They took his freedom. Now he decides who stays free.
Roberto Edoardo Riva was the golden boy of Milanese finance: a wunderkind moving millions by day and losing himself in the elite's excessive nightlife by night. A penthouse in Brera, a Porsche in the garage, and a future without limits.
Then, one blurred dawn, everything shatters.
He wakes up in a room that isn't his, next to the lifeless body of a Swedish model. A syringe he’s never touched. In less than twelve hours, the predator becomes the prey: arrested, tried, and sentenced to seven years in the hell of San Vittore prison.
Today, Roberto is a new man. Having survived the filth of a cell, he sought refuge in the chaos of Bangkok to disappear forever. But the past has a long reach. An anonymous package delivered to his doorstep contains a devastating truth: medical reports, stolen photos, and a recording that leaves no room for doubt. It wasn't a twist of fate. It was a perfect plan, orchestrated by the only two people he ever truly trusted.
He is no longer running. He is calculating the strike.
My Review
Roberto Riva is a financial wizard who makes millions on the markets. He works long days but at the weekend he likes to party. Really likes to party - drink, drugs and girls. But one morning after hits differently when he finds a dead woman in the bed. After going to prison for the crime, he is determined to find out who set him up, and why.
This is a short novella which I read in a couple of hours, but the author has packed a lot into 118 pages. It spans several years and we see Roberto change as he learns the skills he needs to survive inside prison, and outside it, in a world where his reputation no longer means anything. We move from Italy to Thailand and back again. I loved his relationship with his prison mentor Salvatore, and his very different relationship on the outside with Lek, the latter changing his viewpoint on life. Until unwelcome news arrives.
Roberto is a very interesting character whose downfall is described in the first few chapters in short, choppy sentences, which I liked, as the portrayed the immediacy and speed at which everything was happening. As Roberto settles into his prison term, the writing style changes, the sentences are longer. It works.
Crossroads: The Price of Truth is a small book that packs a big punch. It tells the complete story of Roberto's downfall, a recovery on his own terms, and revenge and payback, with a satisfying denouement. A quick and enjoyable read.
The Author
Born in Vittorio Veneto, Northeast of Italy, in 1977, Tommaso Piani is a global citizen whose life has been shaped by the ever-changing skylines of the world’s major metropolises. With a degree in Political Science, Tommaso began an international career in 2009 that took him from the vibrant energy of Dubai to the soul of Thailand, and from the vast horizons of Australia to the heart of the UK, where he has lived since 2020.
For nearly two decades, Tommaso has been a key player in the architectural envelope industry, managing the planning and supply chain for the massive glass-and-steel facades that define contemporary skyscrapers. This constant immersion in the world of high-stakes construction and global urban development provided the perfect backdrop for his transition into thriller writing.
The seeds of his debut novel were sown thirteen years ago, but it wasn't until recently that Tommaso decided to pull the manuscript from the drawer and bring his vision to life. His debut, "Crossroads: The Price of Truth" (Crossroads – Il Debito della Verità ), is a gripping financial thriller that reflects his international outlook and deep understanding of the pressures within the corporate world.
After its successful launch in Italy - where it quickly climbed the Amazon Top 10 Hot New Releases (Noir) and received critical acclaim from specialized outlets like Thriller Life - Tommaso is now bringing his unique brand of "International Noir" to the English-speaking market. He currently resides in Watford, UK, where he is already plotting his next literary move.
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