A Sea of Troubles - (The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries) by Donna Leon (Paperback)

About the Book

"On a beautiful spring morning on the island of Pellestrina, south of the Lido on the Venetian lagoon, a small boat moored at the docks suddenly explodes, killing two local clam fishermen. When it becomes clear that the fire was deliberately set, Brunetti decides to investigate. But when he tries to dig up information about the murder, the island's tight-knit--and closemouthed--community closes ranks, forcing Brunetti to accept Signorina Elettra's offer to visit her relatives there to search for clues. On the island, Brunetti finds himself torn between his duty to solve the murders and his concerns for the Signorina's safety. Though loyal to his beloved wife, Paola, Brunetti's concern for his boss's spirited secretary may be driven by more than platonic feeling."--Back cover.

Book Synopsis

Donna Leon has amassed devoted fans around the world for her atmospheric and intelligent Commissario Guido Brunetti mysteries. A Sea of Troubles, the tenth book in the series, offers a rare glimpse into the scrupulous Commissario's personal life.

On a beautiful spring morning on the island of Pellestrina, south of the Lido on the Venetian lagoon, a small boat moored at the docks suddenly explodes, killing two local clam fishermen. When it becomes clear that the fire was deliberately set, Brunetti decides to investigate. But when he tries to dig up information about the murder, the island's tight-knit--and closemouthed--community closes ranks, forcing Brunetti to accept Signorina Elettra's offer to visit her relatives there to search for clues. On the island, Brunetti finds himself torn between his duty to solve the murders and his concerns for the Signorina's safety. Though loyal to his beloved wife, Paola, Brunetti's concern for his boss's spirited secretary may be driven by more than platonic feeling. Suspenseful, provocative, and deeply unsettling, A Sea of Troubles is an explosive and irresistible installment in Leon's marvelous series.

Review Quotes

Praise for A Sea of Troubles:

"Brunetti . . . is the most humane sleuth since Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret . . . He is a decent man [who achieves] a quiet heroism."--Philadelphia Inquirer

"Donna Leon goes from strength to strength . . . This is her tenth novel but it's as fresh and entertaining as the first."--Observer (UK)

"Brunetti is hard to beat--Leon's tenth novel more than maintains the standard of its predecessors."--Times Literary Supplement (UK)

"[Brunetti] is a tenacious underdog and his journey through Italian venality and administrative woes is always rewarding."--Guardian (UK)

"The arrival of a new Donna Leon book fills me with pleasurable anticipation. She tells a good story, including the best of all current police detectives, Commissario Brunetti, and locates it in a superbly described Venice. The plot is beautifully constructed. The climax is exciting and disturbing . . . Brunetti is as irresistible as ever."--Scotsman

"Mesmerising."--Express on Sunday (UK)

"A splendid series . . . with a backdrop so vivid you can smell it."--Sunday Telegraph (UK)

"The best yet in this series."--Amore Travel Guides

About the Author

Donna Leon, born in New Jersey in 1942, has worked as a travel guide in Rome and as a copywriter in London. She taught literature in universities in Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia. Commissario Brunetti made her books world-famous. Donna Leon lived in Italy for many years, and although she now lives in Switzerland, she often visits Venice.