US pub date: 7/2/24
Genre: mystery/suspense
Quick summary: Detective Nikki Serafino finds her home of Naples, Italy becoming a lot more complicated after she discovers a dead man floating in the bay. And that's only the start of the danger...

The blurb compares this one to Jane Harper's books, and I can see why they made the comparison! Heider did a great job showing the dark side of Naples and all the shady characters Nikki had met over the years. Like Harper's mysteries, this isn't a thriller - the story starts off slowly, but there are a few great twists at the end. I will look out for more from Heider!

Thank you to Penguin Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great writing, intriguing characters, and an excellent plot! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to recommending it to friends and library patrons.

What a wonderful surprise this book was. I am not sure what I expected (maybe a provincial Italian inspector) but it was far better and surprisingly twisty. This novel reminded a tiny bit of several book series I've read and loved, set in European cities involving American personnel in various law enforcement roles, but somehow broader and better in scope. Not to give anything away but do expect a multi-national investigation, different levels and types of investigators, high ranking US military officials, and one very tough, smart, and admirable woman at the center of everything. Bravo

Before heading to her evening shift as an investigator for Phoenix Seven, an Italian liaison unit that works with the U.S. military in Naples, Nikki Serafino is relaxing on the sailboat she co-owns with her friend, undercover cop Valerio Alfieri, when they rescue a woman who has been abandoned in the bay by her abusive boyfriend. As they head back to port, the Calypso’s keel strikes a decomposing body; Nikki notes the ligature marks on the man’s neck. The next day, while assisting a U.S. serviceman and his family in the wake of a traffic accident, she discovers another murder victim, this time one who’s been shot to death. After the bodies are identified as American naval officers, Nikki must conduct a tricky balancing act of partnering with both NCIS Special Agent Durant Cole and the Italian police in the investigation of possible links between the killings. Could the Camorra Mafia be involved? At the same time, Nikki’s intense family drama, involving the recent loss of her American mother, a loser brother in deep debt to local gangsters, and a tumultuous relationship with her controlling boyfriend, Enzo, threaten to derail her probe. Heider, who lived in Naples for several years and deployed as a civilian analyst aboard U.S. and European naval ships, makes an impressive debut with this engrossing thriller that captures both the baroque beauty and gritty danger of Italy’s third-largest city. It also introduces a tattooed, kick-ass female protagonist (“Nikki was short and compact and muscular with a dynamic, interesting face”) who may remind some readers of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander but without that character’s severe asocial tendencies. If there is a minor flaw, it’s that the Heider’s vividly drawn Italian characters far outshine her dull American counterparts. An enjoyable summer read.t

This book was a fascinating read. Although it was compelling and I read it quickly, it has stayed with me as I've thought about it afterward. On the surface it is an engaging mystery, but it has many layers and nuances to consider as well.

The book follows Nikki Serafino, a liaison officer at the interface of the U.S. Navy and Italian law enforcement in Naples, Italy. Nikki plays a role in the discovery of murder victims and her professional liaison duties embroil her in the investigation. The mystery is interesting and kept me guessing as the story progressed. As a mystery, the gradual revelations about the victims and the circumstances of their deaths become more intriguing.

The cultural and social presence of organized crime plays an important role. It's interesting to see how the various characters navigate through the hierarchical structures and unwritten rules of organized crime. Nikki's relatives try to take advantage of the organized crime structure by manipulation, only to find themselves subject to its brutal consequences. Another character attempts to gain power and climb the social scale with manipulation and seduction. Nikki and her law-enforcement friend, Valerio, both begin the book with the conviction that they will operate independent of organized crime, yet each must make a choice about helping those they love or maintaining their moral high ground.

Another interesting element of the book is the way Nikki navigates her male-dominated profession and copes with the insidious harassment. Here, Nikki and the character Carmella provide contrasts for one another in how to try to succeed in spite of this sexist culture.
It hints at the ways sometimes women perceive that they can succeed in male-dominated environments by bringing down the women around them.

Some reviewers comment that they didn't connect with Nikki as a protagonist. It's true that Nikki doesn't reveal her emotions as she confronts distressing situations. Her lack of internal emotional dialog is consistent with the coping strategy of a woman working in a challenging environment where any show of emotion can be viewed as hysteria. To me, it's true to the challenges she's faced. As I've compared this characteristic to other mystery protagonists, it occurs to me that we don't expect male investigators to elaborate on their emotional responses (thinking Mikael Blomkvist or Cormac Reilly). I wonder if we have different expectations of our female protagonists.

Overall, I'd recommend this book if you want a good story and some elements to think about afterward. If you're upset by profanity this might be an obstacle. It also deals with sexual assault- it could be triggering.

This was a great read. The characters were well developed and I loved the family history and development for the plot. This kept me going until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of May the Wolf Die.

I'm always looking for a mystery/thriller featuring the military, which is familiar to me, and having locations which aren't typical and the May the Wolf Die fits the bill.

Nikki Serafino is an investigator working as the liaison between local police and the American military. When a body she discovers turns out to be a high ranking Navy officer who was a victim of foul play, Nikki discovers dangerous connections between the military and the Neapolitan version of the Sicilian Mafia always behind the scenes in her beloved city. I’m familiar with the City of Naples, military liaisons, and how they interact with the local population. My friend from Naples fits this bill and is everything Nikki is and more!

The book has themes of violence and sexual assault and could be triggering.

This book was very well written. The author describes both the medieval beauty and at times, the darker, gritty side of Naples well, juxtaposing both sides of a city in turmoil and a gorgeous city rich with history and the warmth of the local community.

I can tell the author is writing from personal experience; she explains how Nikki's position as a liaison works, interesting and pretty complicated where you're juggling a myriad of political and bureaucratic responsibilities.

Nikki's family drama, dealing with the loss of her mother and older brother, and her troublemaking brother; and her tumultuous relationship with Enzo mostly took center stage.

Then, as if that's not enough personal drama, we also get Valerio's POV, Nikki's friend and co-buyer of the boat they invested in together; his family dramas, his relationship troubles, his fierce determination to arrest a criminal who keeps slipping out of his grasp.

I understand she's not a typical female hero; she comes from a military family, was taught to fight and defend herself, she's tough as nails and not afraid to show it.

The author was able to craft a female character who "isn't afraid to get dirty and doesn't play by the rules."

I wish I could give #maythewolfdie 3.5 stars. here's

what i liked.
1. compelling read
2. author obviously knows her way around naples, and the navy/military
3. good dose of italian language/scenery

what i didn't like.
1. gratuitous bad language that seemed out of place (and carmela? wtf?)
2. found myself wondering if this was a translation, writing was sometimes that clunky.
2. our heroine is too perfect, never makes a false move.
3. to wit, for as sharp as she is, how come she doesn't see...oh wait, that would be a spoiler.

reminded me of the sidney sheldon novels from back in the day. super easy to read, real page turner, too, couldn't put it down, but i felt cheap after! would totally read the next one, though, if Nikki becomes a series.

P.S. thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

This book was well written and I like the setting but I felt the main character was trying to hard and I just didn’t like her very much

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of May the Wolf Die.

I'm always looking for a mystery/thriller featuring a female protagonist and May the Wolf Die fits the bill.

Nikki Serafino is an investigator working as the liaison between local police and the American military. When a body she discovers turns out to be a high ranking Navy officer who was a victim of foul play, Nikki discovers dangerous connections between the military and the corrupt cartels running her beloved city.

First, there are some triggering themes involving sexual abuse and violence so readers should be aware.

Second, this was very well written. The author describes both the medieval beauty and the gritty seediness of Naples well, juxtaposing both sides of a city in turmoil and a gorgeous city rich with history and the warmth of the local community.

It's clear the author is writing from personal experience; she explains how Nikki's position as a liaison works, interesting and pretty complicated where you're juggling a myriad of political and bureaucratic responsibilities.

Third, the mystery was pretty straightforward, and read as almost a subplot to the main narrative:

Nikki's family drama, dealing with the loss of her mother and older brother, and her troublemaking brother; and her tumultuous relationship with Enzo mostly took center stage.

Then, as if that's not enough personal drama, we also get Valerio's POV, Nikki's friend and co-buyer of the boat they invested in together; his family dramas, his relationship troubles, his fierce determination to arrest a criminal who keeps slipping out of his grasp.

I found all these subplots distracting since it detracted from the mystery; the deaths of two military men.

I didn't like or dislike Nikki.

I understand she's not a typical female hero; she comes from a military family, was taught to fight and defend herself, she's tough as nails and not afraid to show it.

But it's almost like the author was trying TOO hard to craft a female character who "isn't feminine and doesn't play by the rules."

Also, the military aspect of the narrative didn't interest me; it was interesting to learn about but I'm not a fan of stories with military/government themes.