Book excerpt: What is supposed to be a straightforward property deal turns into a nightmare for the English lawyer David and his partner Thomas. Precisely in the unspoilt countryside of northern Umbria, where the couple live, a group of international speculators want to invest in a grand-scale project to build a country club for millionaires. When shortly before the related contracts are to be signed the neighbouring sheep farmer is found murdered and soon after him the pet dog of the project developer, David and Thomas fear they, too, could be on the criminals' death list. Then they own the house and land that the speculators desperately need for the project to go ahead ...