A taxi driver delivers him to a pensione from which, when his fever breaks, he wanders into the street and meets the lost love of his life. Louisa turns out to be married to a judge who is trying a Camorra family; Jim wanders into his court and meets Giovanna, an unhappy daughter of criminals dissatisfied with her career prospects. Then again, everything that happens to Jim happens because of who he is--a burned-out romantic over-burdened with the desire to help people, to make a difference--and because of where he is--a city old in crime and cynicism and jealousy.

Griffiths writes powerfully about the fact that everything has consequences--his Naples is a mental territory as much as a set of streets, dazzling sunlight and ferociously hot pizza. He also writes well about character--the doomed Jim is a fascinating flawed hero whom we come to know well as his clock ticks down. --Roz Kaveney