by Donna Leon
Part of Commissario Brunetti, book 5
First published 2004
Detective Guido Brunetti faces a grim scene at one of Venice's premier museums. The curator lies dead, killed by a valuable piece from the collection itself. The murder weapon transforms priceless art into an instrument of violence. Brunetti's investigation takes on urgency when he learns that Brett Lynch, an American archaeologist and trusted friend, barely escaped the same fate. The killer struck while Lynch was nearby, leaving her shaken but alive. As Brunetti digs deeper into the museum's secrets, he must untangle the motives behind this brutal crime. The case forces him to navigate the insular world of art curators, collectors, and scholars where reputation and money intersect. Lynch's near miss suggests the killer may not be finished, adding pressure to Brunetti's pursuit of answers. The detective must work quickly to prevent another attack while uncovering what drove someone to murder in the halls of culture and history.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, investigation
Setting: Venice
Period: 20th-century
387 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Penguin Books