Once again, Commissario Guido Brunetti sets himself against the corrupt bureaucracies of both the Venetian police and the Italian government in the 14th mystery to star the detective with an inconvenient sense of integrity. Two men use silenced pistols to gun down an illegal Senegalese immigrant selling knockoffs of designer handbags. It looks like a professional hit, but whats the motive? Commissario Brunetti gets an inkling of it when he discovers a box of conflict diamonds in the deceaseds residence. Unfortunately, as per usual for Brunettis more sensitive cases, hes strongly discouraged from pursuing the case any further, but also as per usual, he disregards the suggestion.