Have you ever found a book randomly that you loved so much; you couldn’t stop yourself from looking into the author and their other works? Most of the time, the best books that we find are usually this way, from a friend or a library or a random recommendation.
That’s how we find them, but nevertheless, the books still remain the book that got us into the author, series, or genre. Donna has been writing books for decades, yet we found her just recently. It amazes us that there are so many books and authors that we haven’t heard of. And with each day that goes by, we discover someone new.
Donna Leon published the first book in the Commissario Brunetti series on 19th June 1992. Since then, she has written over thirty books based on Guido Brunetti, which have been highly praised by readers. If you are just beginning to read her books, then you must follow this reading order since it’s the best way to read her books.
Also Read: How To Read Louise Penny Books In Order?
Commissario Brunetti Series
Death At La Fenice
Venice is a serene city that experiences few violent crimes. Any evil that does occasionally stumble into this beautiful city is handled by Guido Brunetti. He is the vice commissary of police. Maestro Helmut Wellauer is a world-renowned conductor. He died from cyanide poisoning during an intermission at La Fenice. Guido investigates the death case, but when shocking sides are revealed, his biggest challenge won’t be finding the murder suspect but rather narrowing down the list of suspects to one.
Death In A Strange Country
Commissario Guido Brunetti of Venice Police handles a new case. A dead body of a young man has been fished out of a canal. At first, it seems like a case of mugging. But Guido finds the motive of robbery too convenient to believe it. Upon investigating, he discovers something that signals a high-level conspiracy. Soon he becomes convinced that someone is trying hard to provide these readymade solutions to the crime, and he must find out who that person is.
Dressed For Death
Commissario Guido Brunetti is eager for a family holiday to refresh him. But, his hopes for the holiday are dashed when a dead body is discovered. In Marghera, the body had been beaten to the point of becoming unrecognizable. Guido searches the whole city looking for anyone to identify the corpse. But he keeps on reaching a dead end until a call is made to him. The person claims to have some helpful information, but before the night is over, he will confront another death that will complicate the case.
Death And Judgment
It begins with an accident. When a tractor-trailer accident ends up with the destruction of the contents of the trailer that was carrying lumber and a load of women, the issue is ignored until three leading businessmen are killed suddenly for reasons unknown. Commissario Guido Brunetti gets assigned to the case, which leads him to the dark side of Venice- a world where prostitution rings are run by wealthy and powerful people in the city.
Acqua Alta
Commissario Guido Brunetti must find a way to work in these difficult times. Venice is already bracing itself for the onslaught of “acqua alta” when Guido finds another case to investigate. A man’s body is discovered, and an old friend of his is beaten awfully. When Guido dives into the chaos to unravel the threads connecting both events, it soon becomes clear that this just might be one of the most deadly cases he has ever handled.
Quietly In Their Sleep [also published as The Death Of Faith]
Commissario Guido Brunetti faces a young catholic sister. She had been working in a nursing home for quite some time. But after five of her patients died unexpectedly, she decided to leave the convent. While inquiring, Guido doesn’t find anything that screams criminal about the whole ordeal. But he is determined to find out whether the nun is lying or if there’s a greater danger hiding in the covers.
A Noble Radiance
Commissario Guido Brunetti uncovers the threads of a rather old mystery. The case begins with a new landowner who is informed about a disturbing grave. In the grave, a badly composed corpse is found, and nearby, the first clue is discovered in the form of a ring. This reopens an infamous case of kidnapping involving a grieving aristocratic family that only Guido can solve now.
Fatal Remedies
Commissario Guido Brunetti faces a rather unusual case of vandalism, and this time, the culprit is none other than his wife, Paola Brunetti. His wife’s action provokes a crisis in their household. Meanwhile, at work, Guido finds himself under high pressure. He is handling a robbery case linked with Mafia and a death. His superiors want quick results, but as the professional and personal fronts of his lives clash, his career may be threatened.
Friends In High Places
The fate of Commissario Guido Brunetti’s apartment may be in danger. A young bureaucrat pays him a visit asking about the official approval for his building. Later, the same man calls Guido again, but this time he sounds scared. Soon, he is found dead after a fall from scaffolding but did that really happen? Something is going on, and if Guido doesn’t uncover it quickly, he might lose the place he calls home.
A Sea Of Troubles
When two fishermen are killed, their bodies sunk with the boat, Signorina Elettra volunteers to investigate the case. Since she has some relatives on the island, it makes sense for her to be in charge of this mystery. But, Commissario Guido Brunetti finds himself torn between his duty to solve the murders himself and his feelings for Elettra’s safety. What will Guido do?
Wilful Behaviour
Commissario Guido Brunetti has been approached by one of his wife’s students. Claudia Leonardo is intelligent and also a serious person. She needs Guido’s help in obtaining a pardon for a crime committed by his late grandpa. But, soon, she herself is found dead. When another corpse and an art collection are discovered, Guido is led to long-buried secrets which might shake the city.
Uniform Justice
Commissario Guido Brunetti handles an unsettling case involving the body of a student. The student was found hanging in a military academy. He was the son of a doctor and former politician, Dr. Moro. While both of the boy’s parents are distraught and believe that this couldn’t be a case of suicide, neither appears eager to help with the investigation. Guido begins his investigation with the help of Signorina and Paolo, and what he finds is more sinister than he could’ve imagined.
Doctored Evidence
Commissario Guido Brunetti is hell-bent on opening a case that his superiors would rather leave closed. A miserly spinster has been found dead. She was brutally murdered in her apartment, and her housekeeper is the first suspect. When the housekeeper dies, everyone is certain the case’s solved until a person steps forward to defend the woman’s innocence. Guido believes the alibi, and he begins investigating, but the mystery is a labyrinth too difficult to solve, even for him.
Blood From A Stone
A street vendor is killed, and the closest witnesses to it are his customers, who happen to be American tourists. The dead vendor was working as a Vu Cumpra. Commissario Guido Brunetti wonders why anyone would kill an illegal immigrant like him. Soon after, he begins his investigation stumbling upon the unfamiliar underworld, illegal community, and corruption in his search for answers.
Through A Glass, Darkly
Commissario Guido Brunetti and his assistant Vianello are trying to help Vianello’s friend Marco Ribetti who was arrested during an environmental protest. They somehow manage to secure his release only to be faced with the fury of De Cal, the man’s father-in-law. Guido is obviously intrigued by the man, so he begins to investigate. Then, on one unfortunate morning, the body of De Cal’s night watchman is found, and Guido dives deeper to uncover the mystery surrounding these men.
Suffer The Little Children
Commissario Brunetti has been summoned to the hospital in the middle of the night. In front of him lies the senior pediatrician who was attacked in his apartment. The culprits took his 18 months old baby boy with them as well. The culprits are three men, one young Carabiniere captain, and two other out-of-town privates. Guido wonders who they are and what was their motive behind this violent assault. But, upon investigating, he will discover more than just one answer to his question.
The Girl Of His Dreams
Commissario Guido Brunetti, along with Ispettore Vianello, answers an emergency call that leads them to the discovery of a dead body. Both of them pull the body of a young girl out of the water. Surprisingly, no one has reported a missing child, so it worries Guido. He begins to search for answers related to the girl but what he finds is a rather complex case involving innocent and guilty.
About Face
Commissario Guido Brunetti is approached by an investigator from the Carabiniere, asking for a favor. He is looking into the illegal hauling of garbage and requires his help in this matter. Along with the investigator, Guido’s father-in-law also needs his help. Soon, Guido finds himself investigating a dangerous case of murder and corruption unlike anything he has seen before.
A Question Of Belief
Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti wishes to take a break and spend some time with his family in the mountains. But, when a folder with court records lands on his desk, he knows he will have to postpone the break. According to the records his old friend brought, it seems that cases at the local court are being delayed. It’s done to the benefit of one of the parties, which might be the new trick for corrupting the system. What can Guido do to help this?
Drawing Conclusions
The medical examiner has ruled the death of the widow as a heart attack. He must know it best, so there shouldn’t be any room for arguments. But there were some signs of a struggle that can’t be ignored. And although it was a heart attack, Commissario Guido Brunetti believes that it couldn’t be this simple. He feels that something or someone has triggered the woman’s heart. With Vianello and Elettra, Guido sets off to get to the bottom of the truth at any cost.
Beastly Things
When a dead body is discovered, Commissario Guido Brunetti has almost nothing to work with since no one has even reported a missing man. Additionally, the body had been damaged severely by the tides, and no wallet was found on him. With only one shoe in his possession, Guido searches every shoe store in the city, looking for answers about the man. Soon, along with the help of Vianello and Elettra, Guido uncovers the truth about the mystery man as well as his death.
The Golden Egg
At first, Commissario Guido Brunetti is approached by Vice Questore Patta to look into a minor shop-keeping violation. He reluctantly helps his boss. Later, his wife comes to him seeking his help. She informs him about the death of the man who worked at their dry cleaner. Guido agrees to help her, but when he finds no official documents on him, he begins to investigate the case to understand why someone would want a sweet and simple man dead.
By Its Cover
Commissario Guido Brunetti receives a frantic call one afternoon. The call is from the director of a prestigious Venetian library, who reports that someone has stolen pages out of various rare books. At first, it seems the culprit must be the man who requested the volumes. But, when it’s discovered that the man, an American professor, has fled the library and his identity was false, it turns into a complex case.
Falling In Love
Flavia has returned to Venice. More specifically, to La Fenice, where she will sing the lead in Tosca. When Commissario Guido Brunetti and his wife attend an early performance, she receives a standing ovation. But Flavia grows suspicious when back in her dressing room, she discovers bouquets of yellow roses covering every inch of the surface. One of her fans has been sending her flowers, and it is unnerving. Later, when a young talented singer is attacked, Guido begins his investigation before someone else is harmed.
The Waters Of Eternal Youth
Commissario Guido Brunetti is looking into a case that might not be a case at all. Around 15 years ago, a teenage girl fell into a canal that left her in a state of permanent childhood. The drunken man who saved her claimed that he saw someone throwing her into the canal, but the following morning, he couldn’t remember a thing. Now, at a fundraising dinner, the girl’s grandmother request Guido to investigate this mystery. Out of a mixture of varying emotions, he agrees to help, but he doesn’t know what lies ahead.
Earthly Remains
The hardworking Commissario Guido Brunetti has been an enduring figure all his life. But, when during an investigation, he acts rashly, and he realizes he needs a break as soon as possible. He is granted leave and travels to Sant’Erasmo. He plans on spending his days rowing and nights reading books. However, that changes when the caretaker of the house goes missing. He finds himself compelled to investigate the missing case of the man who had become his friend.
The Temptation Of Forgiveness
Commissario Guido Brunetti learns from his superior that leaks are emanating from the Questura. Later, a friend of his wife’s comes to him requesting his help. Apparently, the woman is fearful that her son is using drugs, and she wants Guido to intervene. Not soon after, the woman’s husband is found unconscious. The Commissario thinks the boy’s behavior might be connected with his father, but as he begins digging into their history, he realizes that truth isn’t that straightforward.
Unto Us, A Son Is Given
Commissario Guido Brunetti’s father-in-law insists he investigates and intervenes in a personal matter. His father-in-law’s best friend wants to adopt a young man who would become his heir. But no one agrees with the old man. They find this whole idea to be appalling. But, then the man drops dead suddenly, and one of his friends is strangled. Guido is determined to untangle this mystery, but this may lead him to more pain than satisfaction.
Trace Elements
When a dying patient asks to speak with the police, Commissario Guido Brunetti and his colleague Claudia Griffoni are quick to reply. The dying woman tells them that ‘they’ killed her husband. Guido promises to look into it and begins investigating. But, what he finds is a web full of dangerous lies that will affect not only a single person but the entire region.
Transient Desires
This time Commissario Guido Brunetti faces a crime committed outside his jurisdiction. It begins with two women who got injured in an accident. The young men who brought the duo to the hospital leave abruptly, arousing suspicion in Guido’s mind. When the investigation begins, secrets surrounding the sinister night-time activities in the Laguna are revealed, raising the stakes of this case.
Give Unto Others
Commissario Guido Brunetti is approached by a woman he happens to know. The woman informs him that her daughter and son-in-law might be in danger due to something he is involved with. Guido feels obliged to look into the matter as a friend. Privately he begins to investigate the case, but soon it turns into a full-blown official matter, and he finds himself facing the dark nature of an Italian institution.
So Shall You Reap
The expected publication date of this book is 9 March 2023, according to Goodreads.
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