Cosi Fan Tutti: An Aurelio Zen Mystery

Aurelio Zen is in Naples, commanding the lowly harbor detail. It's the first time an outsider has been given this position, but Zen is not just any outsider. He's a Criminalpol operative who works directly out of the Ministry in Rome. But with politics in Rome in flux again, Zen is satisfied with his posting; if nothing else, he's out of Headquarters' sight and mind. "I do not feel the slightest degree of professional involvement or responsibility, " he tells his staff. "Just pretend I'm not here and carry on as you always have done." Which makes them all happy and leaves Zen time for a private life as "Alfonso Zembla" - the name formed in the deaf ear of a wealthy, seductive widow with several reasons for asking Dottor Zembla's help in dissuading her daughters from marrying their possibly Mafia-associated fiances. This Zen might be able to do (his plan involves Neapolitan prostitutes masquerading as Albanian refugees) except for the sudden spate of ominous graffiti, marauding garbage truck crews, officer impersonations, and VIP disappearances he is expected to solve. Which in turn might be possible if Zen weren't being mistaken for the head of Naples' most powerful and feared clan...