Dead Lagoon

Dead Lagoon is a novel by Michael Dibdin, and is the fourth entry in the popular Aurelio Zen series.

Moonlighting, Zen engineers a posting to his home town of Venice on a pretext in order to investigate the disappearance of an American millionaire on behalf of his American ex-girlfriend. He needs the extra money to set up home with his new girlfriend with room for his aged mother.

His investigations lead him into conflict with a charismatic local rising politician and a childhood friend before he discovers a shocking truth about his father. Although he actually does get to the bottom of both his overt and covert enquiries, he leaves Venice in frustration and with childhood illusions shattered.