The Girl of His Dreams - (The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries) by Donna Leon (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Two detectives go undercover in Venice, Italy, in the New York Times-bestselling series by "the undisputed crime fiction queen" (The Baltimore Sun).

A priest recently returned from years of missionary work has made a personal request of Commissario Guido Brunetti--but the police detective suspects the man's motives. A new, American-style Protestant sect has begun to meet in Venice, and it's possible the priest is merely apprehensive of the competition. But the preacher could also be fleecing his growing flock, so Brunetti and Inspector Vianello, along with their wives, decide to go undercover. In the midst of the investigation, though, the body of a Gypsy child washes up in a canal--and Brunetti finds himself haunted by both the crime and the girl . . .

"No one knows the labyrinthine world of Venice or the way favoritism and corruption shape Italian life like Leon's Brunetti . . . the thoughtful Venetian cop with a love of food, an outspoken wife, and a computer-hacker secretary." --Time

"Gorgeously written." --The New York Times Book Review

Review Quotes

Praise for The Girl of His Dreams:

"Gorgeously written . . . [A] superlative series."--Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

"Donna Leon is best known for her subtle and enduring Commissario Guido Brunetti detective series, set in Venice . . . The Girl of His Dreams is Leon's 17th Brunetti outing and one of her finest; a cunning novel of great depth."--Anna Mundow, Boston Globe

"The Girl of His Dreams helps me understand why Leon has such a fervent following . . . Brunetti is a marvel: smart, cultured and dedicated to his work, all the more so when the pompous inept superior tries to rein him in . . . Free of coincidence of obvious contrivance, The Girl of His Dreams is a showcase of nuanced characterization, acute observation and seamless plotting."--Washington Post

"Book by book, expatriate American writer Donna Leon has been telling a secret history of Venice. Her 17th Commissario Guido Brunetti book, not surprisingly, is bookended by funerals. In between she delves into crimes against the Romany, political correctness and the comforts of family in times of loss in a story so perfectly balanced that it feels as though it glides on a dark, still, silent waterway."--John Freeman, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"It begins in a cemetery and ends in one, but in the midst of death, Donna Leon affirms life in The Girl of His Dreams . . . As much about family as about crime, Leon's literate and humane novels are as moving as any in the genre. And The Girl of His Dreams is a dream come true for those who love intelligent entertainment."--Richmond Times-Dispatch

"As fans of this series know, Brunetti loves his family and his familiar comforts. Long lunches, ideally in the family apartment, are chronicled in detail, allowing a vicarious tasting of such midday repasts as fusili with black olives, mozzarella, and fresh basil, followed by calamari stuffed with carrots, leeks, 'perhaps even some chopped shrimp.' Such breaks make it easier for Brunetti to deal with the harsh realities of his job . . . And just as she allows Brunetti those few breaks . . . so, too, does Leon offer palliatives to her readers. The quality of life in Venice may be sinking faster than the island itself, as local fruit stands now carry only tourist knickknacks and the wait for the vaporetto grows ever longer. But what remains is beautiful, especially in springtime, despite the presence of death and the absence of justice. It is this contrast, and Leon's subtly lyrical evocation of it, as much as the food or the central mystery that makes her books irresistible. And once again, in The Girl of His Dreams, all the decay only makes the beauty more poignant."--Clea Simon, Boston Globe

"As heartfelt and moving as Brunetti's best."--Kirkus Reviews

"[A] remarkably rich series . . . As it evolves, it becomes clear that Leon deserves her place not only with the finest international crime writers (Michael Dibdin and Henning Mankell, for example) but also with literary novelists who explore the agonies of the everyday (Margaret Drabble and Anne Tyler, among others)."--Booklist

About the Author

Donna Leon is the author of the highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery series. The winner of the CWA Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction, among other awards, Leon has lived in Venice for thirty years and now divides her time between Venice and Switzerland.