Day of the Dead (43 page)

 

At the end of this fourth season of his, Ricciardi has many people to thank.

 

First and foremost, Fandango Books: in order, Domenico, Tiziana, Manuela, Francesca, Manuela, for the road we've traveled together. Mario Desiati, in the fullness of his world, with all the sensibility of the remarkable writer that he is, and the smile of the friend who's like a brother to me. And Gianluigi Toccafondo, a magical, marvelous artist.

 

Francesco Pinto, for having conceived of the whole distance when no one else had even thought of setting out.

 

Antonio and Michele, who think up his stories and the air that he breathes.

 

Professor Giulio Di Mizio, through whose eyes he sees the dead and hears them speak.

 

Rosaria De Cicco and Peppe Miale, who possess his voices.

 

Francesca Filardo, who imagines his clothing and fabrics.

 

Monica Biglietto, who looked for the poison and found it.

 

The fantastic team of the Corpi Freddi: Serena Venditto, Aldo Putignano, and Stefano Incerti, who are the first to hear his heartbeat, and smile when they recognize it.

 

Thanks to you all, from Ricciardi.

 

I have just one thank you of my own to say, but it's immense.

 

To the author of my enchantment, to the bearer of my song: to Paola.

Maurizio de Giovanni lives and works in Naples. His Commissario Ricciardi novels, including
I Will Have Vengeance
(Europa 2013),
Blood Curse
(Europa 2013), and
Everyone in Their Place
(Europa 2013), are bestsellers in Italy and have been published to great acclaim in French, Spanish, and German, in addition to English. He is also the author of
The Crocodile
(Europa 2013), a noir thriller set in contemporary Naples.