It was the Mafia (È Stato la mafia) is a book of 2014 written by Marco Travaglio and published by Chiarelettere . The publication of the book was preceded from the month of February 2013 an eponymous recitals staged by the same Travaglio who narrates in first person the story of negotiations between the state and the mafia, with interludes recited by actress Isabella Ferrari .