An Englishwoman is attending an expensive psychotherapy course in Vincenza, Italy, when she dies in a freak accident. The Italian verdict is accidental death, but at the British inquest, the woman's husband questions the decision. To the delight of Morse- and the dismay of Lewis- the two detectives are sent to Italy to make further inquiries. Morse quickly runs into trouble with the Italian police, who consider the British investigation a waste of time.

However, Morse is entirely at home in Italy; he loves the culture, the food and most of all, the opera. Lewis can't speak the language and is far more interested in returning home for his son's sports day. It looks like it might be a lengthy stay when Morse finds out the psychotherapy centre is run by an old adversary.