Involuntary Witness

An innovative take on the traditional crime novel, Guanfrico Carofiglio's debut novel tells the story of Guido Gerrieri, a litigator who is defending a Senegalese peddler accused of murdering a nine-year-old boy. Set in modern-day Puglia, the plot centres on the courtroom drama as the case unfolds.

In a narrative which draws comparisons with some of the best of modern crime fiction, Carofiglio cleverly paints a picture of the Italian justice system and in doing so, highlights much of its complexities, as well as its flaws. As a former anti-Mafia judge and a current member of the Italian senate, Carofiglio's inside perspective proves revealing, particularly at a time when this very system has been brought under increasing global scrutiny following the trial and conviction of Amanda Knox.

Carofiglio also plays to his strengths as a writer: rather than allowing the novel to become bogged down by legal jargon and the technicalities of the case, he weaves the developments of the trial into the background narrative of Gerrieri's life and past experiences. By doing this, he creates a novel which is both compelling and intensely readable and a protagonist who resolutely refuses to let any corruption or prejudices inherent in the justice system get the better of his client.