I was reminded just a little of Mick Herron’s Slough House novels by this book in that there is humour running alongside a grave situation but this one’s difference in tones seemed jarring rather than breath-taking. Rocco’s disconnected comments and observations were at odds with an abandoned, tied-up kidnapped girl. The ending introduces a new crime, no doubt setting up a sequel but this did make for a surprise ending and the author did aim to add a bit of depth to Rocco’s character by his depressed reaction when the girl is inevitably saved. ( )

Continua il mio rapporto di amore e odio col vicequestore Rocco Schiavone.
Detesto il tipo di poliziotto e di uomo che rappresenta, eppure mio malgrado mi affascina e non posso smettere di leggere. Bravissimo Manzini a costruire un personaggio di questo calibro, anche perchè andando avanti con la serie è sempre più evidente che l'indagine è solo un contorno, uno strumento per portare alla luce altre sfaccettature del protagonista. Qui in particolare il ritmo si fa concitato ed i toni da noir malinconico lasciano il posto ad un thriller adrenalinico. Personalmente preferisco uno stile più introspettivo e pacato, trovo che l'enfasi sull'azione banalizzi la vicenda e la renda troppo simile a mille altre opere dello stesso genere. Sul colpo di scena finale invece ho sentimenti ambivalenti: da una parte apprezzo il modo in cui è stato costruito, dall'altra mi spiazza perché non sono sicura di apprezzare la direzione che potrebbe prendere la serie: staremo a vedere. Nota di merito per i comprimari, che servono quasi da intermezzo comico ma pian piano stanno acquisendo una loro dimensione.
Insomma Rocco ci incontreremo di nuovo, ormai non ti mollo. ( )

El carácter irascible del subjefe de policía Rocco Schiavone ha seducido a los lectores italianos hasta el punto de que sus últimas novelas han ocupado los primeros puestos de las listas de ventas. Con cada nuevo episodio, este romano de pura cepa -desterrado a una pequeña ciudad al pie de los Alpes por ciertos comportamientos de dudosa licitud- ha ido adquiriendo una dimensión más incisiva y profunda, para deleite de sus cientos de miles de seguidores. Tras pasarse nueve meses destrozando sus Clarks, pues se niega a calzarse unas botas de montaña apropiadas para la región, Schiavone acoge con escepticismo la llegada de una teórica primavera al valle de Aosta. Su resistencia a someterse a la realidad de aquel lugar, donde ni las estaciones del año son como deberían ser, se refleja también en su labor profesional. Al conocerse el accidente de una furgoneta en el que mueren el conductor y su acompañante, Rocco reacciona con su habitual irritación e intenta desentenderse del asunto. Sin embargo, pocos días después, la desaparición de una joven perteneciente a una rica familia de constructores de la zona despierta su instinto de sabueso: las pesquisas para encontrar a la chica le abren las puertas de un mundo subterráneo que lo deja estupefacto. Rocco conoce muy bien los negocios turbios que se dan en una gran ciudad como la que tanto añora, pero no sospechaba hasta qué punto podía existir algo semejante en ese rincón perdido entre las montañas. Finalmente, Schiavone no tiene más remedio que ponerse manos a la ora, lo que lo obligará a apartar de su mente el espinoso asunto de su relación con la mejor amiga de su última ex, además de un doloroso hecho de su pasado que se niega a aceptar.

Out of Season was a much better "who dun it" then I thought....Rocco is such an irreverent Deputy Chief...the humor was expertly mixed with the seriousness of the story line.. ( )

Out of Season is the third book in the Rocco Schiavone mystery series by Antonio Manzini (originally published in Italian). The book reads well as a standalone. I am grateful for this since I have not read the first two in the series. It is a fast paced and entertaining mystery/thriller set in a small town in the Italian Alps.

The story follows Deputy Chief Rocco as he tries to solve the mystery of a missing young girl Chairia Berguet. She is the daughter of a local business man who owes a lot of money to the wrong people. The story opens when the kidnapper is killed in a freak car accident.

At first the reader does not know the accident and the disappearance of Chairia are connected. Then as the investigation moves along, the reader realizes that the only person who knows where she is being held is dead. When Rocco makes the connection he is desperate to find her. He will do anything to location her including bending and breaking the rules.

My favorite thing about this book is the MC, Deputy Chief Rocco. He is driven and relentless when on a case; yet as a human being, he fails miserable. He is moody, difficult, rude and arrogant and yet it worked with the story and I loved his character despite all the flaws. The author really did an outstanding job with him. I found the plot to a bit slow in the beginning but it was not enough to deter me form pushing forward. Then as the story unfolds, and the pace picks up, you are rushing to the end to see if he can find Chaira.

Even though this book is a mystery/thriller it is not heavy handed. In fact, it contained a lot of humor. Rocco is very good at handing out insults and one liners that will have you chuckling. So instead of a dark, heart pounding thriller, that are a dime a dozen these days, you get a weirdly funny thriller/mystery and I found it very refreshing.

If you are looking for a mystery/thriller that is on the lighter side, this is the one for you, make sure to put it on your TBR list! I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to reading more in this series. I am keeping my fingers crossed that more will be published in English.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my book blog at www.thespineview.com. ( )