Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna by Mario Giordano

 

 Reviewed by Jeanne

She’s back!  Yes, the one and only Auntie Poldi, whose mottos include “never underdress” and “moderation is a sign of weakness,” returns to find herself under suspicion of—well, let’s see, there’s an exorcism, a dead nun, and a demon who speaks in Poldi’s voice. . . .

Poldi’s scribe, her unnamed nephew who is working on an epic family saga, has returned to visit after an unhappy romantic interlude in Paris, so he has to be brought up to speed pretty quickly.  This isn’t easy as Poldi is plying him with health drinks, to which she has added a good bit of alcohol to make palatable.

This pretty much sets the stage for another absurd, hilarious, unbelievable, charming Poldi story.  I think this is one of those series that you either find delightful or stupid.  Poldi is so over the top with everything, even her encounters with Death (who is having problems of his own, what with management deciding a change of attire is in order) and the Pope. 

Like Poldi, the author is a Sicilian whose family moved to Germany and the original stories were written in German.  He was better known for his thrillers, but decided to do a humorous mystery—and yes, he did have an Auntie Poldi.  Other family members also make appearances.

While this could be read as a standalone, I think it would be better enjoyed if at least the reader is familiar with the first book in the series, Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions. Knowing that Poldi came to Sicily to drink herself to death by the sea, all the while still admiring the sight of a policeman’s backside (she has a collection of photos from all over the world) and her complicated relationships with her relatives and friends will make the experience more rewarding.

I’ve read and enjoyed all four books, but I will admit that there were times in the third book where I felt things dragged just a bit.  Lost Madonna is a return to form and I giggled my way through it while trying not to fall off the treadmill. It’s one of those books one wants to stop and force others to hear passages read aloud, except that it’s difficult to read and laugh at the same time.

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions

Auntie Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna

Auntie Poldi and the Handsome Antonio

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna