Donna Leon's mystery series featuring Cammissario Guido Brunetti set in contemporary Venice came highly recommended by several readers in Martin County Library Swap 'n' Talk group. I like to begin at the beginning whenever possible, so I choose to read Death at La Fenice (#159) first. La Fenice is Venice's famous and aptly named opera house, as it has arisen from several devastating fires like its namesake, the phoenix. (City of Falling Angels by John Berendt is a great gossipy investigation into the most recent fire.)
A new production of La Traviata is opening at La Fenice, with a preeminent German conductor wielding the baton. When the conductor fails to return to the podium to begin the third act, his body is discovered in his dressing room, poisoned. Commissario Guido Brunetti is assigned to the case. His investigation leads him to some unsavoury discoveries and a range of suspects with excellent motives to have done the deed. Brunetti must move carefully to avoid stepping on any sensitive toes to keep the image of Venice and La Fenice itself unsullied, and his politically-connected boss off his back.
An excellent beginning to this series, with a good flavor of Brunetti's home life and somewhat unusual connections. If you've ever been to Venice, you'll appreciate how well Ms. Leon captures the feeling of this city slowly evolving from a vibrant social, political and cultural community into a kind of museum theme park where living a normal life is increasingly difficult. Even though Venice is a relatively safe city, Ms. Leon certainly makes it seem the perfect place for a murder or two...
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