Trace Elements

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A woman's cryptic dying words in a Venetian hospice lead Guido Brunetti to uncover a regional threat in this haunting tale. When Dottoressa Donato reports that a dying patient wants to speak to the police, Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, respond swiftly. Benedetta Toso gasps about her recently-deceased husband, Vittorio Fadalto, saying, "They killed him. It was bad money. I told him no." Although unsure if she can hear him, Brunetti promises to investigate what seems like a private tragedy. They learn that Fadalto collected contamination samples for a company monitoring Venice's water supply and died in a mysterious motorcycle accident. While briefly distracted by Vice Questore Patta's focus on youth crime, Brunetti benefits from the research skills of Patta's secretary, Signora Elettra Zorzi. As they piece together the clues, Brunetti realizes the gravity of the woman's accusation and the potential threat to public health. However, justice proves ambiguous, reminding him of the complexities of guilt and responsibility as he seeks solace in Aeschylus's classic play, The Eumenides. Through memorable characters and storytelling, the narrative engages readers with profound themes of accountability and moral ambiguity.