This summary is from Kim Hays' website:
In Pesticide, a street party in Bern morphs into a brutal riot. Hours later, with the medieval downtown a shambles, a young man is found beaten to death with a policeman’s club. That same day, twenty miles away, an organic farmer turns up on his land, dead and drenched in pesticide. Swiss homicide detective Giuliana Linder and her younger colleague Renzo Donatelli start out on two separate cases, but it doesn’t take long before they find links between their victims. Working together on what has become a single, puzzling case, the two can no longer ignore their attraction to each other.
Pesticide is the first book in the Linder and Donatelli series. When reading mysteries, I have a preference for police procedurals because they are more believable. Detective Giuliana Linder is an experienced homicide detective; she has worked with Investigator Renzo Donatelli before but this time they start out on different cases in very different locations. It is assumed that the death of the young man in Bern is drug-related, but soon officials realize that the elderly man who owns and works on an organic farm outside of Bern had business dealings with the younger victim and decide to combine the cases.
My thoughts
I like to read police procedurals set in countries other than the US, because I like to learn about how the various legal and law enforcement departments work in each country. The author of this book does a great job of showing all the different types of people working on the case, and in this novel, we get to see two groups of investigators coming together to solve two related cases. Although a lot of the focus was on the procedure of solving a crime, the pacing was good and the story never dragged.
Getting a peak at organic farming in this story is fascinating. I learned a lot about the mechanics of farming and the rules of organic farming. The story divides its time between the police in Bern and the community in the outlying rural area, where one of the crimes occurred.
I liked the characters in this story, both the main characters and secondary characters. The ending was very good; the mystery was tied up well and realistically. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
For more details on the plot, please see Kevin Tipple's excellent review at Kevin's Corner.
Kim Hays has dual Swiss/American citizenship, and has lived in Bern with her husband for 37 years. She has a very nice website with information about Bern and Switzerland, in addition to descriptions of her books.
21 comments:
I agree that it is interesting to read about police investigations in different countries, although this sounds a bit as if it shouldn't be book 1. I suppose a clever author wants to make the reader curious about the characters without revealing too much. I will see if my library has this, although I am trying to focus on books I already own for the rest of the year. My library books have been piling up and I even had to return some unread.
It is a very good first book of the series. The rest of the series, so far, is also very good. I am a big fan.
I don't read a lot of police procedurals, but I do like the ones set in Britain better than the ones set here for some reason. ;D
I like police procedurals, too, Tracy. I agree they do feel believable. They also often show a team approach to solving crime, and I think that makes sense. It sounds like this one has an interesting plot and information about organic farming, too. I can see why you liked it, and I may have to look it up myself.
I'm glad to know what you thought about this book by Kim Hays. She visits and comments a bunch on Lesa Holstine's blog (know you visit there too). I do like police procedurals and will keep this one in mind for sure.
This sounds very interesting. I've never heard of the author/series and I don't think I've read anything set in Switzerland. I also enjoy police procedurals, so I might see if I can find this anywhere.
Constance, quite possibly it is a lack in my review rather than in the book. I don't like to provide much about the plot in my reviews, for fear of spoilers. For me, the book was a good first book for the series. Police procedurals don't have to spend so much time setting the scene.
I definitely sympathize with focusing on books you already own for the rest of the year.
Kevin, I agree. I have added a link to your review in my post. Not only do you cover more of the plot, but you have additional insights that I did not note. I am envious that you have read all the books already.
Lark, I enjoy many of the police procedurals set in Britain also. I should do a post on my favorite police procedurals.
Margot, I liked the plot of this book and the characters. Both of the main characters have families and that element is included in the story, with more focus on the older female detective. I think you would find a lot to like in this series.
Kay, You are right, Lesa's blog is where I heard about Kim Hays and her books. I am glad I finally read this first book; it was a wonderful read. I will be reading more of them.
Kelly, I have read one other mystery set in Switzerland, but this is the first police procedural. I found it very good, with a great setting. Bern seems to be a beautiful city.
Not sure it was worthy of adding, but thank you for doing so, TracyK. Like you, I try to be careful how much I add of a plot to my reviews so as to avoid spoilers. I don't want to ruin a read for others.
Kevin, Your review was definitely worthy of adding, and I wish I had thought of it earlier.
Far too kind. Thank you.
Not come across a detective novel with a background of organic farming before. And in Switzerland too, how interesting.
Cath, it was very interesting how the community and politics around the organic farms were part of the story and the mystery.
Tracy, just wanted to ask you to stop by my blog post today. It's about Nan from Letters From A Hill Farm. Also, want to tell you that I appreciate reading your blog so much and hearing about what you've been reading. Take care, friend!
Kay, thanks for letting me know about Nan, and I thank you also for your kind comments about my blog.
I just wanted to say the cover makes we want cabbage roles. That aside, it sounds like a great read.
Ryan, I haven't had cabbage rolls in a long time, and they do sound good. And I can see why the cover affects you that way. Pesticide is a good read.
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