Cleopatra
the Hen
A white hen. A crown. Diamonds hidden inside eggs. And a collection of criminals who are about to discover that nothing is quite as simple as it seems.
English edition availableA Hen Worth Killing For
Some adventures begin with a phone call. Others with a suitcase full of money. This one involves a hen.
Her name is Cleopatra. She is white, wears a crown, and has an extraordinary talent for attracting trouble. Particularly the kind of trouble that involves diamonds, dangerous people, and very questionable decisions.
Andrea and Paco find themselves caught in an increasingly absurd criminal adventure that takes them through Romania, from Bucharest towards the shadows of Transylvania.
Along the way, they encounter ruthless figures, shifting loyalties, hidden ambitions, and people whose intentions are considerably less innocent than Cleopatra’s.
Between crime, grotesque humour, unexpected twists, and moments of genuine danger, Cleopatra the Hen is a darkly comic journey into a world where greed makes fools of almost everyone.
And at the centre of it all is a hen who has absolutely no intention of behaving like an ordinary chicken.
“Some people would kill for diamonds. Others would kill for a chicken. In this story, the distinction becomes surprisingly difficult.”
The Novel in English
Cleopatra the Hen is now available in English, bringing this extraordinary dark comedy to international readers.
Set in Romania, the novel blends crime, diamonds, bizarre situations, questionable characters and a hen who somehow manages to find herself at the centre of an increasingly dangerous adventure.
Title: Cleopatra the Hen
Language: English
Publication date: 14 October 2026
Revised edition: 2026
Genre: Crime Fiction / Dark Comedy / Adventure
Format: Ebook
Ebook ISBN: 9791224742692
Independently published
A Hen Without Borders
Cleopatra’s story began in Italian, under the title La Gallina Cleopatra and the pen name J.L. Defoe.
In 2026, Gianluca De Falco released a revised edition under his real name, revisiting the story and bringing its unlikely characters back to life.
The English-language edition introduces Andrea, Paco and Cleopatra to new readers, preserving the novel’s blend of dark humour, absurd situations and criminal intrigue.
The English edition features its own cover design, reflecting the noir atmosphere and unconventional spirit of the original novel.
Availability of printed editions may vary depending on the retailer and country of distribution.
English-language edition · 2026The English translation was prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools and subsequently reviewed by the author.