DEATH IN A STRANGE COUNTRY by Donna Leon

In Death in a Strange Country Commissario Guido Brunetti confronts a grisly sight when the body of a young American is fished out of a fetid Venetian canal. Though all the signs point to a violent mugging, something incriminating turns up in the victim's appartment that suggests the existence of a high level conspiracy and Brunetti becomes convinced that somebody is taking great pains to provide a ready-made solution to the crime. As dark and riveting as its predecessors, Death in a Strange Country will provide Leon's growing fan base with another chilling read.

Clare Chase's comment from GoodReads: This is the second in the (now) extensive series of novels featuring Guido Brunetti, Commissario of the Venice Police. I’ve read lots of them, completely out of their proper order, which hasn’t mattered. I find them wonderful, and this one’s no exception.

The story begins when a body is discovered in a canal. It looks like a simple mugging, but as usual, Brunetti isn’t prepared to take things at face value, however much his wonderfully drawn and infuriating boss, Patta, would like him to. The politics, collusion between the police and other parts of the establishment, and insight into Venice and Italy are always fascinating. The outcomes of her novels are sometimes pretty bleak, but you feel as though you’re getting the truth. The harsh realities are offset by the wonderfully warm portrayal of Brunetti’s family life, and humorous descriptions of some of the supporting characters. This book, like others in the series, is absorbing, and the sort I take my time over, rather than whizzing through.

Donna Leon is definitely one of my favourite writers and this is yet another book that reinforces that opinion.