Search - Death at La Fenice (Guido Burnetti, Bk 1)

This was my first Donna Leon and I loved it!! I look forward to reading many more of hers!

This is one of Donna Leon's very best efforts so far -- and I have really enjoyed them all.

This was the first Donna Leon I read. I enjoyed this murder mystery set in Venice. The main character, Commissario Guido Brunetti, is the solo policeman in this story. His team is not included in the story in any great detail -- his family actually plays a greater part. Although I had guessed the who-done-it at about the 2/3s point it was not completely evident until the final chapter. I enjoyed the character's very level and even keel handling of matters of the heart -- he was not judgemental about relationships that were not mainstream (e.g. homosexuality). I would recommend this book for all because the murder was not detailed in a gruesome manner, sex was not exploited, and all topics were handled 'cleanly'.