ITALY

The sun beats down, and cold-hearted murder is done. The very individual (and more laidback) approach to crime fiction in Italy, most Latin of countries – with its endemic political and religious corruption – is fertile territory for crime fiction, not least for the way its deceptive languor is shot through with the ever-present influence of the Mafia.

It is notable (and perhaps regrettable) that, as yet, many of the remarkable and idiosyncratic talents of this Mediterranean branch of the crime fiction genre have not made the mark that their Scandinavian confrères have. But enthusiasm among non-Italian speaking readers is growing. The attentive reader will take on board the sometimes subtle, sometimes direct political insights and historical contexts to be found in the work of such writers as Leonardo Sciascia, Carlo Lucarelli and (of course) Andrea Camilleri. But along with the better-known names, much light may be thrown on the strategies and achievements of writers yet to break through outside Italy. Potential readers, however, should be aware that sheer narrative pleasure is the key element of most Italian crime fiction, rather than (generally speaking) the more astringent sociopolitical fare from other countries. Italy, of course, has produced one of the most ambitious historical crime novels ever written (though one that has defeated many a reader with insufficient patience), Umberto Eco's sprawling, phantasmagorical, philosophical The Name of the Rose (1980), a book graced with one of the most celebrated translations ever accorded a non-English language novel, courtesy of William Weaver.

Apart from the Italian writers listed below, mention should also be made of the contribution to the dissemination of Italian crime writing of a man known to many readers as the 'King of the Erotic Thriller'. Due to the burgeoning popularity of the latter genre, his time has certainly arrived and he is now one half of the EL James rival, 'Vina Jackson'. However, crime fiction fans are more likely to celebrate Maxim Jakubowski (born in England to Russian-British and Polish parents and raised in France) as one of the most reliable editors in the field, with a lengthy CV of distinguished entries. One in particular, Venice Noir (2012), is part of the long-running 'Noir' series issued by Akashic Books, and is a particularly cherishable entry. The company appears to be working its way through every city on the planet (how long before they get to Wigan Noir?), but Italy is solid territory. The writers represented here are an eclectic bunch, with some prestigious Italians (all ably translated) such as the idiosyncratic Matteo Righetto, along with some reliable Brits su