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A Sea of Troubles |
The latest Commissaire Brunetti story to come my way and this time most of the action takes place on an island on the Venetian lagoon inhabited by a closely-knit community of clam fishermen. Brunetti is called in to investigate the murder of two of them. His secretary Elettra arranges to holiday there on a search for clues. A high risk task which leads to much suspense. I loved it.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 41 August 2007) |
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About Face |
Commissario Brunetti meets a woman, Franca Marinello, who once must have been beautiful. Now, although she is still young, she has been disfigured by what seems to have been a bad facelift. Brunetti is troubled by her appearance but charmed by her very good taste in books (Virgil and Cicero). In the course of an investigation, he will learn a great deal more about her. . . as usual with Donna Leon, a very good read.
(Laurence Martin Euler - bwl 51 May 2009) |
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Acqua Alta |
The American author of this refreshingly different and low-key thriller lives in Venice where the story is set. Commissario Brunetti, delightfully cynical and disrespectful of his superior, is called in to solve the murder of a museum director. The cast includes an opera singer, an antique dealer and an art collector . . . and the time is the season of high tides when the city is under water. Lots of local atmosphere and background details.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 5 October 2000) |
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Blood from a Stone |
An African street vendor is killed in Campo Santo Stefano, shortly before Christmas. He was a nobody, so who's going to bother to find his murderer? Commissario Brunetti of course, and even when warned by his superior not to! A good one by Donna Leon.
(Laurence Martin Euler - bwl 31 September 2005) |
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By Its Cover |
All Brunetti and especially bookish Brunetti fans will be happy to know that Leon's newest has to do with books, and antiquarian books at that. Books, libraries, restorers, ancient manuscripts, Brunetti has to delve into the murky world of borrowers and copiers, not to mention dealers and sellers. Still amazingly fresh and original, steeped in things and places Venetian, this follows the good, and himself very bookish, Commissario on his bookish rounds. A treat!
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 73 Summer 2014) |
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Death at La Fenice |
Encouraged by reviews of other Donna Leon novels on this list, I decided to make the acquaintance of Commissaire Brunetti. Nor was I disappointed. This is the first of the Brunetti novels. The Commissaire finds himself engaged in solving the mystery surrounding the death of a famous conductor. Old fashioned police work, an engaging detective, a clever twist in the end - and Venice. I shall be reading more.
(Ferelith Hordon - bwl 54 November 2009) |
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Fatal Remedies |
A worthy successor to the author's previous stories covered in bwl about Commissario Brunetti and his colleagues in the Venetian police. This time his wife Paola launches a protest against the exploitation of children in sex tourism by hurling a stone at a travel agency's window. The resulting publicity leads to Brunetti's suspension by his objectionable boss and a string of murder mysteries which the commissario is nevertheless relied on to solve.
(Jeremy Swann - bwl 20 September 2003) |
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The Death of Faith |
My first venture into the world of Commissario Guido Brunetti. It has all the trappings of a first-class mystery thriller. Dark secrets, unexpected deaths, strange heirs, a nun who having renounced her calling has put herself into grave danger, priests who are more worldy than pious and a sub-plot of paedophilia, all bathed in the luminous light of Venice. A great winter's read, curled up by a glowing fire!
(Jenny Baker - bwl 7 February 2001) |
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The Waters of Eternal Youth |
The 25th novel featuring Commissario Brunetti is a satisfying mix of lovely Venetian background, contemporary Venetian life - with its new waves of African migrants, problems of historical preservation and housing - his aristocratic in-laws and the turning around of a cold case involving the haunting story of a woman trapped in a perpetual childhood. A nice addition for Brunetti addicts - one of the very good ones - which at the end is quite touching, rare for Leon.
(Kathie Somerwil Ayrton - bwl 82 Autumn 2016) |
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