Irvin Vella investigatur virtwali: Il-Każ Pegasus (8)

Authour: John A. Bonello

Illustrated by Francesca Grech

Publisher: Merlin Publishers

Pages: 224

 

According to reliable sources, hundreds of avid followers of Irvin Vella - Malta's most popular virtual investigator - find themselves on edge during the interlude between one case and the next, as they eagerly anticipate the next conundrum that will test the mettle of their young idol.

Thanks to a recent news announcement from Merlin Publishers, Irvin's fans can now breathe a collective sigh of relief, as the eighth instalment in the detective book series, bearing the enigmatic title Irvin Vella: Il-Każ Pegasus, has just been published.

Irvin Vella, the endearing investigator created by John A. Bonello in 2015, has captured the hearts of many readers, young and old, who have loyally followed his exploits ever since the outset of his career. Although he is still working towards obtaining his private investigator licence, Irvin has already earned a solid reputation for unravelling mysteries and oddities, and prospective clients flock to his doorstep with all kinds of perplexing cases. Irvin's cousins, Laura and Luca, who share his enthusiasm for investigative work, are always ready and eager to lend a helping hand.

This time round, Irvin has two cases on his plate. The first is a straightforward quest, involving an elderly English gentleman who has come to Malta in search of a long lost love. The second case, however, is far more convoluted and dangerous. It has roots in Irvin's brief stint in prison (he was innocent, of course) during his preceding adventure, Irvin Vella: Il-Każ tal-Ħabsi bla Ħtija. Characters from his time behind bars now turn up to plunge Irvin into a strange world, almost like a hall of mirrors, where nothing is as it seems, and reality and illusion are hard to tell apart. Following a frantic chase of alleged criminals across the island, Irvin and his cousins manage to bring this case to a successful conclusion.

When asked about the inspiration behind the narrative, the author explained, "I drew inspiration from the spy novel genre, which thrives on secrets, false identities, suspense and action. I wanted to weave a story around these elements." Bonello further revealed that two key characters in this book - the doctor Irvin encountered in prison and the elderly English man - are inspired by real individuals who, in different ways, left an impact on him.

As usual, the story in the book Irvin Vella: Il-Każ Pegasus is complemented by retro-style illustrations by Francesca Grech, which help intensify the aura of mystery and adventure.

The question on many fans' minds is this: What does the future have in store for Irvin Vella? Sources close to the author report that work is well underway on Irvin's ninth case, and this is expected to mark a pivotal development in the beloved investigator's professional life. But that's for another time.

Meanwhile, a copy of Irvin Vella: Il-Każ Pegasus can be secured from any bookshop, or online directly from merlinpublishers.com.