A work of noir fiction that digs deep into the turbulent soil of north-eastern Italy, recounting from within the criminal infiltrations which infest it. Drawing inspiration from recent events, Fulvio Luna Romero has crafted a ruthless and passionate novel driven by adrenaline, suspense, and continuous plot twists.

The Jesolo peninsula is a strange place. A splinter of land surrounded by the sea on one side and the Venetian lagoon on the other; during the summer, it is a bustling hotspot for partygoers and holidaymakers. But during the winter, the crowds disperse, reducing Jesolo to little more than a town which stands across from the world’s most beautiful city.

This piece of land is controlled by the Company, a sprawling criminal organisation run by Andrea Salvi. From drugs to prostitution, from construction to arcades: on the Jesolo peninsula, nothing happens without his say-so. But Salvi is not a boss like any other. He shuns the ‘gangster’ label, preferring instead to keep a low profile.

His dirty work is carried out by three men: Africa, a heavy-handed man from Campania; Black, a reserved and hardworking man from Lombardy; Striker, a crackhead and goal-scorer for the local football team. Alongside his girlfriend Valentina – who conceals her determination behind an icy, quick-witted exterior – these are the only people he trusts.

One day, however, during a substantial marijuana delivery, something goes wrong, and someone is killed during a run-in with the police. Salvi feels cornered. And in a moment like that, one cannot practice caution; he has to make himself heard, and prove that no one can get away with challenging the Company.

And so, as Jesolo goes up in flames, the boss and his right-hand men discover that the truth is much more complicated than it may seem; that the line between fighting crime and building your life around it is incredibly fine and easy to cross. You may suddenly find yourself on the other side.