The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri
An abandoned car found by two garbage collectors in a place known to the locals in Vigata, Sicily as the Pasture. Inside, the body of Silvio Luparello, engineer, politico, and local “man-of-influence”.
It seems perfectly clear, Luparello must have come to the Pasture and died in a moment of passion, after all it is well-known that his heart was not strong. It is clear to his political colleagues, to the local judge, to the chief of police, to the coroner, and to the bishop that that is what must have happened, a moment of indiscretion has turned fatal and Signore Luparello has paid the price; wouldn’t it be better for everyone if it was left at that?
It does not seem perfectly clear to Inspector Salvo Montalbano. Why would a man as careful, as influential as Silvio Luparello (at a time when he is finally poised to step out from the background and take center stage) choose to risk throwing it all away in a place like the Pasture, known for it’s vice and sordid happenings? There has to be something more, something beyond the shape of the container this case is being poured into.