Mario Giordano
Mario Giordano has published 9 books across 4 series. The recommended reading order starts with Apocalypsis I (2013).
Mario Giordano is a German author and screenwriter whose books blend humor with suspense, most notably in his Auntie Poldi series. He received the Bavarian Film Award for Best Screenplay when his book Black Box was adapted into a film. Writing became a refuge for Giordano at a young age after his parents' divorce, leading him to find solace and a lifelong passion in libraries. This early immersion in books guided him toward a career creating worlds for readers to explore. His Auntie Poldi series, which began with Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions in 2015, offers a sun-drenched Sicilian setting where a Bavarian retiree finds herself solving crimes, providing a unique mix of cozy atmosphere and thrilling investigation that has charmed many readers. Giordano’s background in cinema sharpens his prose, making every scene feel vividly alive.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Apocalypsis Books
- TagsthrillercrimeDescriptionMario Giordano’s *Apocalypsis I* thrusts us into the heart of the Vatican, where a secret archive holds truths that could shatter the foundations of faith. It is a place of shadows and silence, where the air is thick with incense and the weight of centuries, setting a stage that feels both sacred and deeply unsettling. The atmosphere is electric with tension, a slow-burning dread that permeates the stone corridors and hushed whispers of the clergy. Giordano masterfully constructs a world where the spiritual and the political collide, creating a mood of paranoia that grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go. At the center of this storm is a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the Church, threatening to unleash a revelation of apocalyptic proportions. The stakes are not just the life of the protagonist, but the soul of an institution, making every revelation feel dangerous and every decision a matter of life and death. This is a thriller for those who love their suspense layered with history and theological intrigue. It is a gripping start to the Order of Apocalypsis series, promising a journey where the line between miracle and manipulation is blurred, and the truth is the most dangerous weapon of all.Publication date28 March 2013Amazon rating3.6/5Print length631LanguageEnglishPublisherBastei Lübbe
- TagsthrillercrimeDescriptionMario Giordano returns with the second season of the Order of Apocalypsis series, a narrative that feels less like a sequel and more like a calculated escalation. The stakes here are not merely raised; they are detonated. Giordano writes with the precision of a surgeon, dissecting the complexities of faith and power in a world teetering on the edge. The pacing is relentless. The atmosphere is suffocating. This is a book that demands your attention, refusing to let you look away as the intricate web of conspiracy tightens around its central figures. What sets Apocalypsis - Season 2 apart is its refusal to rely on genre tropes. It is a thriller, yes, but it is also a profound exploration of institutional corruption and the human cost of zealotry. The characters are not pawns; they are flawed, desperate, and terrifyingly real. Giordano’s prose is sharp and authoritative, driving the plot forward with a momentum that feels almost inevitable. This is not a story for the faint of heart. It is a grim, gripping, and utterly necessary continuation of a saga that redefines what modern thriller fiction can achieve.Publication date28 April 2014Amazon rating2.5/5Print length480LanguageEnglishPublisherBastei Lübbe
- TagsthrillercrimeDescriptionThe third season of the Order of Apocalypsis arrives with a relentless, suffocating tension. Mario Giordano does not let you breathe. The atmosphere is thick with conspiracy and the heavy silence of Vatican corridors. It feels like a thriller, but it is also a nightmare of faith and power. The stakes are absolute. The world is on the brink, and the line between salvation and damnation has never been thinner. Giordano writes with a sharp, economical precision. Every scene matters. Every character carries the weight of a secret. The plot twists are earned, shocking but inevitable in hindsight. This is not just a story about the end of days; it is about the people who believe they can stop it—or bring it about. The pacing is brutal. The emotional impact lingers long after the final page. A must-read for fans of intelligent, high-stakes suspense.Publication date3 August 2015Amazon rating3.6/5Print length462LanguageEnglishPublisherLübbe
Order of Auntie Poldi Books
- Tagscrimemysteryliterary-fictionDescriptionAuntie Poldi arrives in Sicily with a plan: drink wine in the sun and await death. Instead, she finds a corpse on her beach. The young handyman, Valentino, is dead within days of their meeting. Poldi is sixty, hungover, and furious. She will not let the local police dismiss this as an accident. Armed with intuition, charm, and a sharp tongue, she inserts herself into the investigation. The Sicilian landscape is vibrant, but the mood is dark. Poldi is a force of nature, barreling through a culture that prefers silence. This is not your standard cozy mystery. It is a love letter to Sicily wrapped in a crime novel. The narrative voice is distinct, blending humor with genuine menace. Poldi is a protagonist unlike any other—flawed, vulgar, and utterly irresistible. The mystery is compelling, but the character is the hook. You read for the plot, but you stay for the woman in the Pucci dress solving murders while the pasta boils. It is sharp, stylish, and utterly unique.Publication date26 September 2017Amazon rating3.9/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherJohn Murray
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionCan a woman of a certain age, fortified by wine and a sharp wit, truly solve a murder that baffles the local police? In Mario Giordano’s delightful mystery, we are reintroduced to Auntie Poldi, the Sicilian sleuth who treats crime-solving with the same passion she brings to her culinary exploits. Set against the dramatic, smoldering backdrop of Mount Etna, this installment finds Poldi entangled in a case that strikes close to home, blending the rustic charm of vineyard life with the dark undercurrents of a deadly secret. The narrative thrives on the tension between the slow, sun-drenched pace of Sicilian living and the urgent demands of a murder investigation. As Poldi navigates the treacherous terrain of local politics and ancient rivalries, the story peels back the layers of a community where everyone has something to hide. The vineyards themselves become a character, their fertile soil hiding as many sins as it does grapes, and the author uses this setting to explore themes of greed, tradition, and the weight of the past. What makes this book compelling is not just the puzzle, but the protagonist’s unapologetic embrace of life’s pleasures even in the face of death. Giordano balances the whimsical with the macabre, creating a story that feels both cozy and sharply observant. For readers who appreciate their mysteries served with a side of humor and a deep appreciation for the Italian soul, Poldi’s latest adventure offers a rich, intoxicating escape.Publication date5 March 2019Amazon rating4.1/5Print length368LanguageEnglishPublisherHoughton Mifflin Harcourt
- TagsmysterycrimeromanceDescriptionAuntie Poldi has decided that her retirement in Sicily will be her final act, a lush, sun-drenched interlude where she intends to drink herself into a graceful oblivion amidst the lemon groves and sea breezes. She is sixty years old, a woman of formidable appetite and style, and she has settled into a pink villa with the express purpose of waiting for the end, preferably with a glass of Nero d’Avola in hand. Yet, the quiet dissolution she craves is immediately interrupted when her handsome young handyman, Valentino, vanishes into the thin air of the island, leaving behind nothing but troubling silence and a pair of unfinished shoes. Refusing to accept the lackadaisical response of the local police, Poldi finds herself compelled to investigate, driven by a fierce loyalty and a sudden, sharp sense of purpose that cuts through her wine-induced haze. She navigates the labyrinthine social currents of Sicily, where everyone knows everyone’s business but speaks in riddles, and she soon discovers that Valentino’s disappearance is tangled in a web of secrets that stretches far deeper than a simple missing person case. Her inquiries draw her into a world where ancient vendettas and modern crimes collide, and she realizes that her own life may be inextricably bound to the fate of the young man she hardly knew. What unfolds is not merely a mystery but a vibrant portrait of a woman who refuses to fade away, finding instead a new kind of vitality in the pursuit of justice. The…Publication date4 August 2020Amazon rating4.2/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherEcco Press
- TagsmysterycrimeDescriptionSicily, 62, and a formidable Bavarian redhead named Auntie Poldi decides that retirement is merely the backdrop for her true calling: solving a murder. When her handsome young handyman vanishes into the thin, salt-tinged air of the island, leaving behind nothing but a cryptic mystery, Poldi does not wait for the sluggish local police to act. Armed with impeccable fashion sense, a steady flow of wine, and a network of eccentric locals, she plunges headfirst into an investigation that is as dangerous as it is delightful. Giordano constructs a narrative that feels less like a traditional procedural and more like a love letter to Sicilian culture, wrapped in a cloak of noir. The island itself becomes a character, its ancient secrets and vibrant chaos mirroring Poldi’s own tumultuous spirit. This is a story that understands the weight of history, blending the sacred and the profane with a deft touch that keeps the reader grounded in the reality of the setting while soaring on the wings of Poldi’s imagination. What makes this book matter is its refusal to conform to the tired tropes of the genre, offering instead a protagonist who is unapologetically herself—flawed, fierce, and irresistibly human. The stakes are personal and intimate, yet they ripple outward to touch on themes of loss, identity, and the search for belonging. It is a testament to the idea that life, much like a good mystery, is meant to be lived with passion and curiosity. Ultimately, this novel is a sensory feast that…Publication date18 May 2021Amazon rating4.5/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherHoughton Mifflin
Order of Cotton Reloaded Books
- TagsthrillerDescriptionHow far would you go to uncover the truth when the world around you is built on lies? Mario Giordano’s The Beginning throws you headfirst into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems. It is a story about the fragility of perception. You will question everything you thought you knew. This isn't just a thriller; it is a dissection of power and control. The Order of Cotton is reloaded here, sharper and more dangerous than before. The stakes are incredibly high. The tension is palpable on every page. You feel the paranoia creeping in, settling in your bones. It grabs you and refuses to let go. Giordano writes with a precision that cuts deep. The narrative moves fast. The characters are flawed, desperate, and utterly human. You need to know what happens next. You need to see how it all starts. Pick this up. You won't put it down until the very end.Publication date31 January 2014Amazon rating4/5Print length109LanguageEnglishPublisherBastei Lübbe
Order of Non-Fiction Books
- Tagsnon-fictionDescriptionHave you ever found yourself drowning in a complex emotion that the English language simply fails to capture? We often feel things that defy our standard vocabulary, leaving us with a sense of isolation or a frustrating inability to articulate our inner lives to those we love. This book steps into that silence, offering a map to the unmapped territories of the human heart. Reading through these pages feels like wandering through a quiet, dimly lit gallery of the soul, where each exhibit reflects a hidden part of yourself. The atmosphere is contemplative and strangely soothing, inviting you to slow down and linger over feelings you might have rushed past in the busyness of daily life. It creates a space where it is safe to acknowledge the nuances of our emotional landscape. Giordano catalogs one thousand specific sensations, giving shape and definition to the fleeting ghosts of our experience. From the ache of nostalgia for a time you never knew to the specific vertigo of a life changing forever, the entries resonate with a startling precision. It is a collection that validates the weird, wonderful, and often painful specificity of being alive. This is more than just a reference book; it is a tool for empathy and self-discovery that you will want to return to again and again. Keep it on your nightstand for those moments when you need to find the right words, or simply to feel less alone in the vastness of human feeling.Publication date25 June 2014Amazon rating3.4/5Print length256LanguageEnglishPublisherPenguin
Frequently Asked Questions about Mario Giordano
Mario Giordano writes in several series. The Auntie Poldi books, which began with Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions in 2017, are mysteries set in Sicily. The Apocalypsis books, starting with Apocalypsis I in 2013, are a science fiction series. The Cotton Reloaded series began with The Beginning in 2014. His non-fiction book, 1,000 Feelings for Which There Are No Names, was also published in 2014. The most straightforward reading order is to complete each series before starting another, as the books within each series follow a narrative progression.
A good starting point for Mario Giordano's books is the Auntie Poldi series, beginning with Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions. This series offers a blend of mystery and travel, following the adventures of the unconventional Auntie Poldi in Sicily. Alternatively, readers interested in science fiction might begin with Apocalypsis I, the first book in that series. For a single-volume experience, 1,000 Feelings for Which There Are No Names provides insight into his non-fiction work. Each series has its own internal order.
It is generally recommended to read the books within each of Mario Giordano's series in the order they were published. The Auntie Poldi books, for example, follow a continuous story arc with recurring characters and plotlines that develop over time. Similarly, the Apocalypsis series has a narrative that progresses from one book to the next. While some elements might be understood out of order, the full experience and character development are best appreciated by following the chronological publication sequence for each distinct series.
Mario Giordano writes both standalone novels and series. The Apocalypsis books form a science fiction series, and the Auntie Poldi books constitute a mystery series. The Cotton Reloaded series also appears to be a series. In addition, he has written a non-fiction book, 1,000 Feelings for Which There Are No Names, which functions as a standalone work. Readers can choose between immersive series experiences or a single, distinct volume depending on their preference.
Mario Giordano has written at least ten books across his various series and a non-fiction work. This includes three books in the Apocalypsis series, four books in the Auntie Poldi series, one book in the Cotton Reloaded series, and one non-fiction title. The exact total may vary depending on how sub-seasons or related works are categorized, but this accounts for the primary published books.
The first book Mario Giordano wrote, based on the available publication information, is Apocalypsis I, which was published in 2013. This marked the beginning of his science fiction series. The following year, 2014, saw the release of Apocalypsis - Season 2, The Beginning from the Cotton Reloaded series, and his non-fiction work 1,000 Feelings for Which There Are No Names. These publications establish the early trajectory of his writing career.
Mario Giordano's most recent book is Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna, published in 2021. This installment continues the adventures of Auntie Poldi in Sicily. Following this, there have been no other publications listed. Readers interested in his latest work can delve into this mystery novel to experience his ongoing narrative.
Mario Giordano writes in multiple genres. His Auntie Poldi series, beginning with Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions, is categorized as mystery, often with elements of travel and humor. The Apocalypsis series, starting with Apocalypsis I, is science fiction. He also has a non-fiction book, 1,000 Feelings for Which There Are No Names, which explores emotional concepts. The Cotton Reloaded series also appears to be part of his fiction output.
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We verified the reading order for Mario Giordano's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: April 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Mario Giordano Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/mario-giordano