by Alessandra Ressa
Pietro Spirito’s latest novel, È Notte sul Confine (It’s Night on the Border), transports readers to the fraught geopolitical landscape of Cold War-era Trieste. Set in 1970, this taut thriller intertwines history, mystery, and political intrigue, peeling back the layers of a divided Europe.
At the heart of the novel is Ettore Salassi, a journalist working undercover for the Italian secret services, tasked with monitoring extremist factions on both the far left and right. His routine surveillance is upended when he stumbles upon the body of a young soldier in the rugged Carso, the limestone plateau surrounding Trieste. The discovery coincides with the failed Borghese coup attempt of December 1970, adding a volatile political undercurrent to his investigation.
As Ettore delves deeper into the case, he becomes entangled in a labyrinth of espionage, deception, and historical reckoning. His path crosses with that of a Slovenian woman with a shadowy past, leading him into perilous territory where alliances shift and the line between friend and foe blurs.
Spirito renders Trieste with striking detail, portraying a city perched between East and West, caught in the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War. He seamlessly integrates real historical events—such as the Borghese coup and the simmering friction between Italy and the former Yugoslavia—into a fast-paced narrative brimming with intrigue and suspense. Twists and turns abound, making for a gripping read.
The novel’s atmosphere is steeped in uncertainty, and Spirito’s evocative prose heightens the tension. Through Ettore’s journey, È Notte sul Confine examines themes of loyalty and betrayal, the weight of history, and the personal and ideological borders that divide people. Trieste itself becomes a metaphor, embodying both the scars of conflict and the ambiguities of national identity.
The novel was officially presented on February 6, 2025, at Lovat bookstore in Trieste, where it sparked a lively discussion among readers and critics. Francesco De Filippo, an author and director of the Italian press agency Ansa in Friuli Venezia Giulia, joined the conversation, emphasizing the book’s significance in revisiting Italy’s Cold War past.
Currently available in Italian, È Notte sul Confine may soon reach a broader audience, as the author is considering an English translation.
