After shipyard owner Giovanni Trincanato fires a worker, the man hangs himself on the construction site, and Inspector Montalbano is called to the scene. In short order, the inspector loses his temper with the crass mogul, delivers a slap to his face, and sets himself up for future troubles. Meanwhile, in this 27th case (following (The Sicilian Method), a schooner called Halcyon shows up in the harbor, seemingly deserted except for just one man. With its presence comes even more mysteries, another death, and the arrival of the FBI. Alongside Sicilian-American Agent Pennisi, Montalbano and his team must attempt a suspenseful infiltration operation.