The peace of a Venice library is shattered by the murder of a patron in the New York Times-bestselling series starring “a superb police detective” (Library Journal). A Seattle Times Best Mystery and Crime Novel of the Year One afternoon, Commissario Guido Brunetti gets a frantic call from the director of a prestigious Venetian library. Someone has stolen pages out of several rare books. After … stolen pages out of several rare books. After a round of questioning, the case seems clear: the culprit must be the man who requested the volumes, an American professor from a Kansas university. The only problem–the man fled the library earlier that day, and after they check his credentials, it seems the American professor doesn’t exist.
As the investigation proceeds, the suspects multiply. And when a seemingly harmless theologian who’d spent years reading at the library turns up brutally murdered, Brunetti must question his expectations about what makes a man innocent or guilty.
“Leon offers a finely drawn tale that encompasses theft, blackmail, emotional violence, and murder, as well as a rich array of characters [and] compellingly combines their workaday crime-solving with a detailed picture of a vanishing Venice.” —The Boston Globe
“Above all, Brunetti is a careful reader, of people, of places, of situations, and he never stops at surface meanings. That’s why we bookish types adore him the way we do, and why this will likely be one of his most-loved adventures.” —Booklist, starred review
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It’s like living in Venice. With a great family that’s a little quirky. And European. Almost. A vacation to another country that’s entertaining. And. Brings back wonderful memories from my youth with some
Normally love Donna Leon’s books but By It’s Cover is not a page turner.
I love Donna Leon’s books and find her characters realistic and interesting. These books have to be the next best thing to being in Venice!
I always enjoy Donna Leon’s murder mysteries, set in Venice…wonderful characters with great family and office relationships. Intriguing plots…
Not as good as her previous books in the series.
I’ve read a number of Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries and I just love them. This book is number 23 in the series, but they are all stand alone mysteries and the plots are varied, so you won’t get bored with the characters or the setting. This, one of my favorites, takes place in Venice in the world of ancient manuscripts and libraries. The plot involves politics, aristocratic families, and those who wish to profit from their wealth. The atmosphere is, like all of the books in the series, drenched in rain, fog, canals, espresso, and delicious intrigue; such fun! I highly recommend “By Its Cover”. Happy Reading!
Add place setting to the above. That is a large part of my liking this book, also the family situation, real people, caring, intelligent people.