In the third in the internationally bestselling series featuring the irresistible Sicilian Inspector Montalbano, the detective exposes a viper's nest of government corruption and international intrigue in a compelling new case.

In the third in the internationally bestselling series featuring the irresistible Sicilian Inspector Montalbano, the detective exposes a viper's nest of government corruption and international intrigue in a compelling new case.

**"The novels of Andrea Camilleri breathe out the sense of place, the sense of humor, and the sense of despair that fills the air of Sicily." --Donna Leon **

When an elderly man is stabbed to death in an elevator and a crewman on an Italian fishing trawler is machine-gunned by a Tunisian patrol boat off Sicily's coast, only Montalbano, with his keen insight into human nature, suspects the link between the two incidents. His investigation leads to the beautiful Karima, an impoverished housecleaner and sometime prostitute, whose young son steals other schoolchildren's midmorning snacks. But Karima disappears, and the young snack thief's life--as well as Montalbano's--is endangered, the Inspector exposes a viper's next of government corruption and international intrigue.