'Sunset Exiles'

Author: M. J. Camilleri

Publisher: Merlin Publishers

Pages: 328

In the heart of bustling Sliema, stationer Toni Tanti's life is about to change forever. Sunset Exiles, Camilleri's first novel just released by Merlin Publishers, tells the story of a man who has spent decades cultivating solitude while carefully managing a string of casual relationships. When a stroke lands him in hospital, he meets Lucia, a Dutch fellow patient, and his meticulously ordered world begins to shift.

Set against the backdrop of a recent period of political turbulence in Malta, this compelling narrative weaves together themes of transformation, love and the courage to change. As Toni and Lucia navigate their unexpected romance, they must also confront questions about identity, belonging, and what it means to truly share one's life with another person. At the same time, the novel weaves through Toni's past relationships, including his brief marriage to Greta and various romantic encounters, while also exploring his close bond with his niece Julia.

Sunset Exiles was launched on 19 February at the foyer of Teatru Salesjan, Sliema, to a packed house. Actors Maxine Aquilina and Thomas Camilleri brought three key scenes from the novel to life, with Camilleri embodying the protagonist Toni Tanti. The author introduced each scene with carefully chosen excerpts and closed the evening with a brief address. The venue was exquisitely transformed to include an "Instagram corner" recreating a section of Toni's flat, complete with his signature armchair, bookshelves filled with his favourite books and LPs, and a collection of playfully provocative quotes from the novel displayed on cards - an invitation for attendees to engage with the story's more lighthearted moments. The evening perfectly captured both the intimate atmosphere and the wit that characterise the novel.

Reflecting on his experience writing the novel, Camilleri said: "The story of Toni Tanti was very clear in my mind from the start, and I wrote the first draft in a very structured way in late 2021 and the first half of 2022. But, being new to novel-writing, it was only after typing 'The End' that the real work started. I learnt a lot from fellow writers, readers and editors about what readers expect when entrusting you with their time and attention." He added: "So, over more than a year I chopped, reorganised and added to the manuscript, mostly during self-imposed writing retreats in lovely sunny places. The essence of Toni never changed, but I'm very proud of how his story is now presented."

Following his collection of short stories Strangers I'll Never Forget (Ede Books, 2021), Camilleri demonstrates his growing command of narrative in this longer form. As both a writer and a doctor, Camilleri brings a deep understanding of human nature to his storytelling.

Book reviewer Robert Pisani notes that Sunset Exiles "is all about events: how the big ones and the small ones change the course of our destiny. All of this wrapped up with a feel-good vibe". From the morning rhythms of local commerce to the evening conversations in bars, Camilleri brings to life a world that is both uniquely Maltese and universally relatable.

'Sunset Exiles' is now available for purchase in local bookshops and online at www.merlinpublishers.com