Ernesto Fagnilli's The Death Ingot is set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the city that was once known not only as the Smokey City but also as the steel capital of the world. Within this setting, Ernesto Bianco operates as a contractor who is widely known as an expert in handling tough piping contracts for the city. He is also a top-flight skier who uses his sport to get away from the harsh realities of his business life. One day, Ernesto begins to hear rumors about a mysterious phenomenon that the steelworkers are calling the death ingot. Some of the ingots are being melted down and, in the process, are causing smoke that is getting the workers sick. Soon some of them die, including Ernesto s dad. Along the way, Mr. Fagnilli s novel features a young female investigative reporter who tries valiantly to get the real story about the ingots; and some mob-type individuals, steel magnates, and stockbrokers who try to take advantage of the whole situation. In the end the truth about the death ingot is revealed, but at what cost?