Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery – A Gripping Detective Story of Opera, Murder, and Revenge in Venice

Death at La Fenice: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery – A Gripping Detective Story of Opera, Murder, and Revenge in Venice

There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice. But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape—a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one. . . . “A challenging mystery, a sophisticated drama, and a unique glimpse of a medieval society that stilll flourishes.” - St Louis Post-Dispatch “Deftly plotted and smoothly written.” - Kirkus Reviews “Guido Brunetti can ride in my gondola anytime. What a splendid detective.” - Susan Isaacs, author of After All These Years “Donna Leon has given fans of subtle, clever and literate mysteries something to cheer about...A wonderful read.” - Tony Hillerman “What a gripping first mystery, as beguiling and secretly sinister as Venice herself. Sparkling and irresistible.” - Rita Mae Brown “[A] piquant mixture of opera, food and Venetian scenery.” - Chicago Tribune “Donna Leon’s Venetian mysteries never disappoint, calling up the romantic sights and sounds of La Serenissima even as they acquaint us with the practical matters that concern the city’s residents.” - Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review “[B]reathless...lively launch of a series.” - Publishers Weekly “A splendid series with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it.” - Sunday Telegraph “An outstanding series.” - New York Times Book Review There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice. But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape--a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one. . . . --Tony Hillerman There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly affair of Maestro Helmut Wellauer, a world-renowned conductor who died painfully from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice. But as the investigation unfolds, a chilling picture slowly begins to take shape—a detailed portrait of revenge painted with vivid strokes of hatred and shocking depravity. And the dilemma for Guido Brunetti will not be finding a murder suspect, but rather narrowing the choices down to one. . . . Donna Leon has written four previous Guido Brunetti novels, Death and Judgment, Dressed for Death, Death in a Strange Country, and Death at La Fenice , which won the Suntory Prize for the best suspense novel of 1991. She teaches English at the University of Maryland extension at a U.S. Air Force base near Venice Italy, where she has lived for over twenty years. Death at La Fenice A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery By Leon, Donna Dark Alley ISBN: 006074068X Chapter One The third gong, announcing that the opera was about to continue, sounded discreetly through the lobbies and bars of Teatro La Fenice. In response, the audience stabbed, out cigarettes, finished drinks and conversations, and started to filter back into the theater. The hall, brightly lit between acts, hummed with the talk of those returning to their seats. Here a jewel flashed, there a mink cape was adjusted over a naked shoulder or an infinitesimal speck of dust was flicked from a satin lapel. The upper galleries filled up first, followed by the orchestra seats and then the three rows of boxes. The lights dimmed, the hall grew dark, and the tension created by an ongoing performance mounted as the audience waited for the conductor to reappear on the podium. Slowly the hum of voices faded, the members of the orchestra stopped fidgeting in their seats, and the universal silence announced everyone's readiness for the third and final act. The silence lengthened, grew h