If you want a great recommendation for the perfect holiday read, then I think that Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions might be it.

Mario Giordano’s light hearted tale, tells of Auntie Poldi who has recently moved from Bavaria to Sicily, to enjoy the warmth and food at the latter end of her life. When I say latter end, I don’t wish to mislead you, for Poldi is only in her sixties, gregarious to a fault, wig wearing and with an eye for the gents. She’s also kind and curious, all in all, everyone’s dream Auntie.

The plot centers around the murder of Poldi’s young, gorgeous handyman, who naturally enough is named Valentino. When his body washes up on the beach, Poldi finds herself under suspicion of murder. Determined to exonerate herself and to show her brilliance to the very attractive police detective assigned to the case, Poldi sets about solving the mystery of Valentino’s death.

When I finished reading this book, which I did very quickly because it’s such fun, I read the interview Mario Giordano. Giordano had in fact built the story around his own life experience, to the extent that he did have a Bavarian aunt named Poldi! He reminds me, as a writer, very much of Anthony Horowitz, so if you enjoyed the Magpie Murders et al, then Poldi is very much for you.

Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions just requires so little of you and is so much fun to read that when you turn the last page, you find yourself wondering where did the time and the pages go? Thank heavens then that it’s part of a series! I’m saving the next one for the sunshine of summer.