First of all, my sincere thanks go out to Piero and Luciano of the Aubert bookshop in Aosta. Your kindness and generosity have touched me deeply.
Then, thanks to Paola and her “tips.”
I cannot fail to thank Mattia for his attachment to Rocco Schiavone, as well as Maurizio, Floriana, Francesca, Marcella, and the Sellerio publishing house as a whole.
A huge thank-you to my family, which surprisingly continues to stay with me: Toni “if-there’s-one-thing-that-gets-on-my-nerves,” Giovanna “check-and-make-sure-you-got-back-in,” Francesco “I-was-robbed,” Laura “hold-on-a-sec-lemme-put-in-my-earbuds,” Marco “what’s-the-word-from-parliament,” Jacopo “A-plus-plus-plus,” Giulia “Idefix,” and last but only because he’s the youngest, Giovanni “teach-this-year-I’m-definitely-passing-the-class!”
A wholehearted thank you to Fabrizio, who by now knows Rocco better than I do.
To Nanà, Smilla, Rebecca, and Jack Sparrow, who was a “guest” at my house, bringing a breeze of love.
Thanks from the heart.
As of November 21 in 2013, the year I wrote this book, there were 122 cases of femicide in Italy.*
Until that number drops to zero, Italy won’t be able to call itself a civilized country.
A. M.