A Gripping Chase Through New York’s Shadows
From its modest beginnings in 1949, when postwar publishers gathered in Frankfurt to rebuild and share new ideas, the Frankfurter Buchmesse has grown into the world’s most important international book fair. Over the decades, it has transformed from a regional gathering of German publishers into a global platform where stories are launched, partnerships are forged, and the future of publishing is shaped. That journey of steady growth, vision, and innovation is what makes the fair so influential today.
Now celebrating its 77th year, the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 is set to host more than 7,500 exhibitors from across the globe. It offers far more than book displays: visitors can explore groundbreaking titles, attend insightful discussions with leading authors and thinkers, witness the latest in publishing technology, and discover how books continue to evolve across media and cultures. It’s not just a fair — it’s a creative crossroads where tradition meets tomorrow.
The Imagination Peoples the Air
Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025
Adding to the excitement, the Philippines takes center stage as the Guest of Honour for 2025, presenting the theme “The Imagination Peoples the Air” — a powerful nod to the nation’s storytelling spirit inspired by José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. With over a hundred Filipino authors, artists, and events bringing the country’s rich literary heritage and contemporary voices to Frankfurt, this year’s fair celebrates not only books but also the vibrant diversity of global storytelling.
Amid this extraordinary celebration of ideas and imagination, Kravitz & Sons is proud to see Unknown Evil showcased on this prestigious international stage — a crime thriller that dives deep into the human psyche and the hidden terrors of New York City.
The Man Behind the Mysteries
Ronald R. Higgins brings raw authenticity and cinematic flair to his storytelling, a skill honed through decades in theater and film. Born in Johnson City, Tennessee, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Higgins spent 30 years in Los Angeles pursuing an acting career that spanned over sixty stage plays, three movies, and a soap opera. When the Hollywood system proved difficult to break into, he turned his creative energy toward writing — and found his true calling.
Since 1981, Higgins has built a reputation for crafting gripping mysteries laced with sharp dialogue and emotional realism. His background as an actor breathes life into every character, infusing each story with depth, timing, and drama. Now retired and back in Tennessee, Higgins continues to write stories that bridge nostalgia with the grit of modern-day suspense. His works, including Picture Them Dead and The Lady in the Movies, have drawn readers into worlds where tension simmers beneath every line.
A Descent into Darkness
In Unknown Evil, two NYPD detectives — Lt. Clancy and Lt. Rizzo — find themselves entangled in a murder case unlike anything they’ve seen before. What begins as a standard homicide investigation spirals into something darker and far stranger, leading the detectives through the underbelly of New York and the secrets that lie just below its bustling streets. Adding emotional complexity, Lt. Clancy’s growing relationship with Susan Roselle, Rizzo’s cousin, brings heart and humanity to a story teetering on the edge of chaos.
Higgins captures the pulse of New York — its tension, grit, and mystery — with the precision of a filmmaker. His dialogue is crisp, his pacing relentless, and his ability to weave crime, romance, and psychological depth makes Unknown Evil more than a simple detective story. It’s a haunting reflection on loyalty, temptation, and the thin line between justice and obsession.
Why It Belongs on the Global Stage
At the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse, Unknown Evil stands as a testament to the timeless power of crime fiction — a genre that continues to challenge, entertain, and provoke. Higgins’ work reminds readers that even in a world filled with chaos and deceit, truth still matters, and courage can emerge from the darkest places.
In the grand tradition of noir storytelling, Unknown Evil invites us to peer into the shadows — not just of a city, but of the human soul. And at Frankfurt, where creativity meets courage, this story finds its rightful place among the world’s most compelling narratives.
