Donna Leon has immortalized her dream home Venice in 30 crime novels about Commissario Brunetti. She also does not skimp on social criticism in her books.
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Donna Leon is a well-known American-Swiss writer best known for her gripping Venice thrillers. With her main character, the Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti, she has created one of the most popular investigative figures in contemporary crime literature. But Donna Leon is more than just a successful author of exciting stories. She is also a profound connoisseur of Italian society and a chronicler of Venice.
How Donna Leon got into writing
Donna Leon is one of the best-known crime writers. In the meantime, she has published more than 30 novels about Commissario Brunetti. © Peter Hartenfelser/Imago
Donna Leon was born on September 28, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey, and grew up in a cultured family. She showed an interest in literature at an early age and began to write her own stories while still at school. After graduating from the University of Maryland, she moved to Italy, where she found employment as a tour guide. This was a first formative step for her future writing career. From the very beginning, she felt deeply connected to Venice and Italian culture, which can also be seen in her works.
Donna Leon's Venice and Commissario Brunetti
In 1992, Donna Leon published her first novel "Venetian Finale" (promotional link) and thus laid the foundation for one of the most successful crime series in contemporary literature. The main character, Commissario Guido Brunetti, is an astute investigator who solves numerous cases in Venice with integrity and humanity. Through Brunetti's eyes, Donna Leon not only explores the dark side of human nature, but also offers a glimpse into the social, political and cultural aspects of modern Italy. With over 30 novels to her name, the author has gained a loyal fan base all over the world.
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Donna Leon: The thrillers in the right order
- Venetian Final (1992)
- Venice (1993)
- Venetian Charades (1994)
- Vendetta (1995)
- Acqua alta (1996)
- Gently Falling Asleep (1997) Nobilta (1998)
- In the case of Signora Brunetti (1999)
- Fine Friends (2000)
- The Law of the Lagoon (2001)
- The Dark Hour of the Serenissima (2002)
- Secretive Channels (2003)
- Proof that it is evil (2004)
- Bloody Stones (2005)
- As if through a dark glass (2006)
- Let the children come to me (2007)
- The Girl of His Dreams (2008)
- Schöner Schein (2009)
- In Good Faith (2010)
- Rich Heritage (2011)
- Animal Profits (2012)
- The Golden Egg (2013)
- Death Between the Lines (2014)
- Endlich mein (2015)
- Eternal Youth (2016)
- Stille Wasser (2017)
- Secret Temptation (2018)
- A Son Is Given to Us (2019)
- Secret Sources (2020)
- Fleeting Desire (2021)
- Mild Gifts (2022)
- Like the seed, so the harvest (2023)
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Social criticism in the crime novels of Donna Leon
Donna Leon is known for her critical attitude towards social grievances and political corruption. In her books, she often takes up current topics such as pollution, the effects of mass tourism or the power of the mafia. In doing so, she skilfully interweaves her exciting plots with a profound social critique.
You see, I moved to Venice in 1981. The city was a more pleasant place at that time. My advice to all those who have a day in Venice on their list: just say you've been there. It doesn't matter if it's true or not. This protects cities like Venice.
Donna Leon
Leon herself is a committed environmental activist and is committed to the protection of the Venetian lagoon. She has also repeatedly spoken out against the pollution of the city by mass tourism. Recently, she emphasized to the media that the time for censorship has come. After all, as an author, you are no longer allowed to write what you think.
The success of Donna Leon's books
Another reason for the success of Donna Leon's novels lies in their ability to present Venice as a vibrant and authentic setting. The city on the lagoon becomes a fascinating character itself in her books. Leon describes Venice's winding streets, historic buildings, and unique atmosphere with such precision and attention to detail that her readers feel like they're experiencing the city in person.
Commissariato San Marco – Police office, known from the Donna Leon thrillers about Commissario Brunetti. © BasPhoto/agefotostock/Imago
It not only conveys the aesthetic and romantic image of Venice, but also shows the dark side and the challenges that the city faces. From increasing commercialization to environmental issues and social tensions, Leon succeeds in depicting Venice in all its complexity, creating a connection between the city and the reader. For the locations of the crime novels, there is an interactive map on which you can see all the places where Commissario Brunetti is investigating.
Donna Leon is known for her calm writing style, which leaves room to describe the characters vividly and to create their own image in front of the reader's eye. Authors such as Henry James, Thomas Mann, and Jane Austen are among the authors who have influenced her.
Donna Leon: Awards and Fun Facts
Donna Leon has received many awards for her novels. Among others, in 1997 with the German Crime Prize in the International category for "Venetian Charades" (promotional link), in 2000 with the Palle Rosenkrantz Prize for "Endstation Venice" (promotional link), in 2003 with the Corine International Book Prize in the field of fiction for "The Dark Hour of the Serenissima" (promotional link) and in 2018 with the Berlin Bear.
Even though some of her books have been made into films and translated into numerous languages, she has so far refrained from translating them into Italian. In an interview, she revealed that she was doing this consciously in order to be able to continue to visit Venice unmolested. In Italy, she is largely unknown as a writer, rarely gives interviews and otherwise likes to avoid the limelight.