Holy Smoke Tonino Benacquista Bitter Lemon Press £8.99 Rel: Jan 2004 Reviewed by Ayo Onatade

When former schoolmate Dario Trengoni, now a low-rent gigolo, asks Tonio Polsinelli to help him write a love letter to his lover, he can hardly refuse. However, when Dario is murdered he finds that he is the beneficiary of a small vineyard somewhere in the east of Naples. But he is not the only one that is interested in this vineyard. The wine is dreadful but a sophisticated fiddle has been set up. Nevertheless, the temptation of uncomplicated wealth is a magnet for the Mafiosi and the Vatican and unleashes the rampant dislike of the local residents.

Holy Smoke is a dark comic novel full of verve and humour. While I don’t consider it to be a gritty noirish novel it does have its moments. An exciting book, fast-paced and full of murky undertones, this is a stylish novel that grows on you. Bitter Lemon Press have done well to pick up this author.