About this Book

An Italian detective and his deputy investigate the strange disappearance of an American student in this mystery by the author of Villa Triste.

“The suspense is cleverly increased with an extra turn of the screw... . . . Grindle throws in bags of atmosphere with her loving descriptions of life in an Italy undergoing painful social upheaval.” —The Independent (UK)

When American student Kristin Carson enrolls in a study abroad program in Florence, she’s sure it will be the best year of her life, a chance to explore art, poetry, and romance in the arms of her new Italian boyfriend. But days before her parents arrive in Florence to celebrate her eighteenth birthday, Kristin disappears.

Senior Detective Alessandro Pallioti and his young protégé Enzo Saenz are called to investigate. At first, they believe she's simply run off for a romantic weekend and forgotten to tell her parents. But when Kristin’s stepmother, Anna, also goes missing, Pallioti and Saenz suspect something much more sinister has happened. As they deepen their investigation, they discover that Anna Carson is not who she appears to be, and Kristin's new boyfriend isn’t just another local Lothario, but one of the most infamous—and dangerous—men in Italy.

To find Kristin, Pallioti and Saenz must first find Anna and uncover the secrets she's kept buried for a lifetime. To do so, they must wade through the past, revisiting times and places most Italians would rather forget, and walk in the footsteps of the dead.

“A well written, well imagined time-slip, set in both present-day Italy and during the notorious “Years of Lead” in the 1970s, when the Red Brigades attempted to destabilize the country by numerous robberies and acts of violence. . . . The portrayal of a bereaved young woman whose loneliness, infatuation and naivety lead her into dangerous territory is delicate, sympathetic and engaging.” —The Guardian (UK)