Ratking

By Michael Dibdin

Summary:
Italian Police Commissioner Aurelio Zen is dispatched to investigate the kidnapping of Ruggiero Miletti, a powerful Perugian industrialist. But nobody much wants Zen to succeed: not the local authorities, who view him as an interloper, and certainly not Miletti’s children, who seem content to let the head of the family languish in the hands of his abductors–if he’s still alive.

Was Miletti truly the victim of professionals?  Or might his kidnapper be someone closer to home: his preening son Daniele, with his million-lire wardrobe and his profitable drug business?  His daughter, Cinzia, whose vapid beauty conceals a devastating secret? The perverse Silvio, or the eldest son Pietro, the unscrupulous fixer who manipulates the plots of others for his own ends? As Zen tries to unravel this rat’s nest of family intrigue and official complicity, Michael Dibdin gives us one of his most accomplished thrillers. [summary from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/40364/ratking-by-michael-dibdin/]

Group Reviews/Comments:

Thumbs up:

• I liked the political intrigue and family intrigue and the discussions of the different Italian regions.  Also liked Zen’s back story.
• I liked learning about Italy, even though it was hard to keep the characters straight.
• The cynicism was kind of charming!  I liked how Zen was written, and I liked the sense of place.  I also really liked the opening scene.
• I liked the regional distinctions and cultural depictions.
• I liked the political stuff, it was very interesting, especially learning about all the corruption.  I liked the vivid description of the “ratking.”

Thumbs down:

• A slow burn.  Was into it at first, then it got boring; I got lost in all the interpersonal relationships.
• Loved the start, with the series of phone calls, but found Zen annoying rather than charming.  We didn’t get a chance to see Zen as effective.  I did think the ending was clever.
• Not a good translation.
• Did not like, could not finish (x4)

Thumbs in the middle:

• Nothing much happens.
• Didn’t like the ending; depressing