From its cover

Donna Leon

A Washington Post bestseller
A New York Times bestseller

"Inspired by the real-life looting of the Biblioteca Girolamini in Naples, this book adds to Donna Leone's bestselling Guido Brunetti Commissar series... Leone's description of the setting is vivid." The New York Times

"Will delight and terrify book lovers..." A meticulously crafted tale of theft, blackmail, emotional violence, and murder, plus a rich cast of characters... Boston Globe

When several valuable antiquities disappeared from a prestigious library in the heart of Venice, Commissioner Brunetti was immediately summoned to the scene. The staff suspected an American scholar had stolen them, but for Brunetti, something didn't quite make sense.

Taking over the case, the commissioner began to search for information about some of the library's regular patrons, such as the former priest Franchini, an avid reader of ancient Christian literature, and Countess Morosini Albani, the library's main benefactor.

Brunetti soon finds himself immersed in the dark secrets of the black market for antiquities. Alongside his loyal team of Espitore Vianello and Signorina Elettra, he delves into the pages of Franchini's past and the mind of the book thief to uncover the terrible truth.