"In a parking garage in the center of Rio de Janeiro, corporate executive Ricardo Carvalho is found dead in his car, a bullet in his head. It appears he has been robbed and murdered - the gun, his wallet, and his briefcase are nowhere to be found - and so Inspector Espinosa is called in to investigate. Not your typical detective, the world-weary Espinosa has the mind of a philosopher, the heart of a romantic, and enough experience to realize that things are not always as they seem." "So ensues Espinosa's dedicated attempt to unravel the mystery, without advanced forensic technology and in a police force rife with corruption. What really happened to Carvalho and his secretary, Rose, who disappeared shortly thereafter? That Carvalho had recently taken out a $1 million life insurance policy complicates matters - as does Espinosa's attraction to Bia Vasconcelos, Carvalho's beautiful widow and one of the murder suspects. When two more people turn up dead, Espinosa's investigation takes on a new urgency, ultimately leading to an unconventional, shocking conclusion."--BOOK JACKET.