Bellini and the Sphinx

By Tony Bellotto

Trans. by Clifford E. Landers

Akashic    2019

270 pages     Hard Boiled

Tony Bellotto is a well-known Brazilian author, guitarist, song-writer, and commentator. Bellini and the Sphinx is the first of his series of hard-boiled detective fiction featuring Remo Bellini. It was published in Brazilian Portuguese more than 20 years ago and made into a Portuguese language film in 2002. Bellini is making his debut in an English translation this week.

Bellini is a classic private eye, having fallen into the career from a failed attempt at the law. He works for a woman PI, Dora Lobo, and generally does run-of-the-mill cases like adultery. In this particular case, the firm has been hired by a local doctor to find a missing dancer, Ana Cinta Lopes. But then the doctor turns up murdered. What is going on here? Why doesn’t anyone know Ana? Who is the hulking live-sex performer known as the Indian? What role does he play in the whole mess? Little by little the mystery unravels these questions, leaving both Bellini and the reader with answers but no satisfaction at its conclusion.

Although the case itself is rather mundane, the reader is exposed to the underbelly of the city of Sao Paulo. Also to the bruised psyche of Remo Bellini. Of course, most hard-boiled detective stories expose the bruised psyches of the detective. The reviewer in Publisher’s Weekly says that the book “starts off strong but falls flat in its overly familiar execution.” If a reader were interested in knowing what hard-boiled detective fiction is all about, this would be a good place to start. Bellini chases women, drinks too much, and listens to the blues—all classic PI behaviors.

Here are some things I did like about the book. The theme is expressed in the early pages by a club manager, Khalid. “Take it from me, women are an illusion. Women are like champagne; they seem real but they only exist as long as there’s music in the air.” That theme is repeated again and again throughout the book. Another thing I found appealing was the musical play list that Bellini soothed himself with throughout the book. I had Alexa play Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Charlie Patton as I read. Really helped to set the scene. I like the references to Greek and Roman mythology—a fun addition to the story. Finally, I liked the Sao Paulo setting because, most likely, I am not going to get to Brazil and certainly not to the part of Sao Paulo that Bellini frequents.

Tony Belloto is also the editor of two of Akashic’s Noir books—Sao Paulo Noir and Rio Noir. I enjoy these books a lot because each setting brings an entirely new look at a city as well as a new understanding of Noir fiction in its many varieties. I am assuming that more of the Bellini mysteries will be published by the company. I looked for a way to access the 2002 movie, Bellini e a Esfinge, and I did find it in Portuguese on YouTube. The music is amazing.