'The Feast of The Dead'

The third part of the Catania Trilogy is nearly ready.

Many thanks to my two excellent proof-readers, Gerry and Jack, for their hard work on the text of ‘The Feast of the Dead’, the third part of my Catania trilogy. I am endlessly grateful to them. Proof-reading is a particular skill. I mean, who knew it was ‘McDonald’s’ as opposed to ‘MacDonald’s’? Not me, that is for sure. And what is the mention of an American chain restaurant doing in a book about the Sicilian Mafia? Well, one of their boasts is that they have the island covered in the same way as McDonald’s, but they are not talking about hamburgers, but cocaine.

All that needs to be done is to press the button and publish the book as a paperback and as a Kindle book. One is oppressed by dread at the thought, but the book is as good as I can make it, and what will be will be.

The cover is a shot of Palazzo Biscari in Catania, which has nothing to do with the story, but which, I hope, is evocative of the atmosphere of the city. Catania, for the few who have been reading who do not realise it yet, is simply enchanting and its black volcanic architecture is dramatic, fascinating, and a little menacing. Add the blue skies of winter, and the effect is stunning as the following examples may show.

This is the third book in the series, and the original idea was to produce a trilogy set in Catania. However, original ideas exist to be superseded, and there is more to come. Instead of moving all my characters to Palermo, they are going to be in Catania for some time to come. Or at least mainly in Catania… Time will tell.

Meanwhile, if you have followed me this far, happy reading!