A murdered executive. Key suspects with bulletproof alibis. Can a headstrong investigator catch the killer before the trail disappears? Rome, Italy. Detective Maurizio Scala has a strong debt of honor to the victims of brutal crimes. So when a well-liked man is found dead in his car, Scala becomes determined to deliver deserved justice. But with every suspicious person appearing to have proof of innocence, the driven sleuth fears he won't be able to bring peace to the deceased. As he uncovers the powerful family's dark secrets, Scala's investigation takes a shocking turn as his list of potential culprits suddenly widens. And with new information upending his search, he dreads the perpetrator will slip through his fingers and strike again. Will Scala outsmart the elusive assassin before he vanishes in the night? The Year of the Mantis is the first suspenseful book in An Inspector Scala Mystery series. If you like police procedurals, gritty heroes, and surprising twists, then you'll love P. J. Mann's thrilling whodunit.