When Montalbano comes to the aid of his new neighbour, Liliana Lombardo, after her car is interfered with, the inspector can little imagine where this will lead. It soon transpires that the young woman is being targeted by someone. But is Liliana's growing interest in Montalbano simply a product of the detective's innate charm? Or is she trying to lead him into trouble?

Meanwhile a bomb explodes outside an empty warehouse in Vigata. But who was it intended for? As Montalbano and his colleagues investigate, they begin to receive a barrage of false clues. The inspector realises that he is being led into a hall of mirrors where there is danger at every turn and nothing is quite clear....