Mark Allen Smith
L'inquisitore

Thriller novel with a striking beginning.
Mr. Geiger is paid to extract confessions from the unfortunate souls who fall into his grasp.
His method rarely involves bloodshed, almost never.
Psychological and physical violence to obtain the right information.
Nickname among professionals, the inquisitor.
The first 50 pages find Geiger in action. Most of the time, the person he has to 'handle' is a criminal who needs to confess to a heinous crime. Initially, he is the tormentor of a man who must reveal the location where he keeps his kidnapped victim hidden.
And here, brace yourselves, because he pulls off all sorts of stunts. Cold blood, ideas on the brink of the impossible, tenacity and the ability to intervene without any rush.
The work proceeds well until they ask him to torture a child. And here begins the real adventure, a bit predictable with characters not deeply analyzed despite having very distinct traits. The child, the friend with the mentally challenged sister, the group of assassins, the mobster, the sadistic torturer, the psychiatrist. It's a pity that everything gets tossed into a blender and results in a predictable ending.

Let me add some educational details.
The church authorized the use of torture in 1252 with Pope Innocent IV. From this official approval, the method became increasingly refined. History showed that if you had rudimentary tools like a hammer, saw, rasp, and some basic materials like wood, rope, and fire, nothing else was needed.
Some methods were particularly effective.
The Chair of Judas was a sort of pyramid-shaped seat where the victim was placed and suspended by ropes.
The Iron Maiden was a vertical sarcophagus equipped with nails and openings, to insert sharp objects during interrogations.
I'll stop here to avoid fueling your nightmares.
My next read will be a nice musical biography so I'll stop being a nuisance......