Chewing Gum and Spaghetti

Early in the morning, an unidentified corpse is found on the ancient paving stones. The deceased had shaved shortly before death, but can that really be a clue?.. In a city like Verona, it certainly can!
If the French have the saying "Cherchez la femme," then in ancient Verona they say: "Look for love." And how could it be otherwise, for Verona is the city of Romeo and Juliet! And if a man is freshly shaved, what does that suggest? Of course, that he was about to meet the lady of his heart...
Commissioner Romeo Tarchinini adheres to the rule that behind every crime, especially murder, there is always love. Guided by this principle, he searches for the criminal—male or female. Not forgetting to enjoy some spaghetti, drink a bottle of Chianti, and chat with the neighbors.
But his ideological opponent—the young American Cyrus—has very different views on investigation: fingerprints and logic above all! And of course he does not appreciate spaghetti; much closer to him is his native American chewing gum.
Who will win this contest: the cheerful, good-natured tippler Tarchinini or the straight-A know-it-all Cyrus? The answer is obvious. After all, the story takes place in Verona.
Charles Exbrayat’s Italian detective series is a rare combination of good-natured humor, sharp mockery of Americans, and a solid detective intrigue.