by Donna Leon
Part of Commissario Brunetti, book 24
First published 2015
Commissario Guido Brunetti attends La Fenice opera house with his wife Paola to watch acclaimed soprano Flavia Petrelli perform in Tosca. The performance earns a standing ovation, but backstage Flavia discovers her dressing room completely covered with yellow roses. An anonymous admirer has been sending these elaborate floral displays across multiple cities including London, St. Petersburg, and Amsterdam. What once seemed flattering now feels menacing. During dinner at Brunetti's in-laws' palazzo, Flavia admits her growing fear about these excessive gifts. When a promising young Venetian singer who has captured Flavia's interest becomes the victim of a brutal assault, Brunetti realizes the soprano's concerns may be more dangerous than either anticipated. The commissario must decode the twisted psychology of a fan whose devotion has turned deadly before Flavia or others suffer harm.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, obsession
Setting: Amsterdam, London, St. Petersburg, Venice
Period: Contemporary
256 pages · Hardcover · Atlantic Monthly Press
Content warnings: violence