Dead Lagoon

Aurelio Zen returns to his home city of Venice, ostensibly to investigate the harassment of an old lady, known to him from childhood, but in fact he has been hired to investigate the disappearance of a rich American. He has other, more personal reasons for the visit; his relationship with Ellen has reached the point where decisions must be made, and Aurelio is not sure which decision will be the right one. Local politics, drug smuggling, illegal property development, and extraordinary responses to Aurelio himself are all interwoven in this great mystery.