Wrapping up a job in Bassano del Grappa at a conference on artist Jacopo da Bassano, Rick Montoya looks forward to exploring the town. And it would be fun to look into the history of two long-missing paintings by the master, a topic of much debate among the scholars at the seminar. Bassano is a tourist's dream with its famous covered bridge, an ancient castle, and several picturesque walled towns, as well as delicious local cuisine. These plans grind to a halt when one of the seminar's professors turns up dead and Rick is once again drawn into a murder investigation. At the same time, a relationship blossoms with the daughter of a local gallery owner, who is equally intrigued by the lost paintings. They soon realize that those who might know the story could also be murderers-and that someone very dangerous is watching their every move.