Strukul is one of the leading stars of the Italian 'Sugarpulp' movement: think Quentin Tarantino meets Jack Reacher, directed by Sergio Leone. This is an unadulterated guilty pleasure of non-stop bloody action that begs to be exposed on the silver screen. Gang wars in the Veneto are the setting for a grisly tale of revenge featuring Mila Zago, an avenging angel of an assassin on the retribution trail following the slaughter of her father and her own violation. The pace is breathless and it's no surprise to hear this was adapted as a prize-winning comic book in Italy. A sexy heroine, colourful villains, guns and swords galore, a breathless cocktail of witty violence,what more can you ask for?
When you read Matteo Strukul, wear something washable. The action is non-stop, and the blood flies off the page. - Linwood Barclay, bestselling author of Never Look Away and Fear the Worst) Hell hath no fury - Two perfectly matched gangs are fighting for control of the North-East Italian region of Venetia. But a formidable young woman with vengeance on her mind has plans to upset the balance. Abandoned by her mother and violated by a gang of criminals just after they slaughtered her father, Mila Zago is a cold-blooded killer, a deadly assassin. Brought up by her grandfather on the Sette Comuni plateau under a rigid martial code, she returns home to seek her revenge, conspiring to create a spectacular showdown reminiscent A Fistful of Dollars. The Ballad of Mila is the first novel in an on-going series focused on the formidable female Italian Bounty Hunter Mila Zago, a.k.a. Red Dread. As well as being shortlisted for the Premio Scerbanenco / La Stampa, it won the Premio Speciale Valpolicella 2011, and in its graphic novel format was awarded the the Premio Leone di Narnia as Best Italian comic book series of the year . Meet Mila - you'd better pray the cops find you first -
'Matteo Strukul has a brilliant style and a rare imagination. I heartily welcome him to the God-cursed and Devil-blessed brotherhood of mad novelists!' - Tim Willocks bestselling author of Green River Rising and The Religion
'Matteo Strukul is one of the most important new voices in Italian crime fiction and must be read.' Joe R. Lansdale, Edgar Winner for The Bottoms
'With Matteo Strukul pulp fiction starts a new, wonderful season. New ideas, a beyond the genre style, powerful injections of reality and a new, really fascinating, feminine character. The Mila Saga has begun. Finally. We have been waiting for it for a long time!' - Massimo Carlotto Edgar Nominated for The Goodbye Kiss
'For everyone who loves Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill this book is a must-read! Violence and noir atmospherics from Matteo Strukul' - D, La Repubblicaq Delle Donne
'With a high octane, fast paced tempo The Ballad of Mila paints a vivid picture of the merciless Northeast of Italy. With a melancholic, lyrical touch at the end of the tale.' - La Stampa
Author
About Matteo Strukul
Matteo Strukul is an Italian author of pulp-crime fiction. His first critically acclaimed novel The Ballad of Mila was shortlisted in his native Italy for the Premio Scerbanenco / La Stampa and won the Premio Speciale Valpolicella. This is the first in an on-going series focused on a female character, the Italian Bounty Hunter Mila Zago, a.k.a. Red Dread. Matteo Strukul is also a well-known graphic novel writer. Together with international artist Alessandro Vitti (MARVEL and DC), he created Red Dread, a comic book series with Mila Zago as protagonist. The series is published by Italian independent label Lateral Publish and was awarded the Premio Leone di Narnia as Best Italian comic book series of the year . Creator and founder of Italian literary fiction movement, Sugarpulp, Matteo is also the artistic director of the Sugarpulp Festival - an international event focused on crime and popular fiction - as well as being line editor of Revolver, a crime fiction imprint of Edizioni BD. Matteo earned a PhD in European Law of Contracts at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and lives between Padua and Berlin with his wife Silvia.
