In a small Sicilian village, a young and inexperienced policeman receives a strange phone call from a retired diplomat. On investigating the matter, he finds the diplomat dead. What at first appears to be a simple case of suicide turns into an intricate tale of corruption that involves the Mafia, the head of police, and the entire Sicilian establishment. Leonardo Sciascia (1921–1989) was born in Sicily. One of Italy's most important modern writers, he was also a controversial commentator on political affairs, especially within Sicily. In addition to notable mystery novels, including The Day of the Owl and The Wine Dark Sea, Sciascia wrote plays, short stories, and essays.