing. So, if you love France and mystery novels, you should indulge in this series.
Do You like book Dry Bones (2006)?
I read this when it was called Extraordinary People and loved it, the first of the Enzio series..
—Karlax
Peter May is a very fine Author ..Enzo Macleod is gonna be a very good character ...
—rolemar
Excellent detective book ... want to read more books by this author.
—chris
Really enjoyed this one. A nice mix of history and mystery.
—Othurn1
Enjoyed the French/Scottish influences in the book.
—Shyam
