Review of Escape to Catania

[Adrian Bouknight]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Escape to Catania" by Patrizia Lo Turco.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Do you want to know what it's like to be a cop in Catania, Sicily? Would a story describing Sicilian landscapes, culture, history, and language captivate you? Does the status of refugees in Sicily interest you? Are you curious about how Sicilian mafias function? If you answered yes to these questions, you should read Escape to Catania by Patrizia Lo Turco.

Gina, a policewoman living in mainland Italy, decided to leave her cheating husband and reconnect with her father’s roots in Catania, Sicily. Once she started working for the Catania police force, she found herself involved with issues related to finding a Cosa Nostra crime boss, protecting Nigerian women forced into prostitution by the Black Axe, and understanding the Sicilian way of living.

Lo Turco used a third-person narrative and conversation between characters to describe the plot. The characters included Gina's Sicilian grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and coworkers. Lo Turco's descriptions of Sicilian geography, culture, food, words, and family traditions brought me to Sicily. I found this aspect to be adventurous and enjoyable. The story was filled with suspense as Gina tried to locate the Cosa Nostra boss. Sadness and tension were ever-present as the reader was privy to Gina’s thoughts regarding her disappointing marriage. The plot featured twists and mysterious events. I learned about the workings of the Cosa Nostra and Nigerian mafias.

Even though this story cannot be described as an action-packed thriller, I enjoyed its realistic representation of what a police officer goes through while performing their daily duties. Also, I was educated about the social issues in Catania. Through Gina's discussions with coworkers, I discovered how the police struggle with these issues. The plot was realistic and flowed well. Sicilian traditions regarding women, marriage, and motherhood were questioned in Gina’s thoughts. I found her questions to be thought-provoking. I loved the Sicilian experience. This story was easy to read and professionally edited. I did not notice anything negative. Therefore, I gave this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

Some readers might be happy to know that Lo Turco did not create any vivid violent scenes in the story. There was a description of a dead body, but it was akin to reading about a murder in a newspaper.

******
Escape to Catania
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Gerry,

This sounds like a gripping narrative! I am interested in learning about the inner workings of Sicilian mafias. I can imagine people sitting around a table with a large Sicilian pizza discussing bodies in a freezer. The detail about protecting women from a prostitution ring also sounds quite interesting! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for this book in my review options!

Thanks again Gerry!

[Abdullah Fawmi]

This seems like a book I would love to read. And I specially like reading about Sicily and it's culture from native authors. It always sounds like a beautiful place to live. I would definitely read this one. Thank you Gerry for a lovely review.

[Leia Temple]

I have to confess; mafia stories have always been my guilty pleasure and seeing them handled in "Escape to Catania" already piques my interest. But to discover the inclusion of the Nigerian mafia—now that's beguiling! It’s a rarity to see such multifaceted criminal elements woven into a narrative, and it’s got me all the more enchanted. Your description of this book makes the plot and setting sound absolutely delectable.

[Lawrence Stein]

I appreciate the fact that you readers can learn about real happenings in real-world geographical places like Catania. Well done.

[Lene Lena]

It sounds like “Escape to Catania” by Patrizia Lo Turco offers a compelling blend of Sicilian culture, history, and contemporary issues. Gina’s journey through personal and professional challenges provides insights into the complexities of life in Sicily, including the impact of organized crime and refugee struggles. Lo Turco’s vivid descriptions transport readers to Sicily, celebrating its geography, cuisine, and traditions. This cultural richness enhances the story’s adventurous spirit and emotional weight, making it an engaging read filled with suspense and poignant reflections on life choices.

[Bassey Anthony Akpan]

"Escape to Catania" by Patrizia Lo Turco tells the story of the impact of broken relationships and the paths we often take to rebuild our lives. The place of culture in understanding local crime syndicates is clearly explained in this book. This book provides a soul search for the abused and traumatized people who are living and working at the behest of others without self satisfaction and motivation. Thanks for the review.

[Bassey Anthony Akpan]

"Escape to Catania" by Patrizia Lo Turco
Gina chronicles the story of a policewoman living in mainland Italy, who decided to leave her cheating husband and reconnect with her father’s roots in Catania, Sicily. The story demonstrates how a failing relationship can often impact our journeys through life. The reason is because we often want to stay away from a failed marriage, possibly by leaving our immediate environment. This book describes our true states in such situations. Thanks for the review

[patricia MGBEMENA]

It was actually a good decision for Gina to leave to connect with his paternal roots in Catania as leaving with a cheating partner could be very draining.