Donna Leon Books in Order

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Donna Leon books in order, from the very first to the latest, so you won’t miss anything!

Born in Montclair, New Jersey in 1942 Donna Leon grew up far from the canals of Venice—but that’s where her stories live. Over the years she’s become one of the most respected voices in the mystery genre because of her unique storytelling, deep characters and her love of Venice, Italy.

Donna Leon is a private person and rarely talks about her personal life but her books say it all. For over three decades she lived in Venice, soaking up the charm, the elegance and the secrets. That’s what’s in every book she’s written. You don’t just read a Donna Leon novel—you walk the streets of Venice with her characters, smell the fresh espresso in the cafes, hear the water lapping against the gondolas and feel the tension build as Commissario Guido Brunetti digs deeper into each mystery.

Before she became a full-time author Donna Leon had a rich academic background. She was an English literature professor at the University of Maryland University College – Europe and even taught at a U.S. military base in Vicenza, Italy. That’s where her second novel Death in a Strange Country was born—life often finds its way into fiction.

Her first novel Death at La Fenice introduced the world to Commissario Brunetti—a thoughtful, intelligent and quietly passionate police commissioner who is the heart and soul of her stories. With the help of his loyal colleague Sergente Vianello and the brilliant Signorina Elettra Brunetti unravels crimes that go far beyond murder. Each case peels back another layer of society, often revealing corruption, moral dilemmas and the darker side of humanity. But somehow the everyday Venetian life always shines through.

What makes Donna Leon’s work so special is she can mix beauty and brutality in a way that feels real. She doesn’t just write “whodunits”. Her books explore human behaviour, the flaws in justice and the small but powerful moments of family, food and friendship that get us through.

Interestingly, although her books have been translated into dozens of languages, she won’t let them be published in Italian. Maybe it’s her way of keeping a distance between her work and the city she calls home – a decision that has only added to her mystique.

Over the years Donna Leon has won many literary awards including the CWA Silver Dagger, the Suntory Mystery Fiction Grand Prize and the Golden Book Award. Many of her books have been turned into TV dramas in Germany and she has been named one of the “Fifty Greatest Crime Writers” by The Times of London. Yet she still writes with the same elegance and curiosity she had in her first book.

For fans who want to take their love of her books to the next level there are even guided walking tours of “Brunetti’s Venice” where you can follow in the footsteps of your favourite fictional detective. It’s a chance to see the city through Donna’s eyes – both the light and the shadows.

In a world where crime fiction is often fast and action-packed Donna Leon offers something different. Her books make you slow down, think and see the world not in black and white but in shades of grey. With every page she proves that mystery writing can be both beautiful and brutally honest. If you’ve never read a Donna Leon book you’re in for a treat.