Gabriella Genisi: Puglia's Noir Heartbeat in Two New Crime Novels

Italian author Gabriella Genisi, known for her eight-novel Lolita Lobosco series, introduces a new protagonist: Marshal Chicca Lopez. Two recent novels, "Pizzica Amara" and "La regola di Santa Croce," published in Rizzoli's NERO collection, follow the young, leather-jacketed, Triumph Bonneville-riding marshal. Genisi's writing is praised for its sociological, regional, and historical-anthropological depth, portraying a Puglia deeply tied to its magical traditions, Lecce Baroque, and olive landscapes. The crime stories tackle organized crime, illegal building, and femicide. Chicca Lopez, named after author Chicca Maralfa, is a small, determined character with latent aggression and psychological trauma requiring professional support. Genisi has also written four non-crime novels, totaling fourteen works, establishing her as a prolific and insightful voice in Italian literary crime fiction. The article, by Vieri Peroncini for MifacciodiCultura, speculates on which Italian actress might portray Chicca Lopez on screen.