Waters of Eternal Youth

Fifteen years ago, a teenage girl fell into a canal late at night. Unable to swim, she went under and started to drown, only surviving thanks to a nearby man, an alcoholic, who heard her splashes and pulled her out, though not before she suffered irreparable brain damage that left her in a state of permanent childhood, unable to learn or mature. The drunk man claimed he saw her thrown into the canal by another man, but the following day he couldnt remember a thing.

Now, at a fundraising dinner for a Venetian charity, a wealthy and aristocratic patroness—the girls grandmother—asks Brunetti if he will investigate. Brunettis not sure what to do. If a crime was committed, it would surely have passed the statute of limitations. But out of a mixture of curiosity, pity, and a willingness to fulfill the wishes of a guilt-wracked older woman, who happens to be his mother-in-laws best friend, he agrees.

Brunetti soon finds himself unable to let the case rest, if indeed there is a case. Awash in the rhythms and concerns of contemporary Venetian life, from historical preservation, to housing, to new waves of African migrants, and the haunting story of a woman trapped in a damaged perpetual childhood, The Waters of Eternal Youth is another wonderful addition to this series.

“Leon is the ideal author for people who vaguely long for a ‘good mystery. . . . That Leon is also a brilliant writer should only add to the consistently comforting appeal of her Venetian procedurals featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti, an immensely likable police detective who takes every murder to heart.”—New York Times Book Review

“Few detective writers create so vivid, inclusive, and convincing a narrative as Donna Leon . . . One of the most exquisite and subtle detective series ever.”—Washington Post

“The sophisticated but still moral Brunetti, with his love of food and his loving family, proves a worthy custodian of timeless values and verities.”—Wall Street Journal

“[Leon] uses the relatively small and crime-free canvas of Venice for rips about Italian life, sexual styles and—best of all—the kind of ingrown business and political corruption that seems to lurk just below the surface.”—Chicago Tribune

“Hers is an unusually potent cocktail of atmosphere and event.”—New Yorker

“For those who know Venice, or want to, Brunetti is a well-versed escort to the nooks, crannies, moods, and idiosyncrasies of what residents call La Serenissima, the Serene One. . . . Richly atmospheric, [Leon] introduces you to the Venice insiders know.”—USA Today

“Donna Leon is the undisputed crime fiction queen. . . . Leons ability to capture the social scene and internal politics [of Venice] is first-rate.”—Baltimore Sun

“Terrific at providing, through its weary but engaging protagonist, a strong sense of the moral quandaries inherent in Italian society and culture.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Brunetti is one of the most attractive policemen in crime fiction today.”—Philadelphia Inquirer

“As always, Brunetti is highly attuned to (and sympathetic toward) the failings of the humans around him.”—Seattle Times

“Fabulous.”—Kansas City Star

“Leons writing trembles with true feeling.”—Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

“Compassionate yet incorruptible, Brunetti knows that true justice doesnt always end in an arrest or a trial.”—Publishers Weekly

“[Brunetti] is a superb police detective—calm, deliberate, and insightful as he investigates with a reflective thoroughness.”—Library Journal

“The appeal of Guido Brunetti, the hero of Donna Leon's long-running Venetian crime series, comes not from his shrewdness, though he is plenty shrewd, nor from his quick wit. It comes, instead, from his role as an Everyman . . . [his life is] not so different from our own days at the office or nights around the dinner table. Crime fiction for those willing to grapple with, rather than escape, the uncertainties of daily life.”—Booklist

“Leon started out with offhand, elegant excellence, and has simply kept it up.”—Guardian

“I never turn down a Brunetti mystery. . . . It is amazingly easy to jump on board with any particular book and work your way backward or forward. Leon is masterful at filling in the blanks of the past for newbies while keeping the current story going . . . [She] continues to pull back the veil on one of the worlds most exotic cities, revealing aspects of it that few people have seen and that most do not even know exist.”—Bookreporter.com

Praise for Falling in Love:

A New York Times Bestseller

A Midwest Independent Booksellers Association Indie Bestseller

A National Indie Bestseller

“Donna Leons first love is opera. . . . So choosing Teatro La Fenice for the setting of Falling in Love, her latest mystery featuring the erudite and oh-so-sympathetic Commissario Guido Brunetti, makes this elegant novel something of a mash note to a longtime lover. . . . The audacious investigation, conducted by Brunettis confederate Signorina Elettra, into the psychology of stalkers is thorough and illuminating. But for opera buffs, going backstage at Teatro La Fenice is the real treat.”—New York Times Book Review

“[A] widely admired series . . . Brunetti is unfailingly good company, and when he isnt . . . he is wonderfully refreshing.”—Chicago Tribune

“The ever-incredible Leons 24th stunning entry in her stellar mysteries featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti brings the series full circle, revisiting Venices Teatro La Fenice. . . . Another provocative addition to a fine series, certain to appeal to aficionados of profound literary mysteries such as Louise Pennys How the Light Gets In.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“For many fans, the high points in Leons beloved Guido Brunetti series have been the two novels featuring opera diva Flavia Petrelli . . . . Now, finally, Flavia returns . . . . Best of all, the reappearance of Flavia gives Leon the opportunity to display her deep love of music and to construct a marvelous climactic scene between Flavia and her fan that parallels the finale of Tosca. Brava!”—Booklist (starred review)

“Leons devoted readers love her books for their juicy mystery plots, and also for the rich and varied cast of recurring characters, among which is the city of Venice itself. . . . Leons evildoers are not psychopathic serial killers or rapists. . . . [She] delves into the more interesting territory of moral corruption, in all its forms.”—Publishers Weekly (author profile)

“Commissario Guido Brunetti returns to La Fenice for another dramatic encounter with the diva Flavia Petrelli . . . there are the usual pleasures of following Brunetti as he walks around the city he knows like the back of his hand.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Splendid . . . Leon makes us feel [Venices] magic, taste it, smell it . . . Falling in Love is altogether a bravura accomplishment.”—Open Letters

“Another entertaining installment in one of mystery fictions most consistent series.”—Bookreporter.com

“Leon . . . infuses even predictable scenes with fresh vitality, employing her subtle wit and psychological acuity to make well-loved characters freshly engaging. . . . [the] finale is engrossing and oddly moving; a fitting end to a Brunetti thriller that is also a rare portrait of an artist and her art.”—Barnes and Noble Review

“[A] captivating series . . . [Falling in Love] offers the usual combination of mystery and dread.”—Toronto Star

“Thrilling . . . Readers will not be disappointed. Whether youve solved cases with Brunetti from the start or are a first time guest, this book will hold you spellbound . . . . [Falling in Love] will grab you from the first page, keep you on the edge of your seat, and leave you breathless while yearning for more, as if youve just witnessed a spectacularly powerful performance at the opera.”—Killer Nashville