A really great read, though the ending is a bit odd. ( )

Cabal (1992) by Michael Dibdin. I picked up a couple of the Inspector Zen novels a few years ago after seeing that a television series was to be shown based on the novels. I never saw the show and didn’t read any of the novels until now. I wish I had started on this series years ago as the books I have read are very good.
Welcome to Italy, specifically Rome. Here is where CABAL is set. A country within a country, Vatican City is a separate state totally engulfed by Rome. There s a “suicide” in St. Peter’s basilica. A man, Prince Ruspanti, falls to his death. Inspector Zen, of the Italian State police (think a FBI type of organism) is called in to give an official version of what happened. He instantly knows that it was a murder, gathers evidence, and then plays politics, not wanting to lose his job or his own life.
This novel is both a police mystery and an essay on the mystery of Italian politics. What is real and what is necessary are often two different things and Zen has been an inspector long enough to know that mere facts are not enough to come to any conclusion. The Vatican must be satisfied, as do the Roman officials, the Italian State officials and the police officials.
This is a very complicated affair as is, apparently, everything to do with politics in Italy.
But the case is interesting, and there is more death involved, and we see a side to our hero that is unexpected. Being Italy, there is also the latest fashion designer to figure into the mix, especially when Zen’s woman friend decides to wear some of ‘Falco’s’ new line.
There is also the secret society within a secret society, The Cabal of the title. Zen has to worry about these invisible threats to his work and to his life.
Personal and political angst pull our hero but he reveals himself to be a fine investigator and tightrope walker.
I enjoyed this novel far more than I thought I would. ( )

Set back in the 1990s, when technology was very different to today, this novel is set in Italy, mostly in Rome and certainly made me long to visit that city. This is my first Aurelio Zen novel and Michael Dibdin has created an entertaining detective who appears to muddle through life, not always understanding what is going on but actually being more cunning than he appears. The plot twists kept me reading to the end and I was glad I did. ( )

Once again Zen faces an inquiry in which corruption and politics play an important role. This time the case involves the Vatican rather than the government.

Zen tries to share in the corruption! Although he is successful in figuring out what was behind the murders, he isn't in his attempt to profit from his knowledge. I for one am glad of that! ( )

this one felt slighter, more full of red herrings than the other Dibdin's I have read. It was still enjoyable, especially the "denouement" of the Cabal... ( )