Carlotto, considered one of Italy’s
foremost crime writers, spent time in prison for a crime he did not commit. The victim of a politically motivated conspiracy, he also spent time on the lam, a fugitive from justice, living in foreign countries under false identities. This is the lightly fictionalized story of those years on the run, and it’s a gripping tale, whether read as a novel or as a memoir. Carlotto’s ordeal began in 1976, when he was charged for a murder and convicted; running out of appeals and knowing the fix was in, he decided to run, and between 1982 and 1985—the focus of this novel—he created a variety of identities, supported himself with numerous menial jobs, and learned that trusting in others is a very risky business. As exciting as that other Fugitive, this roman á clef (originally published in Italy in 1994) combines compelling crime drama with a searing portrait of a justice system gone horribly wrong. It also reads like a step-by-step guide on how to live under the radar.
by David Pitt
