Includes excerpt from the author's book: Willful behavior.

Originally published: London : Heinemann, 2001.

On a beautiful spring morning on the island of Pellestrina, south of the Lido on the Venetian lagoon, a small boat moored at the docks suddenly explodes, killing two local clam fishermen. When it becomes clear that the fire was deliberately set, Brunetti decides to investigate. But when he tries to dig up information about the murder, the island's tight-knit--and closemouthed--community closes ranks, forcing Brunetti to accept Signorina Elettra's offer to visit her relatives there to search for clues. On the island, Brunetti finds himself torn between his duty to solve the murders and his concerns for the Signorina's safety. Though loyal to his beloved wife, Paola, Brunetti's concern for his boss's spirited secretary may be driven by more than platonic feeling.