The Goodbye Kiss

The Goodbye Kiss follows Giorgio Pellegrini, a former left-wing terrorist who returns to Italy after years in Central America. Upon his return, he aims to reinvent himself and gain legitimacy in society while navigating Italy's criminal underworld. The narrative tracks Pellegrini's calculated moves through Italy's northeast as he builds connections with corrupt officials and local criminals. His methods are ruthless and direct, showing a man who operates purely for self-interest rather than ideology. The story presents a stark view of 1990s Italy, exposing threads of corruption that run between legitimate society and organized crime. The web of relationships between police, politicians, and criminals forms the backdrop for Pellegrini's calculated ascent. This noir novel strips away romantic notions about crime and redemption, presenting instead a cold examination of amorality and survival. Through its protagonist, the book confronts questions about whether true change is possible for those who have embraced violence.

Readers describe this as a dark, brutal noir that pulls no punches in depicting its amoral protagonist. Many praise Carlotto's taut writing style and unflinching portrayal of a criminal antihero, with several noting it reads like a European counterpart to American hardboiled crime fiction. Positives: - Fast-paced, lean prose with no wasted words - Authentic details from author's own criminal past - Raw, realistic depiction of Italian criminal underworld - Strong sense of place in northeastern Italy Negatives: - Main character too unlikeable for some readers - Violence and amorality too extreme for others - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Translation occasionally feels choppy Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (30+ ratings) "Brutal but brilliant" appears in multiple reviews. One reader called it "noir stripped down to its darkest essence," while another said it was "too nihilistic to be enjoyable."

American Tabloid by James Ellroy This noir crime novel follows corrupt cops, gangsters, and government agents through a dark journey of violence and double-crosses in 1960s America.

Down by the River by Charles Bowden The true story of a DEA agent's murder illuminates the web of corruption between Mexican cartels, law enforcement, and politicians.

The Day of the Owl by Leonardo Sciascia A detective's investigation into a murder in Sicily reveals the intricate connections between crime, politics, and society in post-war Italy.

Small Crimes by Dave Zeltserman A disgraced ex-cop leaves prison and returns to his hometown, where his attempts at redemption lead to deeper entanglement with crime and corruption.

The Runner by Patrick Lee A former special ops soldier becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving government officials, organized crime, and corporate interests while protecting a mysterious woman.

🔹 Author Massimo Carlotto spent years as a fugitive in various countries after being wrongly accused of murder in Italy, an experience that heavily influenced his noir writing style. 🔹 The Goodbye Kiss (originally "Arrivederci Amore, Ciao" in Italian) follows Giorgio Pellegrini, an ex-leftist terrorist - a character type drawn from Italy's real-world history of political violence in the 1970s. 🔹 The novel has been adapted into a critically acclaimed Italian film of the same name (Arrivederci Amore, Ciao) in 2006, directed by Michele Soavi. 🔹 This book belongs to the distinctive Mediterranean Noir genre, which typically features darker themes and more morally ambiguous characters than traditional crime fiction. 🔹 The protagonist's journey from terrorist to criminal reflects actual cases from Italy's "Years of Lead," when former political extremists sometimes transformed into organized crime figures.