Three men burst into the doctor's apartment in the middle of the night, attacked him and took his young son – but why?As Brunetti investigates, he quickly discovers that the kidnapping was not a one-off, but part of a multi-city raid targeting numerous families. It seems that small-town malice seethes beneath the surface of the beautiful city of Venice, and Brunetti must work together with Ispettore Vianelli – himself investigating a money-making scam between pharmacists and doctors – to uncover the truth. .

. ‘As ever, Leon writes with an insider's knowledge of Venice, expertly navigating its complex geography.’ Sunday Times