THE SACRED CUT by David Hewson

The Sacred Cut by David Hewson is extraordinary, a book that combines the intricate plot and pacing of a thriller with a sense of place and texture normally associated with more intimate, character-driven novels. Fans of Martin Cruz Smith's novels about Russia will love Hewson's books about Rome, where police inspector Nic Costa and his colleagues explore corners of the city never glimpsed by tourists.

The opening of The Sacred Cut is visually stunning, and Hewson's descriptions of Rome are so precise you start to feel like you're walking along behind the characters, looking over their shoulders. Normally that kind of texture can get in the way of pacing, but this book flies. It also brings in aspects of art history and architecture with such restraint that you want to keep reading just to learn more about this remarkable city.

The plot deals with a series of ritualistic murders in Rome, but it hinges on the politics of war. In a manner that is wholly original, Hewson has created a tale that incorporates the most compelling aspects of the best modern thrillers, from political intrigue to forensic investigation to historical mystery. This book has it all and delivers in a nice, neat package.

You can read any of the Nic Costa books by Hewson in any order. I happened to read this one first, but I'd recommend them all. If you feel like taking a trip to Italy this winter without leaving your couch, buy one of these books.