by John Berendt
First published 2005
The Fenice opera house burns to the ground, shocking the citizens of Venice. When author John Berendt arrives just days later, he is drawn into a web of mystery and intrigue. Investigating the fire's cause, Berendt encounters a colorful cast of Venetian eccentrics and expatriates, each with their own secrets and agendas. As the city's artistic and architectural treasures crumble, Berendt peels back the layers of Venice's storied past, uncovering a world of corruption, deception, and the hope of renewal.
Genres: art, historical-fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, investigation
Setting: Venice (Italy)
Period: 1996
414 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books