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The Daily American
THE DAILY AMERICAN is a rollercoaster of an atmospheric thriller, based on actual events, set in 1970s Italy that revolves around a newly transplanted American reporter who discovers that the English-language newspaper he is working for is actually a CIA front. The reporter then becomes entangled in a web of intrigue, espionage, and political extremism, putting his life on the line to expose the truth, showing how an ordinary individual imbued with the courage of their convictions can make a difference in the world. This thought-provoking narrative combines the intrigue of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon espionage novels with the energy of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher action thrillers, while evoking the spirit of Alan Furst and Robert Harris. It is ideal for readers who enjoy international thrillers with historical resonance.
PRAISE for THE DAILY AMERICAN
“Raw, gripping, and … moving, THE DAILY AMERICAN is a powerful blend of fact and fiction … It’s not just a great read — it’s a glimpse into a remarkable world, rendered with honesty, humor, and heart.
~ Blerim Gjoci – Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for his film FUSION starring Eric Roberts.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN is a masterful thriller that captures the relentless pursuit of truth amidst layers of deception and danger.”
~ Inna Lazareva – award-winning investigative journalist.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN is a thrilling and complex ride from start to finish, with the backdrop of Rome in the 70’s so vivid that you can almost taste and smell it. The boldness of the plot will keep you guessing for the entire ride.”
~ Brandon Tansley – produced THE TRIBE, which won Best Feature at the Nice International Film Festival.
“Combining fact with fiction, Morris has created a captivating tale that makes that time period and the city of Rome come alive.”
~ David Thorne – former U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN unfolds with the tension of a political thriller, but what lingers are its moral dilemmas and the humanity of those caught in the storm. It’s cinematic, unsettling, sharply focused, and a riveting read.”
~ Cutter Hodierne – award-winning director whose most recent film is the thriller COLD WALLET.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN is a spy thriller wrapped inside an Italian giallo (that) you’ll read in a heart-thumping flash.
~ Matthew Licht – author whose latest novel is NORTH HOLLYWOOD BLUE.
PRAISE for THE DAILY AMERICAN
“Raw, gripping, and … moving, THE DAILY AMERICAN is a powerful blend of fact and fiction … It’s not just a great read — it’s a glimpse into a remarkable world, rendered with honesty, humor, and heart.
~ Blerim Gjoci – Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for his film FUSION starring Eric Roberts.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN is a masterful thriller that captures the relentless pursuit of truth amidst layers of deception and danger.”
~ Inna Lazareva – award-winning investigative journalist.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN is a thrilling and complex ride from start to finish, with the backdrop of Rome in the 70’s so vivid that you can almost taste and smell it. The boldness of the plot will keep you guessing for the entire ride.”
~ Brandon Tansley – produced THE TRIBE, which won Best Feature at the Nice International Film Festival.
“Combining fact with fiction, Morris has created a captivating tale that makes that time period and the city of Rome come alive.”
~ David Thorne – former U.S. Ambassador to Italy.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN unfolds with the tension of a political thriller, but what lingers are its moral dilemmas and the humanity of those caught in the storm. It’s cinematic, unsettling, sharply focused, and a riveting read.”
~ Cutter Hodierne – award-winning director whose most recent film is the thriller COLD WALLET.
“THE DAILY AMERICAN is a spy thriller wrapped inside an Italian giallo (that) you’ll read in a heart-thumping flash.
~ Matthew Licht – author whose latest novel is NORTH HOLLYWOOD BLUE.
374 pages, Paperback
Published September 13, 2025
About the author
Douglas E. Morris
15 books2 followersDouglas E. Morris has had over 16 books published, many about traveling in Italy, was the editor of two award-winning weekly U.S. Embassy newsletters – the Veneto Views in Rome and the Brussels Weekly in Brussels – had a monthly travel column about Italy in Primo magazine, and has penned articles for a variety of periodicals around the world, including The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Flanders Today, National Geographic Georgia, Smoke, Transitions Abroad, Foreign Service Journal, and State Magazine.
Along with living in Italy for over 15 years, 10 of them in Rome, the author has had the privilege of residing on 3 continents, in 12 countries, spanning more than 30 years. He has visited the pyramids in Egypt and Chichen Itza, trekked Alpine peaks in Switzerland and Austria, savored the libertine culture of Denmark, hiked Hadrian’s Wall in northern England, unearthed ancient Roman ruins in Caesarea Israel, traversed the Great Wall in China, sailed the Fjords of Norway, scaled the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and bar hopped down Hooker Hill in Seoul; as well as many other acts of wild abandon far removed from the realm of everyday life.
As a result of these and many other unique cross-cultural explorations, Mr. Morris has developed a keen sense of what makes for an authentic travel experience. He has put that insight into all his travel guide books to help ensure that you have the most enjoyable travel experience possible.
Those same experiences allowed him to develop the insights in "It's a Sprawl World After All," which shows how American style suburban sprawl has had a dramatically negative impact on U.S. society and communities.
In his upcoming novel, "The Daily American," those indepth, cross cultural insights helped to breath life into this rollercoaster of an atmospheric thriller, based on actual events, and set in 1970s Italy that revolves around a newly transplanted American reporter who discovers that the English-language newspaper he is working for is actually a CIA front. The protagonist then puts his life on the line to expose the truth, exploring how an ordinary individual imbued with the courage of their convictions can make a difference in the world. This thought-provoking narrative combines the intrigue of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon espionage novels with the energy of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher action thrillers.
For information about some of the author’s other books, visit:
The Daily American – https://sites.google.com/view/thedail...
Made Easy Travel Guides to Italy – https://sites.google.com/view/made-ea...
It's a Sprawl World After All – www.ItsaSprawlWorld.com
Open Road's Best of Italy – www.BestofItalyGuide.com
The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium – https://sites.google.com/site/expatgu...
Along with living in Italy for over 15 years, 10 of them in Rome, the author has had the privilege of residing on 3 continents, in 12 countries, spanning more than 30 years. He has visited the pyramids in Egypt and Chichen Itza, trekked Alpine peaks in Switzerland and Austria, savored the libertine culture of Denmark, hiked Hadrian’s Wall in northern England, unearthed ancient Roman ruins in Caesarea Israel, traversed the Great Wall in China, sailed the Fjords of Norway, scaled the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and bar hopped down Hooker Hill in Seoul; as well as many other acts of wild abandon far removed from the realm of everyday life.
As a result of these and many other unique cross-cultural explorations, Mr. Morris has developed a keen sense of what makes for an authentic travel experience. He has put that insight into all his travel guide books to help ensure that you have the most enjoyable travel experience possible.
Those same experiences allowed him to develop the insights in "It's a Sprawl World After All," which shows how American style suburban sprawl has had a dramatically negative impact on U.S. society and communities.
In his upcoming novel, "The Daily American," those indepth, cross cultural insights helped to breath life into this rollercoaster of an atmospheric thriller, based on actual events, and set in 1970s Italy that revolves around a newly transplanted American reporter who discovers that the English-language newspaper he is working for is actually a CIA front. The protagonist then puts his life on the line to expose the truth, exploring how an ordinary individual imbued with the courage of their convictions can make a difference in the world. This thought-provoking narrative combines the intrigue of Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon espionage novels with the energy of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher action thrillers.
For information about some of the author’s other books, visit:
The Daily American – https://sites.google.com/view/thedail...
Made Easy Travel Guides to Italy – https://sites.google.com/view/made-ea...
It's a Sprawl World After All – www.ItsaSprawlWorld.com
Open Road's Best of Italy – www.BestofItalyGuide.com
The Expat Guide to Having Fun in Brussels & Belgium – https://sites.google.com/site/expatgu...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 29, 2025
I recently finished The Daily American and absolutely loved it! The author masterfully develops rich, believable characters while weaving an engaging storyline grounded in real historical events. The pacing is spot-on—every chapter kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next.
What impressed me most was how seamlessly the narrative blends action with historical detail, making the story both thrilling and authentic. You can really tell the author has an in-depth knowledge of Rome, Italy, which adds an extra layer of realism to the setting.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or fast-paced action. I’m already looking forward to reading more from this talented author!
What impressed me most was how seamlessly the narrative blends action with historical detail, making the story both thrilling and authentic. You can really tell the author has an in-depth knowledge of Rome, Italy, which adds an extra layer of realism to the setting.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or fast-paced action. I’m already looking forward to reading more from this talented author!
May 16, 2026
A taut political thriller set the magical, eternal city of Rome. Our hero, Dean Readman, is an American journalist new to the city but an old hand at following a story. Not to mention other sundry skills he possesses from a misspent youth and service in Vietnam. The beginning takes some time to set the scene - always through Dean’s eyes - then it gets going with a vengeance. Some great characters and unforgettable scenes round out the cast and action. The author describes in a postscript how this story originated as a screenplay. It would make a great movie! I look forward to following Dean’s adventures in other cities in future books.
November 16, 2025
Such an incredible read. While traveling in the Azores, mainland Portugal and Ireland, this was the perfect novel to have with me. I was transported and Morris does an excellent job of allowing the reader to take the journey with his main character alongside him...especially, if you see a little of yourself in him ;) Do you have an adventurous spirit? Like challenging yourself with being comfortable with the uncomfortable? Then grab this book, hop a flight, and get a little lost with this page turner! Can't wait for the sequel!
November 13, 2025
The Daily American follows a young American journalist who discovers that the English-language newspaper he’s joined is actually a CIA front. Morris blends real historical tension with fast-paced intrigue, creating a vivid portrait of Italy’s turbulent “Years of Lead.” It’s an engaging mix of journalism, espionage, and political drama — perfect for readers who enjoy intelligent, historically grounded thrillers.
November 13, 2025
The Daily Americans is a political thriller about the long reach of the CIA and how the agency tried to shape history and attitudes in 1970s Italy. Based on true events, the author presents a gripping tale of an unlikely hero who discovers the truth and fights back. The author paints an evocative picture of a politically polarized Italy of five decades ago, marked by violence, including the kidnapping and murder of former prime minister Aldo Moro. A great read with a cappuccino in hand.
Read
January 14, 2026I read The Daily American with great enjoyment. Gripping story, knowledgeable setting in the 70s, gli anni di piombo, and obviously firsthand descriptions of daily life in Rome at the time, as I recall from my own youth. I greatly enjoyed Dean’s nightlife and his romantic liaisons with Valeria and Roberta; and your descriptions of the politics of the time were spot on. Highly recommended. A super read. Fun but also filled with meaningful commentary.
March 16, 2026
I read this book while I was recuperating from surgery, and while I was a captive reader, the story too, was captivating. I worked as a tour guide in Italy in the '70's and the descriptions of those heady times are spot on. The characters are engaging and you'll be turning the pages of this atmospheric joy ride.
March 18, 2026
A thrilling and complex ride from start to finish. You are absolutely teleported to Rome in the 70's and can taste and smell it all at once. The events that transpired then are still scarily relevant to this day.
March 23, 2026
A terrific read! Thrilling, atmospheric, great characters I cared about, and the setting in 1970's Rome made it extra fun and intriguing. Doug Morris is a wonderful writer and novelist...I can't wait to read his next work!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews