Tuscany. Winter, 1540.Travelling north into the hills above Florence, investigator Cesare Aldo seeks answers about his past. The trail leads him to Ospedale de' Pazzi, a secure institution for the criminally insane.Soon after arriving a blizzard engulfs the area, trapping Aldo and his companion, Doctor Saul Orvieto. Even more alarming, their cart driver is found dead. It looks like he fell over a nearby cliff in the whiteout - but Aldo suspects foul play. When a brutal slaying occurs in the central courtyard, it becomes clear a killer lurks among them.With the snowstorm sealing everyone in and a murderer hunting fresh victims, Aldo's search for the truth proves deadlier than he could ever have imagined . . .