It's October 2006. In a few months Romania will join the European Union. Meanwhile, the northern Italian town of Turin has been rocked by a series of deadly crimes involving Albanians and Romanians. Is this the latest eruption of a clan feud dating back centuries, or is the trouble being incited by local organized crime syndicates who routinely "infect" neighborhoods and then "cleanse" them in order to earn big on property developments? Enzo Lagan , born in Turin to Southern Italian parents, is a journalist with a wry sense of humor who is determined to get to the bottom of this crime wave. But before he can do so, he has to settle a thorny issue concerning Gino, a small pig belonging to his Nigerian neighbor, Joseph. Who brought the pig to the neighborhood mosque? And for heaven's sake why? This multiethnic mystery from the author of Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio pays homage to the cinematic tradition of the commedia all'italiana as it probes the challenges and joys of life in a newly multicultural society.
Enzo LaganàSeries
This series delves into the complexities of life in a modern, multicultural society through engaging crime narratives. It follows a journalist with a wry sense of humor who is determined to uncover the truth behind criminal activity and ethnic tensions. The stories expertly weave together personal lives and broader social issues, creating compelling and thought-provoking tales. It's a unique blend of mystery and social commentary.


Recommended Reading Order
- 1
- 2
The Prank Of The Good Little Virgin Of Via Ormea
- 168 pages
- 6 hours of reading
A fun and farcical novel, this new whodunit about life in multicultural Italy by Amara Lakhous wil delight fans of Lakhous' earlier bestseller, Clash of Civilizations Over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio, and readers of novels such as The Yacoubian Building by Alaa Al Aswany. Bittersweet, like any self-respecting Italian comedy, The Hoax is a Pirandellian exploration of identity in today's multicultural, polyglot societies. Lakhous draws inspiration from everyday reality, describing his approach to writing as 'total literature, a term he has adapted from soccer's total football. He plays in attack, describing in this work the realities of an Italy of the future with colorful characters portrayed in limpid but lively prose