In this third novel of the Benussi series, a famous writer from war-torn Istria suddenly drops dead after he receives a prestigious literary award. A murderer is on the loose.
Inspector Benussi knows his trade well. He knows it can bring great satisfaction—and massive headaches. All in all though, he can’t complain; the job leaves him just enough time here and there to pursue his true passion: writing. He can hardly believe his luck. Rhoda Wallace, a top literary agent, is in Trieste for a prestigious event: the university is preparing to award an honorary degree to Ivo Radek, the renowned writer she represents who is best known for his hugely successful and vaguely autobiographical first novel, The Childhood Friend. It is the perfect opportunity for Benussi to meet her in person and convince her to read his manuscript. But things go awry when Radek is found near death among the stacks of the faculty library. A head wound immediately suggests an assault, but who would want the elderly writer dead? As the investigation begins, Benussi and his team quickly realize that a tangled web of grudges surrounds the victim.
