The Value of Things

Set against the backdrop of the sulky Venetian Lagoon, The Value of Things is a gripping crime novel—solid, full of twists. A debut written with the skill of a seasoned mystery writer and an absolutely unforgettable new female investigator.

On a Monday in autumn, the body of the president of a major company in Italy’s North-East is found in the Lagoon of Venice. Wrapped in a Persian carpet, anchored to the seabed, and rendered barely recognizable by the voracity of blue crabs, the corpse is identified as Leone Balloni. He had been missing for a couple of days; the last people to see him alive were the members of the board of directors, at the close of their annual hunting lodge party on Saturday night. The final trace: a furious message sent to his wife on Sunday evening.

For the witty and brutally honest Inspector Mirna Pagani and her partner Angeli—already juggling a complicated relationship and wedding plans—the investigation is anything but straightforward. The list of suspects is long: a mysterious mole inside the company, a rival firm, a stepdaughter who is a radical animal-rights activist, the wife and her lover, disgruntled employees. The evidence, on the other hand, is scarce: a missing box of costly cigars, a vanished bag stuffed with cash, traces of a car, and a diary filled with strange notes.

Meanwhile, Mirna’s private life is in turmoil: a bitter divorce, a teenage son in crisis, and an exasperating mother forever scheming to find her a new partner—preferably a very wealthy one. To solve the case, she must wade through the mud of the business world, confronting sordid characters, hidden ambitions, and simmering vendettas.

A noir with atmosphere as thick as the lagoon itself, The Value of Things delivers suspense, intrigue, and the unsettling realization that behind wealth we often find rot.