Guido Brunetti

Donna Leon

When Commissario Guido Brunetti attends a dinner at his parents-in-law’s home, he meets Franca Marinello, whose ties to a prosperous Venetian businessman quickly draw him into a case that reaches far beyond polite conversation. As Brunetti investigates the illegal transportation of refuse, he uncovers frightening consequences that link environmental wrongdoing to murder, corruption, and escalating personal danger. With Venice as both backdrop and pressure point, the story explores how hidden systems of profit and power can turn ordinary streets into sites of moral crisis. Donna Leon’s signature blend of procedural detail and social observation—paired here with David Colacci’s contribution—delivers a tense, character-driven thriller that asks what it really costs to keep a city clean, safe, and honest.

Donna Leon

When a seemingly straightforward art theft rocks Venice, Commissario Guido Brunetti discovers that the stolen objects are not just valuable—they’re coveted by collectors who treat the past like a commodity. What begins as a case of missing illustrated pages quickly deepens into a murder investigation that exposes the city’s quiet networks of privilege, corruption, and obsession. As Brunetti follows the trail through bookshops, back rooms, and the everyday rhythms of Venetian life, the novel turns its attention to how culture can be exploited—and how truth is pursued in a society that resists it. With Donna Leon’s signature blend of patient observation and sharp moral clarity, this installment offers a thoughtful, leisurely crime story where character and place carry as much weight as the plot.