Murder by suicide? Three senior government officials – a judge, a politician, and an ex-police chief – are all dead by their own hands.

Inspector Lucas Rocco finds himself once more working for the Interior Ministry: undertaking an investigation meant to avoid a government scandal and ignoring unpalatable truths. He’s soon convinced that a common denominator must be at play…

Rocco uncovers top-level fraud, theft and deception. And when he narrowly survives an attempt on his life, he realises that he has nothing to lose by bringing the truth out in to the open – whatever the risks.

My thanks to The Dome Press for my review copy and to Emily Glenister for the opportunity to join the blog tour.

Rocco and the Price of Lies has presented me with a bit of a problem.  A good problem.  But my TBR pile is going to hate me.

I shall explain…

I love a series with recurring characters.  Once I find a series I enjoy I become compelled to read all the books in that series.  Rocco and the Price of Lies is the latest in a series of books which feature Inspector Lucas Rocco and I really, really enjoyed it. I now want to read more of Roccos adventures and a quick glance at the inside of the book suggests there are six titles awaiting me. Pray for my TBR.

In this latest outing Rocco is investigating the deaths of three prominent men (a judge, a senior government official and a politician).  Each of the men has taken his own life but the circumstances which led to their decisions have given the police cause to look more closely.

Each man received a letter which made them aware someone knew they had obtained expensive artwork under less than legitimate circumstances.  The reader knows the three men were purposely targeted but it is not immediately clear why.

Roccos investigations will see him working with the Interior Ministry.  He will become somewhat acquainted with the art world through the need to discuss forgeries and the problems art lovers experience when they own copies of valuable paintings.  This is an area I know nothing about so it made for fascinating reading – Adrian Magson spinning a great story around art fraud.

I found the story incredibly accessible. There are six Rocco stories before Price of Lies but I never felt I was failing to keep up with narrative or established characters. The author keeps events zipping along and I never felt there was a lull in events or scenes were padded out. I loved the direct and often humorous approach Rocco adopts in his interactions and I warmed to him immediately.

I was adding more Rocco novels to my reading wishlist before I reached the last chapters of this book.  Delighted to have discovered a new series I can enjoy and I am very much looking forward to catching up on the earlier stories. Highly recommended.

Rocco and the Price of Lies is published by The Dome Press and is available in paperback and digital format.  You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07NGTMZQR/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

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