by Donna Leon
Part of Commissario Brunetti, book 31
First published 2022
Commissario Guido Brunetti walks through Venice's narrow streets, another case weighing on his mind. The veteran police detective encounters a situation that forces him to examine his own principles about justice and mercy. His wife Paola offers her usual sharp observations while his colleague Vianello provides steady support. Brunetti must navigate the complex web of Venetian society, where family loyalties and personal interests often clash with legal obligations. The investigation pulls him deeper into questions about what people owe each other and how far compassion should extend. As he works to uncover the truth, Brunetti discovers that doing the right thing is rarely simple in a city built on centuries of compromise and accommodation.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary, detective
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, family-secrets, moral-ambiguity
Setting: Venice
Period: Contemporary
320 pages · Paperback · Penguin