Maria Cristina Buoso
Omicidio al Condominio Magnolia

Murder at the Magnolia Condominium, the name already presents itself well: magnolia... charming. An unconventional mystery, there's the dead, there's the "double" investigation, there's the killer, and there's an... open ending.

The interesting plot is written simply, a not too long book that can be read on a winter afternoon, with a cup of hot chocolate in front of the crackling fireplace, with the background of the fire crackling and consuming the logs. I really like the structure of the short chapters, I do the same in my mysteries. I think the majority of readers today tend to get distracted by long chapters, much like reaching the end breathlessly. Breaking it up lets you catch a breath and dive into the story with full lungs. This story unfolds very well, it flows smoothly like oil. If anything, there's a lack of in-depth characterization of the main characters, but that's fine. When starting with a "first" that, in our minds, could become a "series" of adventures, you aim for the big target with the first bullet and keep a good shot in the chamber for later. If I must find a flaw... it's the plethora of characters, both main and secondary; it's a bit confusing. My advice is to use, as was done a long time ago, a chart in the first pages listing who is mentioned and the role they occupy, so readers who don't remember a name can refresh their memory.

The investigation unfolds more undercover, behind the backs of the competent authorities, rather than in the light of day. It's a concept I appreciate, in the style of a private investigator; the police, too busy with too many internal conflicts, struggle to follow cases, so if someone lends a hand, it's welcome. The alternation between investigative moments and leisure ones is good, as are the personal stories, the danger of the contextual reality where the criminal action takes place is well depicted, and the idea of an open ending is excellent, where yes... you discover how it went, but it's left to the reader to write the "how it ends," in short, for posterity to judge!