It has been compared to Guzè Chetcuti’s social realism novels and to the most dramatic of tv dramas. What is sure is that Ivan De Battista’s latest novel, L-Ahhar 13 (Merlin Publishers, 2013), is as tragedy-infused as they come.

Practically a novella in length, L-Ahhar 13 is the tragic account of a man born under an unlucky star, and unable to shake off misfortune throughout his life. It tells the tale of a blighted life, where family, work, love and health all seem to conspire against the protagonist to the extent of determining his life’s path. The book comes to a close with an unexpected ending where the tragedies cease and the protagonist finally comes to terms with his life.

Written in spare, fluid prose, De Battista’s story starts off powerfully and dashes forward cutting right across the protagonist’s life, making it a perfect one- or two-sitting read. A number of regular readers have adopted it as their ‘Arriva book’, ideal company for the daily journey to and from work.

In the words of journalist and blogger Alison Bezzina, “L-Ahhar 13 is an extremely gripping, and at times disconcerting novel. It is so well-written that it turns an absurdly tragic story of a middle-aged man who was born under a distinctly black cloud, into an irresistible page-turner.”

L-Ahhar 13 is available from all bookstores and directly from the publisher’s website www.merlinpublishers.com