The Salati Case

Product Description: Castagnetti (informally known as 'Casta') is a private detective who doesn't do things by the book. When a pompous notary commissions him to verify that a missing person is 'presumed dead' in order to dispose of a dead woman's estate to the other heirs, Casta smells a rat. Before long he's reopening wounds from years ago and exposing family secrets to those who have tried to suppress them. The relatives of Signora Salati just want their their inheritance, but Casta is going to make sure they get their just desserts as well. Because Casta isn't the sort to content himself with 'presumed dead'. He likes certainty, the kind of certainty that comes from seeing a skeleton. As the Salati case progresses, other corpses appear and Casta realises he's at the centre of an old-fashioned Italian whodunit. "The Salti Case" marks the appearance of a new and memorable detective: an orphan who has pulled himself up from the mean streets.

Synopsis: Castagnetti is a private detective who lost his parents and his optimism long ago. He’s impatient with the world of appearances and deceit and prefers the company of his bees to that of humans. At least bees believe in order, hard work and self-sacrifice.

An old woman, Silvia Salati, has recently died. Fourteen years ago her second son went missing while waiting for a train to Rimini. In order for her Estate to be disposed of, Castagnetti is commissioned by a notary to change the son’s status from ‘missing’ to ‘presumed dead’. But Castagnetti isn’t the sort to content himself with presumption. He likes certainty, the kind of certainty that comes from seeing a skeleton.

Before long he’s reopening wounds from years ago and exposing family secrets to those who have tried to suppress them. The heirs want their inheritance, but Castagnetti wants to throw in justice too. And that means uncovering a plot as thick and chilling as the Padanian fog.
(© Faber and Faber)