Welcome to Riccardo's Blog!

Welcome to the Shadows: Where the Map of Europe Meets the Mind of a Killer

If you look closely at the cobblestone streets of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, or watch the winter fog roll across the grand plazas of Madrid, you realize every historic city hides a double life. To the tourist, they are places of breathtaking beauty. To a crime writer, they are the perfect stage for murder.

I am Riccardo Braccaioli, and if you are reading this, you likely share my obsession with dark alleys, complex police procedurals, and the twisted minds of serial killers.

For years, I have been channeling this obsession into my novels. Whether you have been following Inspector Álex Cortés through his bloodiest cases in Catalonia, listening to the dark puzzles of The Ten Commandments Killer on Audible, or exploring the corrupt streets of my fictional Akeron City, you know one thing to be true: I write about death to truly understand life.

But a book only shows you the finished puzzle. This blog is where we pull back the curtain.

Moving forward, I will be using this space to take you behind the scenes of my creative process. I’ll share how I map out complex investigations, the real-world European crimes that inspire my plots, and the raw, everyday realities of life as an independent thriller author. Expect exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming chapters, character secrets I couldn't fit into the pages, and personal reflections on the human fears that drive my writing.

The hunt is officially on, and I am incredibly glad to have you walking this beat with me.

Before you leave, I have a quick question for you: Which city do you think hides the best secrets for a thriller—the narrow streets of Barcelona or the grand avenues of Madrid? Let me know in the comments below!

Until the next crime scene,