What REALLY Happened to Mussolini? Who Was Behind It After All?

This is a bestselling suspense novel in Italy by the author of great books like The Name of the Rose, and Foucault’s Pendulum, the former being one I’ve read already and greatly enjoyed. Numero Zero is significantly shorter and breezier — with much less Latin involved — and you can fly through it in less than a day, as opposed to some of his other novels which demand significantly greater attention spans.

The novel itself is set in early 1990s Italy, and features conspiracy theories, media manipulation, mafia bosses, corruption and more — there’s one murder, I believe — with a convoluted plot surrounding the assassination of Mussolini during World War II.

In a wider sense it’s about journalism and integrity, the media forces that shape our worldview, love, and friendships that strain our credulity. It’s got suspense and humor, just like The Name of the Rose, but again, it’s not too complicated or anything, and if you want a fast, fun read steeped in 20th century Italian history, here’s your book.

Samples from Numero Zero:

“Fear of death concentrates the mind.”

“I’d lost all faith in everything, except for the certainty that there’s always someone behind our backs waiting to deceive us.”