Praise for Death in a Strange Country and the Commissario Brunetti mysteries
"Brunetti remains one of the most persuasively characterized protagonists in crime fiction."
—The Good Book Guide (U.K.)
"Commissario Guido Brunetti, most charismatic current Euro-cop, uncovers a deadly ants' nest of corruption. Highly accomplished, scary read."
—The Guardian (London)
"Smuggling, sexual betrayal, high-class fakery and, of course, Mafia money make for a rich brew. … Exactly the right cop for the right city. Long may he walk, or wade, through it." —Sarah Dunant, author of The Birth of Venus
"Leon's books shimmer in the grace of their setting and are warmed by the charm of their characters."
—The New York Times Book Review
"Superb … An outstanding book, deserving of the widest audience possible, a chance for American readers to again experience a master practitioner's art."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Richly atmospheric, Leon introduces you to the Venice insiders know."
—Ellen Hale, USA Today
"A new Donna Leon book about … Brunetti is ready for our immediate pleasure. She uses the relatively small and crime-free canvas of Venice for riffs about Italian life, sexual styles, and—best of all—the kind of ingrown business and political corruption that seems to lurk just below the surface." —Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune
"Uniform Justice is a neat balancing act. Its silken prose and considerable charm almost conceal its underlying anger; it is an unlovely story set in the loveliest of cities. … Donna Leon is indeed sophisticated."
—Patrick Anderson, The Washington Post
"There's atmosphere aplenty in Uniform Justice … Brunetti is a compelling character, a good man trying to stay on the honest path in a devious and twisted world."
—The Baltimore Sun
"Venice provides a beautifully rendered backdrop for this operatic story of fathers and sons, and Leon's writing trembles with true feeling."
—Star-Tribune (Minneapolis)
"One of the best international crime writers is Donna Leon, and her Commissario Guido Brunetti tales set in Venice are at the apex of continental thrillers. … The author has written a pitch-perfect tale where all the characters are three-dimensional, breathing entities, and the lives they live, while by turns sweet and horrific, are always believable. Let Leon be your travel agent and tour guide to Venice. It's an unforgettable trip." —Rocky Mountain News
"Events are powered by Leon's compelling portraits."
—The Oregonian (Portland)
"The plot is silky and complex, and the main appeal is the protagonist, Brunetti."
—The Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Leon, a wonderfully literate writer, sets forth her plot clearly and succinctly. … The ending of Uniform Justice is not a neat wrap-up of the case with justice prevailing. It is rather the ending that one would expect in real life. Leon says that 'the murder mystery is a craft, not an art,' but I say that murder mystery in her hands is an art."
—The Roanoke Times
A PENGUIN / GROVE PRESS BOOK
DEATH IN A STRANGE COUNTRY
Donna Leon, who was born in New Jersey, has lived in Venice for many years and previously lived in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China, where she worked as a teacher. Her other novels featuring Commissario Brunetti have all been highly acclaimed. Also available from Penguin are A Noble Radiance, Uniform Justice, and Acqua Alta.
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for Peggy Flynn
Volgi intorno lo squardo, oh sire, e vedi qual strage orrenda nel tuo nobil regno, fa il crudo mostro. Ah mira allagate di sangue quelle pubbliche vie. Ad ogni passo vedrai chi geme, e l'alma gonfia d'atro velen dal corpo esala.
Gaze around you, oh sire, and see what terrible destruction the cruel monster has wrought in your noble kingdom. Look at the streets swamped in blood. At every step you see someone groaning, the spirit leaving a corpse swollen with horrible poison.
Idomeneo
