Donna Leon has written twenty mysteries following Commissario Guido Brunetti in his quest to solve murders in and around Venice. She is knowledgeable in both the surroundings, as is evident by her detailed descriptions, and police procedures. I have enjoyed each of her mysteries, especially as Venice is one of my favorite places to visit. Not only does she set the reader in among the canals and winding streets, she is adept at bringing in the smells of the city with a mention of autumnal burning leaves, chemical smells from the hospital or the delectable aroma from a bakery or coffee brewing.These don't have to be read in order, but as in all series, you will probably find them more enjoyable if you try to keep to the sequence.
From the Cover:
Late one night, Brunetti is called away from dinner to investigate the death of a widow in her modest apartment. Though there are some signs of a struggle, the medical examiner rules that she died of a heart attack. It seems there is nothing for Brunetti to investigate. But he can’t shake the feeling that something or someone may have triggered her heart attack, that perhaps the woman was threatened. Conversations with the woman’s son, her upstairs neighbor, and the nun in charge of the old-age home where she volunteered, do little to satisfy Brunetti’s nagging curiosity. With the help of Inspector Vianello and the ever-resourceful Signorina Elettra, perhaps Brunetti can get to the truth and find some measure of justice.
