Guard Us from Evil is a sweeping historical fantasy where love, myth, and mystery converge across the centuries. It opens in Rome, on 6 May 2018: three bodies — a young man, a young woman, and a dog — are found crucified along the Appian Way. The horror is so staggering that the news spreads worldwide. Detective Chief Inspector Alvaro Manneschi, under immense pressure, launches a full investigation with his special unit. But the case soon stalls, gradually uncovering a vast conspiracy involving misguided followers, ancient forces, and the lingering echoes of long-lost myths — within a dimension where time itself begins to unravel. Daring escapes and loves born in the forests of sixth-century Britain intertwine with betrayal and longing in the historic heart of modern-day Rome. Alongside Manneschi stand two central figures: a Roman of Piedmontese descent and a proud, red-haired Briton, together with their reflections in Britain — similar in appearance and spirit — at the twilight of antiquity, facing the same perils in the aftermath of the Anglo-Saxon invasions. Can these two — or rather these four — and their allies withstand the dark forces threatening not only their own lives, but the very fabric of the world they inhabit? A literary fantasy with philosophical undertones, the novel fuses romance, historical depth, and thriller suspense, and features a foreword by Piero Boitani, esteemed scholar of myth and biblical tradition, and recipient of multiple awards for literary criticism.
