Giovanni Russo has forged a very particular life for himself. Working in the world of rare books, he’s independent, self-sufficient, and alone. Withdrawn but combative, he engages in personal relations only to do business and, on occasion, have sex. His aloofness draws people in. Good for business, he says. Good for sex.

But Van carries a secret that he’s never shared and the shame has made him who he is, astute at business and wary of everything else. The only person he ever loved was his grandfather, now dead, but who lives on through the family home he’s inherited. Filled with memories and memorabilia, the place is seen by Van as an opportunity to further consolidate his very private life. But that doesn’t happen.

Instead, the move provokes a series of events that put his carefully controlled physical and emotional isolation at risk. Suddenly, he’s very popular. A man named Maurice seduces him. A stranger claims rights to the will. A colleague takes an interest in his movements. A neighbor means him well.

But it’s his conflicted relationship with Maurice that drives him. As he becomes increasingly attached, his defenses crumble. What follows is an adventure, a mystery, a romance, and a search for a truth long lost but never far away. Now on sale.