by Donna Leon
Part of Commissario Brunetti, book 1
First published 2004
Vice-commissario Guido Brunetti faces an unusual case in his normally peaceful Venice beat. During intermission at the famous La Fenice opera house, world-renowned conductor Maestro Helmut Wellauer collapses and dies from cyanide poisoning. Brunetti begins investigating what appears to be a straightforward murder, but the case quickly grows complex. As he digs deeper into Wellauer's life and relationships, a disturbing pattern emerges. The conductor had made numerous enemies through his cruelty and manipulative behavior. Brunetti discovers a web of resentment and rage surrounding the victim. Multiple people had compelling reasons to want Wellauer dead. The detective must navigate through layers of deception and long-held grudges to identify the killer. His challenge becomes not finding someone with motive to murder the conductor, but determining which of many suspects actually committed the crime.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: La Fenice, Venice
Period: 20th-century
270 pages · Paperback · Harper Perennial