The Fatal Touch was named one of the Best Summer Crime Reads 2011 in three leading magazines: New York Times, Irish Times and Shortlist

Exquisitely written in a quietly elegant style, and dotted with nuggets of coal-black humour Irish Times Alec Blume is an inspired creation. An American who has become a commissioner in the Italian police, he's a sly, sardonic loner who gives the impression of knowing Rome better than its natives ... Fitzgerald is an elegant, visual writer Guardian The American-born Blume is an engaging hero who might just have to potential to fill the gap left when Michael Dibdin's death ended his Italian detective Aurelio Zen's investigations Sunday Times I'm putting my money on Alec Blume becoming the most popular detective of the coming decade Belfast Telegraph

Conor Fitzgerald has lived in Ireland, the UK, the United States and Italy. He has worked as an arts editor, produced a current affairs journal for foreign embassies based in Rome, and founded a successful translation company. He is married with two children and lives in Rome. The Namesake is the third in his series of Italian Crime novels.