After assaulting one of Zoran’s business partners and running away with a package of their merchandise, Sandro, a teenage junkie, has to go into hiding and hope that Zoran, one of Milan’s most feared drug kingpins, does not find him. Robi Johnson, on the other hand, needs an escape from her torturous past and a break from her life in Chicago. She lands in Milan, where her husband’s friend, Zoran, hosts her. It’s not long before she bumps into Sandro. As the lives of the two haunted souls collide, can they survive the violence of 1980s drug-ravaged Milan that threatens to break them apart? Chief Inspector Virdis is not spared. In a bid to rid the city of the drug business, he finds himself in a dangerous cat-and-mouse chase that puts his life and those of the people closest to him on the line. Is there an end to it? Find out in Alex Lago’s Francesca.

This page-turner will have you flipping from cover to cover. If you are looking for a gripping, fast-paced urban drama with a touch of crime, Alex Lago’s Francesca is just what you should be looking for. Weaving an intriguing plot, Lago features an exciting and dynamic cast. The evocative depictions colorfully bring Milan to life on the pages, uniquely capturing the city's mood, setting, and cultural nuances in the 1980s. I was hurled into the edgy underworld of the drug business, deeply entwined with money, murder, sex, guns, drug barons, underbosses, dirty cops, and so much more. Lago expertly brings out the cast’s emotions and complex traits, enabling me to connect with them. There is suspense, adventure, action, drama, and so much more in this magnificent story. I loved it.

Francesca is a work of fiction in the urban writing, interpersonal drama, and slice-of-life genres. It is best suited to mature adult readers owing to the presence of scenes of violence and sex. Penned by author Alex Lago, this engaging drama is set in Milan, the then-heroin capital of the world, during the summer of 1987. The novel follows Sandro Lago, a teenage addict entangled in the city's criminal underworld, and Robi Johnson, an American seeking escape from his troubled past. As their lives intersect, they find brief solace in each other's company amid the vibrant yet turbulent backdrop of 1980s Milan. The story, set against the fading era of ItaloDisco, explores the fragility of youth and the harshness of life on the edge.

Author Alex Lago holds nothing back in this dramatic tale, crafting a raw and intense read that feels visceral and urgent on every page, perfectly reflecting the dangerous lifestyles of its characters. Lago’s vivid portrayal of Milan’s underbelly in the late 1980s pulled me into a world rife with addiction, crime, and despair, and the atmospheric language evokes so many dark, shadowy corners with shady dealings that get you engrossed in the plot. Sandro’s struggles as a teenage junkie evoked a profound sense of empathy and sorrow, thanks to the author’s keen attention to detail and close, emotional focus in the narrative. I also very much enjoyed Robi as a contrasting character with equally emotive struggles and their fleeting moments of connection and solace highlighted the fragility of youth and the human need for companionship amidst chaos. The gritty realism is well-realized with bold language choices and great descriptions. When combined with its historical setting during the decline of ItaloDisco, this creates a haunting and immersive atmosphere of fading glory and coming down from the glamour of the high, which felt apt. Lago’s unflinching depiction of addiction and its consequences was both heartbreaking and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression of the relentless grip of drug abuse and the fleeting nature of hope in such dire circumstances. Overall, Francesca is a powerful and evocative novel that I would highly recommend to fans of bold urban dramas everywhere.

Francesca by Alex Lago is a 20th-century historical novel that follows several characters. Robi, haunted by nightmares about her father, travels to Italy for healing. In Milan, Sandro, grieving over Francesca, spirals into substance abuse and dangerous interactions with dealers and intruders. Chief Inspector Virdis battles a drug overdose crisis and corruption within the police force. It all boils over as a citywide crackdown on the Atlas Corporation’s drug supply unfolds. Robi’s journey is a mix of unsettling encounters and reconciling her past. Meanwhile, Sandro’s reckless behavior leads to legal troubles, not always of his own making, and coming to a make-or-break moment over a key drug dealer, Zoran Santana. Solitary confinement isn't always entirely a physical space, and Sandro has to find his way out of the confines he also builds for himself.

“You got the streets. The streets always win.” Alex Lago goes all in with the emotional, drug-fuelled, and trauma-powered novel Francesca, with divergent points of view that show readers how loss and vulnerability can lead people down paths of no return. This is not a light read, but Lago lifts some of the weight with time-appropriate references to the decade. Cardin is still in fashion, faxing is the height of technology, and the VW Golf is the Mini of its time. I enjoyed how Lago brought Italy to life, whether it was the gritty streets and nightlife, the picturesque cliffs and mountains, or a bustling piazza under a full moon. Lago injects Italian into the dialogue and since that's not a language I speak, we trust it is authentic as a reader. It certainly looks the part and is quite fun to try and say out loud. Overall, this is a heavy story with a lot of moving parts, but Lago gets the pieces to click together in a great way as it starts. Recommended.

Francesca by Alex Lago is a novel with a well-imagined and skillfully accomplished setting in the sweltering summer of 1987; Milan's underworld is alive and pulsing with the rhythm of heroin. Amidst the seedy streets and dingy clubs, two troubled souls collide — Sandro Lago, a teenage junkie on the run from his demons, the police, and a killer, and Robi Johnson, a young girl from Chicago struggling to leave her past behind. As their lives intersect, they find fleeting solace in each other, but their fragile bond is threatened by the violence that surrounds them. Can Robi wrest herself free from the guilt trips that are consuming her and become addiction-free in a world reeling with drugs and sex? And is Sandro strong enough to ignite the redemption she badly needs?

Alex Lago's novel is permeated by realism while exploring the social realities of life in the 1980s in Milan. Readers are plunged into a world where drugs, prostitution, and violence are rank and rife. However, it is how these ills affect the characters that will arrest the attention of readers. The pathos is strong, and the author explores the characters' psyches, especially Robi and Sandra, with poignancy. The prose has terrific descriptions, from the sensations the characters have after using heroin to the treatment of a prostitute who is used as a toy. Francesca has strong psychological underpinnings, and the beauty of language is evident in the deft use of metaphors such as: “Death is … the morning sunlight bursting in through the window.” Robi's internal struggles captivated me, and the author succeeds in showing readers what drug addiction can do to a soul. The seedy ghettos of Milan and the use of Italian expressions enrich the atmosphere and render the dialogues authentic. This novel is surprisingly enjoyable, with mature themes and a world that absorbs readers.