Death at La Fenice (1992), the first novel by American academic and crime-writer Donna Leon, started the internationally best-selling Commissario Brunetti mystery series, set in Venice, Italy. 

I read it while in Tuscany.

Slow paced. Brunetti flawed. I’m enjoying the books. Five, so far. And I’ll read more.

1. Death at La Fenice (1992)
2. Death in a Strange Country (1993)
3. The Anonymous Venetian / Dressed for Death (1994)
4. Venetian Reckoning / Death and Judgment (1995)
5. Acqua Alta / Death in High Water (1996)

A world-famous German opera conductor has died at La Fenice, and Commissario (Detective) Guido Brunetti pursues what appears to be a murder investigation without leads.

wikipedia

There was a German adaptation of the book.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

In fact, Donna Leon is an American who lived in Venice for decades.

She wrote the first book as a lark. When successful, she wrote dozens more.

Brunetti and his family don’t age. Each book uses 1990s technology. No mobile phones, for example.

Her books have been translated into many languages — but NOT ITALIAN. 😀

She’s convinced her Italian friends will be more critical if they could read them in their first language.