A review by d_audy
Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon

adventurous dark informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

After writing Death at La Fenice as a probable one-shot, Donna Leon seamlessly transitions to a series with this second, already more sophisticated entry. She again skillfully avoids giving her readers the "tourist tour" of Venice while still bringing the city to life in colourful touches of daily life and culture, showing the city of the Venetians. Here in this second novel the secondary characters start taking more volume and definition, while Guido himself returns with all that made him loveable in the first novel.   The plot is expertly woven, and this time around adds interesting layers of social, economical and political questions, touching on environmental and public health issues, the behaviour of the US government abroad, corruption and the complex web of interrelationships between those holding the reins of power.  It makes for a fascinating tale with a very suitably ambiguous yet very satisfying ending.