Catello Maresca's book on Giovanni Falcone explores the judge's legacy as a 'genius' of duty

Catello Maresca, an Italian magistrate and member of the 'Falconiani,' has authored the book 'Il GENIO di Giovanni Falcone – Prima il dovere' (UNICA, 2023), with a preface by Alessandro Siani. The book examines the human and professional profile of Giovanni Falcone, the anti-mafia judge killed in the Capaci bombing on 23 May 1992 alongside his wife Francesca Morvillo and police officers Vito Schifani, Rocco Dicillo, and Antonio Montinaro. Maresca recounts his personal reaction to the massacre, which inspired him to study law in Naples and become a magistrate. The title refers to Falcone as a 'genio' (genius), described as a combination of 'cazzimma'—the ability to overcome difficulties through commitment, sacrifice, tenacity, and determination. Maresca credits Falcone's example for his own professional achievements, including the arrest of Michele Zagaria. The book also addresses Falcone's detractors and enemies, and reflects on the broader impact of the 1992 mafia attacks, including the 19 July via d'Amelio bombing that killed judge Paolo Borsellino and agents Agostino Catalano, Emanuela Loi, Vincenzo Li Muli, Walter Cosina, and Claudio Traina.