One of the highest rated TV series during the past season was undoubtedly Prima Facie. Not everyone might be aware however that the series was an adaptation of a hugely successful novel, the police thriller written by Mark Camilleri and published by Merlin Publishers in 2010. 

Three years later, we catch up with Inspector Victor Gallo in the sequel Volens, also written by Camilleri and a Merlin publication.  Although very recently published, Volens has already had an extremely positive critical reaction, and received extensive coverage in the local media.  With these two books and more in the pipeline, Camilleri is fast establishing himself as the authority on Maltese crime fiction.

Shrewd and melancholic as ever, Inspector Gallo is still coming to grips with the effects that his previous case has had on his life, when he is called to solve another murder, this time set in the world of local football.  Martin Mizzi, one of the best local football players, is found dead in his car with clear gunshot wounds.  Whodunnit? It’s no easy task for Gallo, since the people who would have wanted Mizzi dead are more than he’d care to count.  Mizzi lived on the edge – sleeping around, irrespective of whether the woman at hand happened to be married to one of his teammates, gambling, betting, involvement with international mafia and drug trafficking cartels … you name it, he was probably involved in it.

Gallo’s job is try and unravel this mystery, with the help of his criminal squad. We meet each member of his team, who are not immune to the effects of the circumstances they live in, each with own personal dramas and ghosts.

An innovative element for Volens is that Inspector Gallo himself can be reached by his readers.  He may be contacted via email on [email protected].

Volens can be purchased from all bookshops or directly online from www.merlinpublishers.com