Gomorrah

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A groundbreaking bestseller in Italy, this gripping nonfiction account details the decline of Naples under the Camorra, an organized crime network with vast international influence in construction, high fashion, illicit drugs, and toxic-waste disposal. Known as "the System," the Camorra significantly impacts cities and villages along the Neapolitan coast, contributing to Campania's highest murder rate in Europe and alarming cancer levels. The narrative reveals how massive shipments of Chinese goods arrive in Naples, quickly spreading unchecked across Europe. It explores the Camorra's dominance over thousands of Chinese factories that produce fashion items, both legally and illegally, for global distribution. The author also uncovers the dire consequences of toxic waste mishandling, causing severe pollution in Naples, China, and Somalia. In his pursuit of the truth, he took on various roles, including working at a Chinese textile factory and serving as a waiter at a Camorra wedding. A native of the region, he reflects on witnessing his first murder at fourteen and how his father, a doctor, was brutally attacked for trying to help a victim. This bold investigative work offers a significant perspective on a place under the grip of a violent organization.