Donna Leon’s long-running crime fiction series follows the adventures of Commissario Guido Brunetti, a thoughtful and astute detective working in the beautiful Italian city of Venice.

Donna Leon meticulously details to Venetian culture and history to enrich the mysteries that Brunetti tries to solve, which are often complicated by ethical dilemmas, social issues, and political corruption. Further enriching the books are a cast of memorable characters alongside Brunetti. The detective is a loving family man and passionate about food, and readers get to know him well through his family and daily routines.

Venice is depicted as more than just a setting in the books – the city represents a way of life, one that readers find enchanting. Fans often remark that the author weaves the delicious cuisine, culture, and history into her stories so well that they always finish a book not only entertained but with a new understanding of Venice and contemporary Italian life.

The books are so well loved and identified with the city that they have inspired Brunetti-themed travel books (such as Brunetti’s Venice), and Brunetti’s Cookbook.

With over 30 books in the series, some readers wonder if the books need to be read in order. It’s not essential to do so, but many fans recommend reading at least several of the early books first so that you will get a proper introduction to Brunetti, his family, his colleagues, and, of course, to the wonderful Venice setting that Donna Leon conjures up so well.