The Lost Girls of Rome by Donato Carrisi

This novel is set in Rome and translated by Howard Curtis. Sandra Vega, a forensic photographer with the Roman police department, receives news that her journalist husband has died accidentally but there is something about the circumstances surrounding his death that does not ring true to her. She decides to delve deeper in order to solve what she believes to be his murder and her investigation takes her down a very dark path. She learns about the penitenzieri, a group of priest-profilers which has historically compiled archives of the most heinous sins, particularly in the late Middle Ages (1410–1503). The story takes labyrinthine turns and has many subplots including an ongoing missing persons investigation. Sandra crosses paths with a mysterious duo, Clemente and Marcus, who are also involved in the case of the girl who has disappeared. Their incredible skill at uncovering clues makes us wonder who they are. It’s a complex plot with many characters and I found it necessary to reread various sections in order to follow the storyline but it was worth hanging in. There is apparently a sequel featuring the same characters, titled The Hunter of the Dark, that I would be interested in reading.