Libano is a young, small-time hoodlum with big plans; to completely dominate the Roman underworld. He enlists the help of long-time friend Dandi, and a fellow small-time hoodlum, Freddo. They decide to raise funds for their operation by kidnapping an aristocrat. Rather than waste the proceeds, Libano convinces his accomplices to use it to set up a criminal organisation that they can all have shares in, rather than reporting to bosses.

The gang grows, initially by investing in the drug trade, and then moving into gambling. They enforce their dominance with ruthless and murderous efficiency, and eliminate or sideline all of their major rivals. As their power grows, they start to form covert links with government, the police, the secret service, fascists, terrorists, and other criminal brotherhoods.

From the kidnapping that started it all, the implacable Inspector Scialoja is on the trail of the gang. Desperate to prevent their rise, he sometimes stoops to dubious methods, and is endlessly frustrated by the leniency the gang gets from the judiciary through their political contacts. Scialoja is also bedevilled by his lust for a woman involved with Dandi.

This sprawling novel is rooted very firmly in fact, based on the story of the Banda della Magliana, which terrorised Rome during the "years of lead", from the 1970s to the early 1990s. All of the main characters of the gang are identifiably based on real criminals, and many of the crimes recounted are based on actual events. Cataldo's characters, especially Freddo, Scialoja, Dandi and his moll Patrizia, leap off the page and are presented in all their corruption, intensity and internal conflicts. ( )

Una organización naciente, despiadada y sanguinaria trata de conquistar el cielo desde la periferia. Tres jóvenes héroes malditos, con un sueño ingenuo y terrible. Un policía tozudo, un coro de criminales, jugadores de azar, criminólogos, periodistas, jueces, cantantes, mafiosos, junto a elementos desviados del poder y terroristas fascistas. Y el burdel más exclusivo de la ciudad.

Di gran lunga il miglior noir italiano da me letto ( )

Non delude, semplicemente stupendo. ( )

Un'organizzazione nascente, spietata e sanguinaria, dalle periferie cerca la conquista del cielo. Tre giovani eroi maledetti, che hanno un sogno ingenuo e terribile. Un poliziotto molto deciso, un coro di malavitosi, giocatori d'azzardo, criminologi, giornalisti, giudici, cantanti, mafiosi, insieme a pezzi deviati del potere e terroristi neri. E il più esclusivo bordello in città.