'Pure pleasure.' Evening Standard

'An absolute treat . . . wittily and slyly written.' Euro Crime

AN AURELIO ZEN MYSTERY

When the body of a shady industrialist who owns the local football team is found both shot and stabbed, Inspector Aurelio Zen is called to Bologna to oversee the investigation. Recovering slowly from surgery, and dealing with an equally difficult crisis in his personal life, Zen is happy to take on what initially seems like a routine and relatively easy assignment. But soon a world-famous university professor is shot with the same gun, and the case begins to spiral out of control . . .

'The best of the Zen series. Exceptionally clever and witty.' 5* reader review

'A very entertaining romp with Zen.' 5* reader review

'Very funny and perceptive on Italian society. Michael Dibdin's Zen books are among the best in detective fiction.' 5* reader review

PRAISE FOR MICHAEL DIBDIN AND THE INSPECTOR ZEN SERIES:

'He wrote with real fire.' IAN RANKIN

'A master of crime writing.' SUNDAY TIMES

'One of the genre's finest stylists . . . And Zen himself is a masterful creation: he is anti-heroic and pragmatic but stubborn, cunning, and morally upright.' GUARDIAN

'Dibdin tells a gripping story that you want to read quickly because of its exciting plot, and also want to pause and enjoy the vivid descriptions of place and atmosphere.' INDEPENDENT

'One of the most distinguished and unique voices in British crime fiction.' ANDREW TAYLOR

'Dibdin has a gift for shocking even the most unshockable reader.' Ruth Rendell

'Zen is one of the greatest creations of contemporary crime fiction.' OBSERVER

'I love the way these books capture the atmosphere and contradictions of Italy.' 5* reader review

'Aurelio Zen novels are a great treat.' 5* reader review

'There is no better writer than Dibdin. His books are a joy to read.' 5* reader review

'Love these books . . . I am sure you will get hooked too!' 5* reader review

Pages: 320, Dimensions: 13.5x13.5cm