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

A nine-year-old boy is found murdered at the bottom of a well near a popular beach resort in southern Italy. In what looks like a hopeless case for Guido Guerrieri, counsel for the defence, a Senegalese peddler is accused of the crime. Faced with small-town racism fuelled by the recent immigration from Africa, Guido attempts to exploit the esoteric workings of the Italian courts.

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.

Details +

Publication date: 30.08.2002
Publisher: Sellerio
Number of Pages: 336
Country: Italy

Editions +
Nesvjesni svjedok Imprimatur
Bosnia
4 April 2024
Nevědomý svědek Host
Czech Republic
1 January 2012
Efter al sandsynlighed HR Ferdinand
Denmark
1 January 2016
Todennäköinen syyllinen Moreeni
Finland
1 January 2011
Témoin involontaire Payot & Rivages
France
1 March 2018
Reise in die Nacht (paperback) Goldmann
Germany
12 March 2007
Reise in die Nacht Goldmann
Germany
15 February 2006
Ακούσιος μάρτυρας Alexandria
Greece
1 January 2009
עד בעל כורחו Achuzat Bayit Books
Israel
1 November 2012
Testimone inconsapevole Emons
Italy
30 June 2016
Świadek mimo woli (II edizione) W.A.B.
Poland
1 January 2015
Świadek mimo woli (paperback) W.A.B.
Poland
1 July 2009
Świadek mimo woli W.A.B.
Poland
1 January 2008
Testigo Involuntario (II edition) Urano
Spain
15 December 2010
Testigo Involuntario Urano
Spain
1 January 2007
På sannolika skäl (paperback) Månpocket
Sweden
1 January 2010
På sannolika skäl Telegram
Sweden
3 February 2009
พยานไม่รู้เห็น Reading Italy
Thailand
1 September 2022
De onbewuste getuige Prometheus
The Netherlands
3 May 2007
Involuntary witness (II edition) Bitter Lemon Press
UK
11 March 2010
Involuntary witness Bitter Lemon Press
UK
11 November 2005
Foreign rights +

Foreign rights sold in
Bosnia: Buybook
Czech Republic: HOST brno
Denmark: HR Ferdinand
Finlan: Moreeni
France: Rivages
Egypt: Beba Editions
Germany: Goldmann
Greece: Αλεξάνδρεια
Israel: Achuzat Bayit Books
The Netherlands: Prometheus
Poland: WAB Foksal
Spain: Urano
Sweden: Telegram; Månpocket (paperback)
UK: Bitter Lemon Press

Audiovisual rights optioned.

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