The strength of the novel is in Francesca’s voice. Her memories of the hardscrabble town clawing to the side of a mountain are vibrant. The characters were drawn with a sharp, dark charcoal pencil — impressionistic in style but specific and bold.
REVIEW: MURDER IN MATERA
More than a murder mystery, this is a memoir. Stapinski is doing this for herself and her family first. Luckily for the reader, it’s an engaging adventure. Each time she uncovers a clue to the past, the reader is pulled further into the labyrinth.