This novel is a romantic mystery that follows , an American antiques dealer living in Paris.

: Liza, a young Dutch woman, travels to Venice to meet her Italian father, Mauro, whom she hasn't seen since she was three.

: Mauro, a mandolin player, takes Liza on an adventurous "musical" journey that begins in Venice and travels through Ljubljana and Novi Sad, eventually ending in Istanbul.

: The story explores family secrets, the "cat-and-mouse" nature of trust, and personal growth.