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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If you’ve ever been to Venice, or just dreamed about going, you can’t go wrong with this series. Other than the author having an apparent serious prejudice against overweight American women (hey, I’m one and it jumps off the page at me), I love everything about this series. I’ve made 3 trips to Venice and enjoying spying the locations mentioned in the books every time.
The usual excellent book until the end. That’s the problem. It ended without an ending.
Donna Leon. The master.
I found this book boring
Not her best s/w slow moving
Struggling to finish it. I have liked Donna Leon’s asides on Venetian culture, but in this one, the subject of stealing pages from books is just not catching fire for me.
I really like all the Donna Leon books
Donna Leon always writes a book with characters to inspire, to think about their actions, to learn more of culture. Great book!
When I read one of Ms. Leon’s Venetian mysteries I find the characters, the local and the murder plot all vying for attention. She has a real talent for creating flesh and blood characters.
There is more philosophy in his lunches at home with his wife than a couple of years of college courses. We love Venice. This brings it home. I have read almost all and will continue. I think having a map of the city would be fun if you’ve been there.
Another one hit out of the park. It is a Donna Leon so what would you expect?
not her best
I always enjoy Commisario Guido Brunetti, his family, and his police partners, and tbe wonderful descriptions of Venitian life. However, Donna Leon tends to over-ascribe obscure motives to some of her characters that gets tiresome after awhile. I still recommend the series, however.
Donna Leon does not disappoint in By Its Cover. I love to visit Commissario Brunetti, his family, his work place. The characters are old friends now, people I want to come back to again and again.
Always enjoy Donna Leon’s books. Nice combination of mystery, flavor of Venice and the family life of the detective
All of Donna Leon’s books are wonderful especially if you love Italy She is a very talented writer.
I always enjoy Brunetti’s outings.
“By Its Cover” is shorter than some other books in the series, but if you like them, you will like this one too. Very well written, and I always learn something. I also love the topical subjects Ms. Leon selects as themes for her books.
Any Donna Leon book is a great read. Well written; deals with contemporary issues; great characters.
No place LIKE Venice. NO PEOPLE LIKE VENiCIEANS.