Donna Leon, at the age of 80, continues to publish an annual Guido Brunetti adventure located in the city where this New Jersey native has lived for more than 30 years, Venice.

In this, the 32nd Brunetti novel, the Commissario is called out late one night when a body is found floating in a canal in Cannaregio.  When the body is recovered from the water and found to have numerous fatal knife wounds, Brunetti realizes that the murdered man is someone he had met just days before.  The victim is a Sri Lankan who appeared at the gate to a palazzo which Brunetti had approached to determine if it was for sale on behalf of his father-in-law.  As the plot unfolds we learn about Inesh Kavinda who lived in a garden house at the palazzo and appeared to be as innocent a victim as possible. As Brunetti gradually unravels the mystery, the terrorism that plagued Italy in the ’80’s reappears in a surprising guise.

We once again visit the usual cast of Leon’s characters—the vain and bombastic Vice Questore Patta, the enigmatic and brilliant Elletra Zorzi whose talents with technology prove indispensable, Brunetti’s colleagues Inspetore Vianello and Commissario Griffoni, and Brunetti’s wonderful wife Paola and his two children.  And, once again, the main character of the novel is the city of Venice with its churches, campos, calles, palazzos, and its canals and bridges.  I always read Leon’s books near enough to my computer and Google Maps so I can follow Brunetti as he walks between his home, the Questura, crime scenes, and other sites around this magical city.

Leon appears to be one of those rare mystery series writers who can continue to turn out a book-a-year without losing her edge or our interest.  Brunetti and Venice remain fascinating.  If you don’t know her, pick up any of her books and sit back for a great ride (but do keep Google Maps near by!).