Angela starts the search at Albert’s apartment, and not only finds the spoiled ingredients for spaghetti carbonara, she finds a three-day old dead body and a case of Itty Bitty Kittys, the hottest new toy to hit the market this year. Angela can’t imagine who the dead man is or how the dolls are connected to Albert.

Albert has been known to do some business with the Mob in Boston, and since Angela’s mother went to school with Don Testa (the head of such a family), Angela approaches Don Testa to enlist his help in finding Albert. Angela learns that Albert is the creator of Itty Bitty Kitty and is manufacturing them in an old factory near the harbor and that Don Testa is a silent business partner.

At first, Don Testa seems willing to help Angela, but soon becomes distant and begins to warn Angela away from the investigation. Angela, who has a very strong sense of family, can’t and when all avenues lead back to Don Testa and the toy factory, Angela becomes more determined than ever to locate her brother and figure out what kind of trouble he is in.

He Who Dies… has a wonderful sense of place and a great cast of characters. Wendi Lee may use hyperbole from time to time, playing on certain Italian stereotypes, but the overall effect is worth it. Angela has a large family, none of whom would dream of missing Sunday supper at Ma’s, as well as an assortment of aunts and uncles and cousins, including Joey, a mechanical whiz who has recently been paroled from jail. The Testa family, by comparison, is known for its shady dealings, but Don Testa remains loyal to his son even as Sal gets himself deeper and deeper into trouble and does dumber and dumber things.

Angela is a very gutsy heroine with a strong network of friends to help her track information down, necessary to her business. She is fiercely protective of her family and doggedly works through the investigation against the advice of many, in order to save her brother.

He Who Dies… is a fast-paced, quick read, full of witty, rough dialogue and a cast of characters that won’t be forgotten. The third entry in what is sure to be a long-lived, popular series.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry