More than a perfectly paced legal thriller, this relentless suspense novel transcends the genre. A powerful attack on racism, and a fascinating insight into the Italian judicial process, it is also an affectionate portrait of a deeply humane hero.
PRAISE FOR INVOLUNTARY WITNESS
“A stunner. Guerrieri is a wonderfully convincing character; morose, but seeing the absurdity of his gloomy life, his vulnerability and cynicism laced with self-deprecating humour. It is the veracity of the setting and the humanity of the lawyer that makes the novel a courtroom drama of such rare quality.”
The Times
“Involuntary Witness raises the standard for crime fiction.
Carofiglio’s deft touch has given us a story that is both literary and gritty – and one that speeds along like the best legal thrillers. His insights into human nature – good and bad – are breathtaking.” Jeffery Deaver
“A powerful redemptive novel beautifully translated.”
Daily Mail
www.bitterlemonpress.com
BITTER LEMON PRESS
First published in the United Kingdom in 2006 by
Bitter Lemon Press, 37 Arundel Gardens, London W11 2LW
This new edition published in 2010
www.bitterlemonpress.com
First published in Italian as Ad occhi chiusi by
Sellerio editore, Palermo, 2003
This edition is published with the financial assistance of the Italian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
© Sellerio editore, Palermo, 2003
English translation © Howard Curtis, 2006
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means without written
permission of the publisher
The moral rights of Gianrico Carofiglio and Howard Curtis
have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988
Acknowledgements
Page 57: ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ by Bruce Springsteen. © Bruce Springsteen. All rights reserved. Page 167: ‘Losing My Religion’ Words and Music by William Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe. © 1991 Night Garden Music. Administered by Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
eISBN : 978-1-904-73876-3
Typeset by RefineCatch Limited, Broad Street, Bungay, Suffolk
Printed and bound by Cox & Wyman Ltd, Reading, Berks
A Walk in the Dark Page 18