Death at La Fenice

Donna Leon

Apr 2012 · A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery Book 1 · Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

About this ebook

A conductor succumbs to cyanide at the famed Venice opera house, in the first mystery in the New York Times–bestselling, award-winning series.
 
During intermission at the famed La Fenice opera house in Venice, Italy, a notoriously difficult and widely disliked German conductor is poisoned—and suspects abound. Guido Brunetti, a native Venetian, sets out to unravel the mystery behind the high-profile murder. To do so, he calls on his knowledge of Venice, its culture, and its dirty politics. Along the way, he finds the crime may have roots going back decades—and that revenge, corruption, and even Italian cuisine may play a role.
 
“One of the most exquisite and subtle detective series ever.” —The Washington Post
 
“A brilliant writer . . . an immensely likable police detective who takes every murder to heart.” —The New York Times Book Review

Ratings and reviews

For this to be the 1st in this series, it was FANTASTIC! The story moved along smoothly; the characters were relatable; the setting in Venice was well-described. I could "smell" the atmosphere; "move with" the waves; "feel" the cramped spaces of the calles. And get a sense of the beauty and history of the city and the Venetian culture. It was a terrific murder plot and very cerebral trying to figure out who and why. There was some misdirection as to motive, which I liked. I look forward to completing the series and watching Comissario Brunetti grow.

A wonderful read that keeps you on your toes to keep up with the brillance of Brunetti.

About the author

Donna Leon is the author of the internationally bestselling Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery series. The winner of the CWA Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction, among other awards, Leon was born in New Jersey and has lived in Venice for thirty years.