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Death at La Fenice

by Donna Leon

Death at La Fenice Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice.

But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape — a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one.

Review:

"A breathless beginning....The narrative's best moments involve Brunetti's wry exchanges with his colleagues and the cunningly masked, obvious solution." Publishers Weekly

Review:

"Deftly plotted and smoothly written in the Ngaio Marsh cultural mode, but recommended even for readers who, like Brett Lynch, don't care for Verdi." Kirkus Reviews

Review:

"A challenging mystery, a sophisticated drama, and unique glimpse of a medieval society that still flourishes." St Louis Post-Dispatch

About the Author

Donna Leon has written four previous Guido Brunetti novels, Death and Judgment, Dressed for Death, Death in a Strange Country, and Death at La Fenice, which won the Suntory Prize for the best suspense novel of 1991. She teaches English at the University of Maryland extension at a U.S. Air Force base near Venice Italy, where she has lived for over twenty years.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
jsomethingk, June 4, 2009 (view all comments by jsomethingk)
The details of Venice are loving and richly told, and they often steal the plot from the actual mystery. Guido Brunetti is a level-headed detective who wanders through the book seeking out suspects and interviewees in a pattern that's not always logical (and sometimes shows the hand of the author).

Not recommended for those who like the action-packed, evidence-rich CSI-influenced stories of today, but a sensible mystery with a knowing detective that makes for a good, light read.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060740689
Subtitle:
A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery
Author:
Leon, Donna
Author:
by Donna Leon
Publisher:
Harper Paperbacks
Subject:
Police
Subject:
Opera
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - General
Subject:
Mystery fiction
Subject:
Musical fiction.
Edition Description:
Dark Alley
Publication Date:
August 2004
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Pages:
288
Dimensions:
8.05x5.35x.68 in. .47 lbs.

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