With my review of the latest book in the
series, Splintered Justice, appearing here on the blog this Sunday, it
seemed like a good time to dip into the massive archive and remind you how it
all began. This is a series that builds as it goes and should be read in order.
Pesticide: A Polizi Bern Novel by Kim Hayes is the first book in the series. Billed
as the opening book in the Linder and Donatelli Mysteries, the
read takes readers to Bern, Switzerland. It is summer and the street party the
night before went out of control and resulted in at least one death.
Detective Giuliana Linder
is assigned to the case by her boss, Rolf Straub. A young man is dead on the
plaza where the rave was being held and descended into chaos. It appears
initially that he died because he was hit over the head with a police baton wielded
by Officer Jonas Pauli. Detective Linder knows the young officer and the idea
that he bashed in the head of anyone and killed the man is unthinkable to her.
He swears he only hit him once and not that hard.
The fact that her daughter
was out in that same violent and out of control crowd before she later was
arrested, does not escape her attention. A lot is going on with her and she
could have been killed or injured in the chaos. It doesn’t help that her husband,
Ueli, is not seeing her job as she does or everything else she does. Police
brutality is an issue in the book and Ueli has significant concerns about what
the police are doing on a daily basis. While his wife, Giuliana, is not part of
the problem of abusive police, she works in a group that is, as he sees the
world. Coupled with a disagreement regarding parenting styles and the fact that
he has to step in when the job takes her away, as it does frequently, and the
family dynamic is going through some things.
As if things are not
complicated enough, soon it become clear that her case and a case being run by
Investigator Renzo Donatelli have clear links. A farmer, François Schwab, was
killed and his body was hosed down with pesticide. A fervent organic farmer, he
had his enemies as well as numerous friends who thought he was a bit eccentric
and overly supportive of organics, but generally liked him. Was he killed over
his desire to protect his land and keep things organic? Or was it something
else?
Before long, the two cases
come together with the identity of the Linder’s victim becoming clear, they
discover that both victims knew each other. The fact that they died just hours
apart may actually mean something and not random chance as things first appeared.
As Linder and Donatelli and their investigative teams join forces, it becomes
clear to all involved that the killings are not over. Not even the police are
safe.
Part police procedural,
part possible romance as Linder and Donatelli have unexpressed feelings for
each other, and entirely a rich and complex multilayered mystery, a tremendous
amount is going on in this atmospheric and detailed read. The cases are complicated
as are the personal lives of Detective Linder, Investigator Donatelli, and
others. Much like real life, chaos at home and work to varying levels, is
always present. As in real life, at times, the mind imagines a lot of
worst-case scenarios with loved ones are involved.
A complicated read and one
that holds your attention while also dispensing a lot of education regarding
history and culture, Pesticide: A Polizi Bern Novel by
Kim Hayes is a very good read well worth your time. Very much recommend.
Make sure you check out
Aubrey’s review from March 2023.
Amazon
Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4muAocZ
Publicist Wiley Saichek
sent me a copy of the book, with no expectation of a review, after Aubrey’s
review ran on the blog.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2023, 2025
Posts
