Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Death at La Fenice | 1992 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 2 | Death in a Strange Country | 1993 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 3 | The Anonymous Venetian / Dressed for Death | 1994 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 4 | Venetian Reckoning / Death and Judgment | 1995 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 5 | Acqua Alta / Death in High Water | 1996 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 6 | The Death of Faith / Quietly in Their Sleep | 1997 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 7 | A Noble Radiance | 1998 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 8 | Fatal Remedies | 1999 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 9 | Friends in High Places | 2000 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 10 | A Sea of Troubles | 2001 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 11 | Wilful Behaviour | 2002 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 12 | Uniform Justice | 2003 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 13 | Doctored Evidence | 2004 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 14 | Blood from a Stone | 2005 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 15 | Through a Glass, Darkly | 2006 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 16 | Suffer the Little Children | 2007 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 17 | The Girl of His Dreams | 2008 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 18 | About Face | 2009 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 19 | A Question of Belief | 2010 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 20 | Drawing Conclusions | 2011 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 21 | Beastly Things | 2012 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 22 | The Golden Egg | 2013 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 23 | By its Cover | 2014 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 24 | Falling in Love | 2015 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 25 | The Waters of Eternal Youth | 2016 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 26 | Earthly Remains | 2017 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 27 | The Temptation of Forgiveness | 2018 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 28 | Unto Us a Son Is Given | 2019 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 29 | Trace Elements | 2020 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 30 | Transient Desires | 2021 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 31 | Give Unto Others | 2022 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 32 | So Shall You Reap | 2023 | Donna Leon | Buy |
| 33 | A Refiner’s Fire | 2024 | Donna Leon | Buy |
The Guido Brunetti series by Donna Leon follows Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice Questura as he investigates crimes across the city and its lagoon. Starting with Death at La Fenice in 1992, the series ran for over 30 years and concluded with A Refiner’s Fire in 2024. Brunetti is a thoughtful, well-read detective who relies on observation and conversation rather than forensics or force.
Venice itself is as much a character in these books as Brunetti. Leon uses each mystery to explore different corners of the city and different layers of Italian society, from illegal immigration to environmental pollution to political corruption. Brunetti’s investigations often bump up against the limits of what justice can actually achieve in a system riddled with bureaucracy and influence.
The series also tracks Brunetti’s home life with his wife Paola, a university professor, and their two children. His friendships with Inspector Vianello and the resourceful secretary Signorina Elettra provide much of the series’ warmth and humor. Note that some books in this series were published under different titles in the UK and US markets.