Sicilian financial wizard Emanuele Gargano has been running a classic Ponzi scheme. The inevitable has occurred, and the fantastic returns on investment have vanished along with the investments and Gargano himself. But its echoes are turning up everywhere Salvo Montalbano looks in his professional and personal life. It's not really his case but with one investigator sure this and every other case involves the mafia, another equally obsessed that they're all about sex, while Gargano's adoring secretary spends all day with her hand on the phone sure he'll be calling any minute as the scammed masses start to threaten, someone with some sense has to take a hand.

This is a short, fast paced, fun read with a strong sense of place, more than its share of wit and human comedy, but also with real detection at its heart. All brought to vivid life - just reading about Salvo's meals had me smelling and tasting, although for that matter I was salivating over some of the translator's notes at the end. It works well as a standalone but would probably be even more fun knowing a bit about past relations and events from prior books. Highly recommended. Just the thing to brighten a gloomy day with a bright blast from the Mediterranean.