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Venice, 1752. On a cold December night, a man is found strangled in a dark alley.

High magistrate Marco Pisani is tasked with investigating the grisly murder. When two more bodies are discovered, it is clear there is a serial killer on the loose.

Helped in his investigation by lawyer Zen, daring gondolier Nani and the cunning Chiara Renier, Pisani is determined to uncover the truth before the murderer strikes again. But to find answers, he must move among the city's criminal underworld of spies, shady taverns and gambling halls.

When the innocence of the victims is called into question, the case is turned on its head. For the first time in his career, the principled Pisani has to ask himself what is more important: following the letter of the law or pursuing justice?

Maria Luisa Minarelli is a journalist and writer. She was born in Bologna, where she also graduated with a degree in history. Her work has appeared in Storia illustrata and Historia, and she has also written about health and tourism. Her first book, Donne di denari (Olivares), a study of female entrepreneurship through the centuries, appeared in 1989. A German translation has also been published. A tavola con la storia (Sansoni) came out in 1992 and looks at civilisations over the centuries and countries with a tradition of fine foods. Her first novel, the thriller La donna dal quadrifoglio, was published in 2008.

She lives in Milan with her husband and frequently spends time in Venice, a city she has always loved. She enjoys travelling and her interests include art and antiques. She is an avid reader, mostly at night, and she cannot live without her cats and the many plants which she grows herself.