Abate Francesco

Francesco Abate was born in Cagliari in 1964, not as a writer but as a disc jockey at Radio Alter at the age of 14. This marked the beginning of his radio career, with live broadcasts on stations such as Radio Città, Radio Flash, and Studio 96, featuring music programs focused on the indie world. He later founded Radio X, the first station in Europe to broadcast on the Internet, and from 1999 to 2001, he served as the artistic director of Radiolina.

His writing career began in 1996 with “L’Oratorio – Vietato ai minori di 14 anni”, a short story included in the collective anthology “Racconti di Celluloide”. Throughout his career, he has published numerous works, some co-written with artists such as Massimo Carlotto and Valerio Mastandrea.

He is also deeply involved in theater, not only writing plays but also working in cinema and television, contributing to successful screenplays. His passion for the theatrical world often leads him to create engaging readings from his books, further strengthening his connection with his readers.

His writing style blends thriller elements with the classic Italian detective novel, characterized by wit and humor that emerge through his main characters. Despite telling intricate stories, often centered around significant murders, Abate maintains an entertaining tone. His keen interest in crime reporting stems from his background as a journalist, as well as his investigative and research skills, always striving for narratives rooted in reality. According to him, to write detective novels, one must personally embody both the murderer and the investigator—only then can one accurately depict events and fully immerse the reader in the story.

His books have been published in multiple languages and have received acclaim in France and Germany. He began his writing career in 1998 with “Mister Diabolina”, a title reminiscent of a 1990s song, reflecting the strong connection he has always maintained with music.

In 1999, he won the Best Story Award at the Premio Solinas with “Ultima di campionato”, and in 2007, he received the Premio del Libraio Città di Padova for “Mi fido di te”. His novel “Chiedo scusa” won the Premio Alziator in 2011, while “Un posto anche per me” earned him the Premio Lawrence in 2014. Since 2013, he has curated the “Freschi” series for Caracò Editore. His most recent novels—”Torpedone trapiantati”, “I delitti della salina”, and “Il complotto dei Calafati”—all prominently feature his beloved city, Cagliari.