When Luciano Sforza comes to town, Marco Fontana is thrilled to spend time with his seldom-seen uncle. Their reunion, however, turns deadly. Luciano is in a tough position as chair of a contentious committee which will decide the authenticity of a purported Botticelli. Battle lines are drawn and tempers flare. When one of Luciano's assistants is the victim of a hit and run driver, Marco suspects it was no accident. A day later, Luciano is discovered standing over the body of Morgan Cooper, his old enemy and committee rival. The investigating detective believes Luciano is the killer and will do whatever it takes to arrest him. Marco must prove his uncle's innocence but the answers elude him. The reasons for the murder are far more complex than Marco imagines. He discovers an informal but vicious Vermilion Competition involving committee members which may be a factor along with the contest for the directorship of Philadelphia's newest museum, The Galleria Europa, and more. Marco discovers closely guarded secrets-that no one wants revealed-lie at the heart of things. But coming up with the killer seems impossible. After finding a possible break in the case, someone attempts to kill Marco in broad daylight. Which he takes to mean he's close to finding the murderer. At the same time, Marco contends with knotty personal issues, as well as the problems of his friends and his troupe of male strippers. Aided by friends Luke and Nina, his inimitable secretary Olga, and his cousin Vinnie-angling to become his PI partner-Marco juggles everything in his own way. Will Marco be able to save his uncle before he's arrested thus ruining his reputation and dashing his hopes of becoming the director of Philly's newest art museum or will The Vermilion Secret claim another victim?