What We Buried

Wow! It's been a while since a book captivated me like Robert Rotenberg's upcoming book, What We Buried. 

Part historical fiction, part mystery, part police procedural, this is a fast-paced, short chaptered and unputdownable book that has multiple timelines and settings in small-town Italy and here in Canada featuring recognizable Toronto neighbourhoods and beautiful Ontario cottage country.

This is a fantastic combination of well-researched history and suspense that benefits from an interesting and diverse cast of characters. Told using multiple POVs, a sinister plot unfolds as Toronto police detectives unearth how events that happened decades before in a small Italian town impact what was initially thought to be a simple yet tragic current-day vehicular accident. 

Layered and complex without being fussy or hard to follow, What We Buried is strong in its characterizations, intriguing plot and suspenseful storytelling, giving readers one helluva ride that will have them reading 'just one more chapter'.

I look forward to reading Rotenberg's backlist featuring Ari Greene, starting with Old City Hall. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy of this book that I received from the publisher at the Ontario Library Conference in Toronto.

My Rating: 5 stars

Author: Robert Rotenberg

Genre: Suspense, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from publisher

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada

First Published: February 27, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: A Toronto homicide detective is attacked at his doorstep when his investigation into possible links between the Nazi occupation of Italy and the murder of his brother decades later gets too close to the truth—in the new crime thriller from bestselling author Robert Rotenberg. Perfect for fans of Scott Turow and David Baldacci.

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.

Inspired by the true story of the Forty Martyrs in Gubbio, Italy, during World War II, What We Buried is an extraordinary crime novel about troubled legacies, revenge, and the unbreakable bonds of family.