Marina Di Guardo:the Author of BraccatA

Photography: Cosimo Buccolieri

The celebrated Italian novelist discusses a triumphant, literary career.

In your 2023 novel, Quello che ti nascondevo, you brilliantly transform a simple voice message into an anchor of suspense. What inspired this fascinating narrative device?

"The inspiration for this thriller came suddenly one day while I was stuck in traffic in Milan," Marina recalled, her eyes reflecting the gravity of the memory. "I'd received a voice message from a friend saying everything was fine. But from her tone of voice, I knew something was wrong. I called her and asked her a thousand questions. My friend finally decided to open up and tell me the truth: she had a big problem and was very worried." Leaning forward slightly, she explained, "This situation made me reflect and realize that voice messages communicate much more than we'd like. In my mind the story of a man who, having lost his wife in a mountain accident, to console himself, perhaps a little masochistically, listens to the messages his wife has left him over the years, began to take shape." A shadow crossed her expression as she continued. "One evening, however, he realizes something he hadn't noticed two years earlier: he hears a man's voice whispering 'baby.' From that moment, he realized that perhaps there was a part of his wife's life he didn't know, and from that moment on, his own descent into hell begins."

What was your primary purpose in writing Quello che ti nascondevo, and why did you feel compelled to explore the terrifying possibility that those closest to us harbor dark secrets?

"I have always been fascinated by the theme of disillusionment," she noted thoughtfully. "The exact moment in which we discover that a person could be a friend, a colleague, or even a member of our family, it’s completely different from what we imagined. A discovery that leaves us stunned, empty, sad." She gestured emphatically, drawing a line between fiction and reality. "If you think about it, many murders arise from this disillusionment. How many betrayals, how many deceptions and treachery give rise to brutal crimes." A knowing, confident smile appeared as she concluded, "Perfect material for a thriller!"

Photography: Cosimo Buccolieri

Your explosive 2025 release, Braccata, powerfully critiques the media pillory. How did you channel your protective maternal instincts into portraying Angela’s resilience against the press?

"It wasn't easy to portray Angela's character, a girl who leads a quiet, almost monotonous life and suddenly finds herself at the center of a terrible media pillory," the author confessed, adopting a solemn and deeply empathetic tone. "I tried to describe the feelings of confusion and the total disorientation my character suddenly finds herself in. I tried to make readers reflect on the fact that we could find ourselves in Angela's situation too." Her voice grew firmer, laden with warning, as she added, "All it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the whole life collapses like a house of cards."

You've noted that the title Braccata perfectly captures the feeling of being relentlessly hunted by reporters. What motivated you to focus so intensely on this destructive public trial?

"We've become accustomed to witnessing the mass media's often distorted narratives about certain crimes," she stated, a distinct hint of frustration coloring her words. "Reputations and lives are destroyed with incredible ease, failing to realize that the objects of public derision are human beings whose lives are falling apart."

Critics call Braccata a brilliant domestic thriller because it tests a profound female friendship. What drew you to explore women's loyalty under extreme societal pressure?

"In a scenario where my protagonist sees everything falling apart, including relationships she thought were solid and now crumbling like snow in the sun, there is also the consolation of some deep friendships," she observed warmly, describing these bonds as a "balm for the soul, litmus tests of true affection that never abandons us in the midst of the storm." Reflecting on the universal nature of her work, she asked, "How many of us have experienced this? False friends who distance themselves in times of crisis and people who instead stand by us with love and dedication." Grounding her narrative in shared human experience, she affirmed, "It's real life, the kind that concerns us all."

Photography: Cosimo Buccolieri

Before dedicating yourself to thrillers, you worked as a deputy director in a prestigious fashion showroom. In Dress Code Rosso Sangue, you explored the dark shadows behind the glittering facade of the Milanese fashion jet set. How did your firsthand experience in that industry inspire you to peel back its glamorous layers?

"I worked for over ten years as deputy director in one of Milan's most important showrooms, and this experience taught me a lot," Di Guardo reminisced, her posture relaxing as she recalled her past career. "I came into contact with incredible designers like Versace and Moschino, and I met countless people who orbited the fashion world, a vital sector for the Italian economy. Although seemingly frivolous and superficial, it is actually made up of very serious and attentive professionals." A spark of mystery touched her tone as she revealed, "I also wanted to explore background stories that most people don't know and that even surprised me. It's a very tense thriller with a truly unpredictable ending and settings that will astound readers."

Looking past the gripping suspense and the dark psychological trials your characters endure, how does your personal journey inform your narratives, and what is the most uplifting truth about resilience you hope readers ultimately take away from your work?

"My life experience informs every one of my novels," she affirmed with quiet confidence. "Fortunately, I've never had to deal with murders or bloody incidents, I've never had to escape from a killer or solve daring cases like Alfonso Vitanza, the Marshal of Braccata, but there's no doubt that the places I've visited, the people I've met, and the life experiences I've faced have been crucial to the narrative fabric of each of my novels." She leaned back, a nostalgic smile forming. "Since I was a child, I've been an avid reader and viewer of thrillers. And I love the psychological insight into characters, an added value that leads the reader to become attached to the various protagonists." Touching on her core values as an artist, she added, "I also enjoy tackling various themes dear to me: gender violence, the value of friendship, and resilience are among those I love to discuss and analyze."

Your work has expanded from intimate suspense to brilliant societal critiques. How has your personal growth inspired you to tackle these complex themes so fearlessly?

"I believe it's important for every writer to strive for ever-increasing complexity and variety," she reflected with a striking artistic conviction, "so as to continually engage their readers with new stories that entertain and provoke reflection." Breaking down the architecture of her craft, she explained, "I like to think of my writing as having three levels: the first is the plot, which must be compelling and a page-turner. The second level is psychological introspection, and the third is the themes that offer scope for reflection."

Photography: Cosimo Buccolieri

Your powerful narrative Com'è giusto che sia is also becoming a television series. Which aspects of your protagonist's inspiring strength are you most eager for viewers to discover?

"Dalia, the protagonist of As It Is Right, is a girl who grew up with a mother who forced her to study with a thousand sacrifices and hardships," she shared, her voice brimming with fierce empathy. "Her mother suffered a double affront: abandoned by her partner when she was pregnant with Dalia, and brutally beaten by a second man." Highlighting the emotional core of the vengeance story, she noted, "Dalia will be forever scarred by these two events and will decide to avenge women who are victims of violence at the hands of their partners and husbands." She smiled softly, fully aware of her character's intoxicating duality. "She is an avenger, and the reader is led to empathize with her, supporting her in her deadly intentions. A dark heroine, yet so fascinating and complex."

At your Cremona presentation, actor Beppe Arena praised your writing as a "well-oiled mechanism" balancing tension and introspection. How do you maintain this delicate narrative balance?

"I believe a good thriller must be balanced," the author answered smoothly, cementing her status as a master of the genre, "balancing moments of tension with situations in which the characters' idiosyncrasies, weaknesses, and strengths are effectively analyzed and explored." Delving into the profound impact of fiction, she mused, "We might discover something of ourselves in the sensitivity of a murderer, as happens with Dalia, the protagonist of As It Is, or feel caught in the grip of a relentless media pillory, as happens to Angela in Hunted." Bringing the conversation to a profound close, Di Guardo added, "This is one of the strengths of literature: living other lives, immersing ourselves in other situations, exploring new boundaries."