‘Death al La Fenice’ (1992) is the first novel of the bookselling American writer Donna Leon, and the first Commissario Guido Brunetti appearance in the long-running series. 

Although it started as a kind of joke, it actually launched launched Leon's career as one of the best-known mystery writers of our time. It is set in present-day Venice, city where the author lived for over 30 years. Fun fact: her novels haven´t been translated into Italian, by her own request!

The plot is triggered by the poisoning of a world-famous conductor during the interlude of his performance at the opera house La Fenice. Commissario Brunetti, a shrewd, honest, well-balanced policeman, pokes around the opera scene trying to solve the mystery. In the meantime, the corruption and shadiness of both characters and Venice itself are aired. 

‘Death at La Fenice’ is a solid, classic whodunit. It shows the most canonical traits of crime novels, such as the cynical worldview, specially when it comes to human weaknesses facing money and sex. The pace is neither too fast nor too slow. Characters are very alive, idiosyncratic —even the ones in supporting roles. Notwithstanding that the plot-ending is quite predictable to a certain extent, it is a must-read for all crime, noir fans.