MURDER IN CHIANTI

A barking dog summons Nico into the woods near his new home, where he finds a man lying on the ground, a single shot to the head. Nico’s landlord, Aldo, calls the local marshall, expansive Salvatore Perillo. Since the corpse has no ID, Nico inherits a faithful dog, whom he names OneWag. There’s a fair amount of chatter about the murder and a soupçon of family drama at Sotto Il Fico, the restaurant Nico considers a second home. Tilde, Rita’s cousin, doesn’t approve of Gianni, Tilde’s daughter Stella’s boyfriend. Matriarch Elvira, who runs the restaurant with quiet authority, declares that the victim was American, disquieting Nico, who’s been careful to keep his Bronx background a secret. When Perillo, under pressure from prosecutor Della Langhe, learns of it, he and overeager sidekick Daniele press Nico for help. The discovery of the victim’s abandoned car, a bracelet traced to a jeweler, and a visit to a hotel reveal the man’s identity: Napa Valley vineyard owner Robert Garrett, born Roberto Gerardi in Tuscany but raised in California. Adding another wrinkle to the investigation is the news that Garrett was dying of cancer. Might this have been a mercy killing? Regular visits to the restaurant and to Rita’s grave punctuate Nico’s probe. The solution Trinchieri provides will surprise and satisfy.

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