The Sponsor - Part 2

English edition. We also offer a Dutch edition.

Godfried Vos — the hero of The Sponsor, Part I — uncovers a sinister plot: the Mafia is preparing an attack on the legendary chess festival in Marostica.

Together with blind detective Gino Cancellara, he sets out to expose the truth behind the so-called Fourth Mafia, a ruthless network of drugs traffickers across Europe.

Their investigation leads deep into Italy’s hidden history, where the secret Masonic lodge P2 and the clandestine Gladio network once operated as a state within a state. The landscape of The Sponsor II still bears the scars of the brutal World War II battles fought between Fascists and the Allied forces — battles whose consequences echo into the present.

Against this charged backdrop, Godfried and Gino risk everything to confront organised crime. Their shared passions — chess, history, and Italian cuisine — thread through the narrative, giving this literary thriller a unique atmosphere and emotional depth.

A special appendix includes detailed analyses of the chess games featured in the story, as well as recipes for the authentic Italian dishes enjoyed by the protagonists.

Fred Das is an international entrepreneur and property developer who is also a keen chess player. Having sold his business, he is now also a part-time stay-at-home father.

Jeroen Terlingen is a former trade union journalist and editor at Vrij Nederland, as well as a journalism teacher. He now writes books, makes films and teaches courses.