“Leon . . . is so generous with the humanizing details that make this series special. There are long walks in Brunetti’s warm company and lively talks with his clever wife and even more engaging father-in-law, who can see the appetites of a modern consumer reflected in a 17th-century portrait. As detective work goes, it’s a tiny masterpiece of analysis.” ―Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review Donna Leon’s eighteen novels have won her countless fans, heaps of critical acclaim, and a place among the top ranks of international crime writers. Through the warm-hearted, perceptive, and principled Commissario Guido Brunetti, Leon’s best-selling books have explored Venice in all its aspects: history and tourism, high culture and the changing seasons, food and family, but also violent crime and political corruption. In About Face , her latest mystery, Leon returns to one of her signature subjects: the environment, which has reached a crisis in Italy in recent years. Incinerators across the south of Italy are at full capacity, burning who-knows-what and releasing unacceptable levels of dangerous air pollutants, while in Naples, enormous garbage piles grow in the streets. In Venice, with the polluted waters of the canals and a major chemical complex across the lagoon, the issue is never far from the fore. Environmental concerns become significant in Brunetti’s work when an investigator from the Carabiniere, looking into the illegal hauling of garbage, asks for a favor. But the investigator is not the only one with a special request. His father-in-law needs help and a mysterious woman comes into the picture. Brunetti soon finds himself in the middle of an investigation into murder and corruption more dangerous than anything he’s seen before. Donna Leon’s readership has significantly expanded with her recent books, including 2008’s The Girl of His Dreams , her most successful hardcover yet. Coupled with a major marketing campaign for new trade paperback editions of key backlist titles from Penguin and audiobooks from BBC America Audio, About Face , an exceptional addition to the series, is sure to take her sales to new heights. Praise for Donna Leon and the Commissario Guido Brunetti Series: “The eighteenth novel starring Guido Brunetti, from . . . the undisputed crime fiction queen . . . [whose] ability to capture the city’s social scene and internal politics is first-rate.” ―Sarah Weinman, The Baltimore Sun “With her 18th stellar entry in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series, Leon continues to live up to the increasingly high standards set by each novel. . . . Leon not only offers superb plotting and engaging dialog, but also captures the atmosphere of Venetian daily life. Thus, Brunetti enjoys frequent, leisurely meals with his wife and children. Leon’s evocation of these meals is so delectable that readers feel as though they are participating in the repasts. . . . Highly recommended.” ―Lynne F. Maxwell, Library Journal (starred review) “The stench of corruption that always hangs over Venice grows disconcertingly literal when Commissario Guido Brunetti gets a case involving the illegal disposal of toxic waste. [In About Face] there are the usual sharp scenes of Brunetti at work and at home, and a surprisingly warm relationship develops between Brunetti and his hitherto remote father-in-law.” ―Kirkus Reviews “Leon flawlessly melds the two plot threads as she parallels her characters’ vulnerability with that of Venice.” ― Publishers Weekly “Donna Leon imbues her Inspector Brunetti novels with the pungent flavors of her beloved Venice.” ― Sarah Weinman “It is no mean feat to sustain a mystery series at this high a level for 17 novels. Of course, that is just what Donna Leon has accomplished and more (this is the 18th Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery). . . . Once again the reader is treated to the sights and sounds of Venice as well as Brunetti’s love of classical literature and the delightful observances of his wife. Written with subtlety and insight into the characters, the novel, as its predecessors, is a pleasure to read.” ―Theodore Feit, The Midwest Book Review “It’s testament to Leon’s skill as a storyteller that disparate elements blend into yet another great Brunetti outing. She combines the minutiae of daily life in Venice with pitch-perfect descriptions of police procedure, the now-familiar rhythms of Brunetti’s home life with a ferocious knowledge of literature, delivered―how else?―with a sure, yet light, touch. . . . The details of home-cooked meals and family arguments, alongside a never-ending flow of crime, add a depth to Leon’s stories and are what makers her characters so believable and, in turn, her books so readable.” ―Rebecca Armstrong, The Independent “While the Commissario never seems to age or change, Italy does. That’s always the subtext of Donna Leon’s brilliantly conceived works. Brunetti does his job while the world around him seems always swirling out of control. T