Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction
Author: Sandrone Dazieri
Translator: Anthony Shugaar
Year published: 2017 (English translation)
TWs: Graphic Violence, Abduction, Torture, Death
Rating: 4/5
What does it mean to face the darkest parts of humanity…and survive? ‘Kill the Father’, the first novel in the Colomba Caselli series by Sandrone Dazieri, is a gripping psychological thriller that pits two damaged yet brilliant protagonists against a chilling villain known only as ‘Father.’ This Italian thriller is layered with suspense and complex characters, which kept me thinking long after I put it down.
“He knew it was there, it impinged on the boundaries of his consciousness, scorching it like flame”
Synopsis
The story opens with a horrifying crime: a woman is beheaded in a park, and her six-year-old son disappears. The police suspect the father, but Chief Alfredo Rovere isn’t convinced it’s that simple. He brings in Deputy Captain Colomba Caselli, on leave after a traumatic bombing, and enlists Dante Torre, a man who spent 11 years locked in a concrete silo after being kidnapped at six.
Torre has crippling claustrophobia, but he can read people like no one else, spotting subtle gestures, micro-expressions, and signals most of us would miss. Together, they start piecing the puzzle together, and soon realize that the current case mirrors a kidnapping from 25 years ago.
My Thoughts
What fascinated me most about this novel were the characters. Caselli, a skilled detective grappling with PTSD and panic attacks, and Torre, a man scarred by extreme childhood trauma, are a compelling, unlikely duo. Their vulnerabilities make them human, and they kept me turning pages just to see how they’d handle the next twist.
The plot is intense. With two child abductions across decades, constant suspense, and multiple twists, it’s enough to make your head spin. Being over 500 pages, though, it’s not a quick read, and you really have to pay attention, but the effort is worth it. I also really loved the Italian setting and the way Dazieri drops hints along the way so that major reveals don’t come out of nowhere.
Overall, this is one of the most thrilling mysteries I’ve read in a while. Caselli and Torre are not perfect heroes; they are deeply flawed, damaged, and yet complement each other brilliantly. The novel combines psychological suspense, procedural investigation, and action-driven thriller, keeping me hooked until the very end.
Happy Reading!
About the Author
Sandrone Dazieri was born in Cremona, Italy, in 1964. He worked in a variety of roles, from cook to proofreader, before establishing himself as a popular Italian crime writer. His books, including the Gorilla series and the Colomba Caselli novels, often feature flawed but compelling protagonists confronting social and personal challenges. Dazieri has also written children’s novels, comics, scripts, and screenplays, and his work frequently explores moral ambiguity, human psychology, and suspense.
Find more his Goodreads page!
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