How to Read the Rocco Schiavone Series
If you are diving into the gritty, atmospheric noir world of Antonio Manzini, your starting point should undoubtedly be the Rocco Schiavone series. This series follows a grumpy, rule-bending Roman deputy police chief who has been exiled to the freezing alpine town of Aosta as a disciplinary punishment. Because Schiavone is a deeply complex character whose tragic backstory, personal losses, and relationships evolve continuously across the books, reading the series in publication order is highly recommended.
Rocco Schiavone Novels in Order
Here is the complete sequence of the Rocco Schiavone novels. Note that while the Italian series has grown to over a dozen volumes, English translations published by HarperCollins Fourth Estate are currently limited to the earlier books.
- Black Run (Italian: Pista nera, 2013 / English translation: 2015) - Rocco is introduced as he investigates a body crushed by a snowcat on a ski run.
- Adam's Rib / A Cold Death (Italian: La costola di Adamo, 2014 / English translation: 2016) - Rocco investigates the suspicious death of a woman found hanging in her home.
- Out of Season (Italian: Non è stagione, 2015 / English translation: 2018) - A kidnapping case unfolds against the backdrop of an unforgiving alpine winter.
- Spring Cleaning (Italian: Era di maggio, 2015 / English translation: 2019) - Rocco deals with the fallout of a personal tragedy and escalating threats from his past.
- 7-7-2007 (Italian: 2016) - A crucial prequel novel set in Rome that reveals the events of July 7, 2007, detailing the tragic death of Rocco's wife, Marina.
- Pulvis et umbra (Italian: 2017) - Rocco finds himself entangled in a dark case involving a body pulled from the Dora Baltea river.
- Fate il vostro gioco (Italian: 2018) - The murder of a retired casino employee plunges Rocco into the world of high-stakes gambling.
- Rien ne va plus (Italian: 2019) - Rocco continues his investigation into the casino murder while dealing with the disappearance of a colleague.
- Ah l'amore l'amore (Italian: 2020) - Recovering in a hospital, Rocco is forced to investigate a medical malpractice case.
- Vecchie conoscenze (Italian: 2021) - The murder of a retired history professor brings back old acquaintances and painful secrets.
- Le ossa parlano (Italian: 2022) - A chilling discovery of child remains leads Rocco into a complex and sensitive investigation.
- ELP (Italian: 2023) - Rocco investigates a murder connected to an eco-terrorist group known as the Liberation Army of the Earth.
- Il passato è un morto senza cadavere (Italian: 2024) - A deep dive into the shadows of the past and unresolved cold cases.
- Sotto mentite spoglie (Italian: 2025) - The latest installment in Rocco's ongoing battle with his personal demons and regional crime.
The Prequel Case: Can You Read "7-7-2007" First?
The fifth book in the series, 7-7-2007, acts as a prequel. It flashes back to Rocco's time in Rome before his exile and chronicles the devastating events that resulted in the murder of his wife, Marina. While it is chronologically the earliest story in Rocco's timeline, it should not be read first. The narrative relies heavily on the emotional weight, mystery, and character dynamics built up over the first four novels. Reading it out of order spoils the mystery of Marina's fate and diminishes the emotional payoff.
Rocco Schiavone Short Stories and Collections
In addition to the main novels, Antonio Manzini has written several short stories featuring Rocco Schiavone. Many of these first appeared in themed Italian crime anthologies published by Sellerio, before being gathered into dedicated volumes. These stories fill in smaller cases from Rocco's career and are wonderful companions to the novels, though they are not strictly mandatory to understand the main plotlines.
- Capodanno in giallo (2012) - Features the very first short story featuring Rocco Schiavone, titled L'accattone.
- Cinque indagini romane per Rocco Schiavone (2016) - A compilation of five stories detailing Rocco's investigations back in Rome.
- L'anello mancante (2018) - A collection of five short stories focusing on cases in Aosta and Rome.
- I tramezzini di Rocco Schiavone (2025) - The latest collection of short mysteries and character-focused vignettes.
Antonio Manzini's Standalone Novels and Collaborations
Before achieving international success with Rocco Schiavone, Manzini wrote standalone crime fiction and dark comedies. He has also collaborated with other notable Italian authors. These books highlight his signature dark humor and social commentary:
- Sangue marcio (2005) - Manzini's debut noir thriller focusing on a psychological and familial murder mystery.
- La giostra dei criceti (2007) - A fast-paced, satirical crime comedy involving small-time crooks and state pension systems.
- Orfani bianchi (2016) - A poignant novel centered on the lives of migrant care workers in Italy.
- Gli ultimi giorni di quiete (2020) - A dramatic novel exploring themes of guilt, revenge, and the impact of a past crime on a family.
- La mala erba (2022) - A dark story set in a small, isolated Italian village rife with secrets and corruption.
- Collaborations with Niccolò Ammaniti - Manzini co-authored the short stories Il mio tesoro and Giochiamo, which appeared in anthologies like Crimini.
What to Know Before You Start
Rocco Schiavone is not your typical heroic detective. He is cynical, smokes marijuana at his desk, associates with local criminals, and classifies his daily annoyances on a scale from one to ten (with homicide and being exiled to Aosta topping the list). The series is deeply rooted in the contrast between Rocco's warm, chaotic Roman identity and the cold, orderly environment of Aosta. If you enjoy the books, you may also want to check out the popular Italian television adaptation, titled Rocco Schiavone (broadcast internationally as Rocco Schiavone: Ice Cold Murders), where Manzini serves as a co-screenwriter.