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Donna Leon
Foto: © Regine Mosimann / Diogenes Verlag

Donna Leon

Donna Leon, born in New Jersey in 1942, has worked as a travel guide in Rome and as a copywriter in London. She taught literature in universities in Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia. The Brunetti novels brought her to world-wide fame. Donna Leon lived in Italy for many years, and although she now lives in Switzerland, she often visits Venice.

Awards
  • ›Ehrenpreis des Bayerischen Ministerpräsidenten‹ für ihr Werk, 2024
  • ›Gaudium Award‹ des Breukelein Institutes, 2021
  • Ein Sohn ist uns geboren war auf der Shortlist des ›Golden Dagger Award‹, 2019
  • ›Lifetime Achievement Award‹ vom Strand Magazine, 2019
  • ›B.Z.-Kulturpreis‹ (Berliner Zeitung), 2018
  • ›Premio Pepe Carvalho‹ anlässlich des Krimifestivals BCNegra von der Stadtregierung Barcelonas, 2016
  • Das Hörbuch Mein Venedig ist auf den 1. Platz des österreichischen Publikumspreises ›Buchliebling‹ gewählt worden, der Roman Verschwiegene Kanäle erzielte den 3. Platz in der Rubrik ›Krimis und Thriller‹, 2006
  • ›Silver Award‹ in der Kategorie ›Krimi/Thriller‹ des britischen Hörbuchpreises ›Spoken Word Awards‹ für das englische Hörbuch Blood from a Stone (dt. Blutige Steine) , 2005
  • Donna Leon erhält den ›Corine – Internationaler Buchpreis‹ für Die dunkle Stunde der Serenissima, 2003
  • Donna Leon ist im Rahmen der Veranstaltungen zum Welttag des Buches für Nobiltà mit dem ›Goldenen Buch‹ des Österreichischen Hauptverbandes des Buchhandels ausgezeichnet worden., 2000
  • Donna Leon erhält den ›Silver Dagger‹ der Crime Writers' Association für Friends in High Places (dt. Feine Freunde), 2000
  • 3. Platz für Venezianische Scharade in der Internationalen Sparte beim 13. ›Deutschen Krimi-Preis‹, 1997
  • Japans renommierter ›Suntory‹-Preis für Death at la Fenice (dt. Venezianisches Finale), 1991
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Movie Adaptations
  • Stille Wasser, Sigi Rothemund, 2019
  • Ewige Jugend, Sigi Rothemund, 2019
  • Endlich mein, Sigi Rothemund, 2018
  • Tod zwischen den Zeilen, Sigi Rothemund, 2017
  • Das goldene Ei, Sigi Rothemund, 2016
  • Tierische Profite, Sigi Rothemund, 2015
  • Reiches Erbe, Sigi Rothemund, 2014
  • Auf Treu und Glauben, Sigi Rothemund, 2013
  • Schöner Schein, Sigi Rothemund, 2012
  • Das Mädchen seiner Träume, Sigi Rothemund, 2011
  • Lasset die Kinder zu mir kommen (TV), Sigi Rothemund, 2010
  • Wie durch ein dunkles Glas, Sigi Rothemund, 2009
  • Die dunkle Stunde der Serenissima, Sigi Rothemund, 2008
  • Blutige Steine, Sigi Rothemund, 2008
  • Endstation Venedig, Sigi Rothemund, 2006
  • Das Gesetz der Lagune, Sigi Rothemund, 2006
  • Beweise, dass es böse ist, Sigi Rothemund , 2005
  • Verschwiegene Kanäle, Sigi Rothemund , 2005
  • Acqua Alta, Sigi Rothemund, 2004
  • Sanft entschlafen, Sigi Rothemund, 2004
  • Venezianisches Finale, Sigi Rothemund , 2003
  • Feine Freunde, Sigi Rothemund , 2003
  • Nobiltà, Sigi Rothemund , 2002
  • In Sachen Signora Brunetti, Sigi Rothemund , 2001
  • Davon stirbt man nicht, Christine Hartmann, 2001
  • Venizianische Scharade, Christian Castelberg, 2000
  • Vendetta, Christian Castelberg, 2000
Expand all
Retract
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»Brilliant.«
Sunday Times, London
»A splendid series . . . with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it.«
The Sunday Telegraph
»Donna Leon can paralyze the reader with joyful suspense.«
The Mail on Sunday
»[Donna Leon] has never become perfunctory, never failed to give us vivid portraits of people and of Venice, never lost her fine, disillusioned indignation.«
The New York Times
»The most obvious appeal of Donna Leon's novels about Commissario Guido Brunetti is that they are so supremely civilized. For readers with a certain mindset—distaste for violence, love of Italy's cultural and sensual pleasures and scorn for officialdom — Donna Leon's novels are always a pleasure.«
Washington Post
»Donna Leon guides us through Venice like James Ellroy through Los Angeles or Manuel Vàzquez Montalbàn through Barcelona: with an eye used to detect what lies behind the façade.«
Le Figaro
»Donna Leon is a top thriller writer, on a par with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell. Women, so it would seem from literary history, have always been in their element with the genre of murder and violence.«
Sonntags Zeitung
»Brilliantly evokes Venetian atmosphere. The characters of Brunetti and his family continue to deepen throughout this series.«
The Times
»Brunetti's humane police work is disarming, and his ambles through the city are a delight.«
The New York Times, Book Review
»Brunetti remains unique – an everyman who's also extraordinary.«
Publishers Weekly
»A splendid series . . . with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it.«
The Sunday Telegraph, London
»Donna Leon can paralyze the reader with joyful suspense.«
The Mail on Sunday, London
»[Donna Leon] has never become perfunctory, never failed to give us vivid portraits of people and of Venice, never lost her fine, disillusioned indignation.«
Ursula K. LeGuin / The New York Times
»The most obvious appeal of Donna Leon's novels about Commissario Guido Brunetti is that they are so supremely civilized. For readers with a certain mindset—distaste for violence, love of Italy's cultural and sensual pleasures and scorn for officialdom — Donna Leon's novels are always a pleasure.«
Patrick Anderson / The Washington Post

»Donna Leon guides us through Venice like James Ellroy through Los Angeles or Manuel Vázquez Montalbán through Barcelona: with an eye used to detect what lies behind the façade.«

Le Figaro, Paris
»Donna Leon is a top thriller writer, on a par with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell. Women, so it would seem from literary history, have always been in their element with the genre of murder and violence.«
Sonntags Zeitung, Zurich
»Brilliantly evokes Venetian atmosphere. The characters of Brunetti and his family continue to deepen throughout this series.«
The Times, London
»Donna Leon is the undisputed crime fiction queen.«
Sarah Weinman / Baltimore Sun
»In the footsteps of Brunetti, endowed with a ruthless humor and a healthy appetite, Donna Leon's readers discover Venice better than with a guide book.«
Le Monde, Paris

»Donna Leon's books are a joy.«

The Guardian, London

»When writing about her beloved Venice, Donna Leon can do no wrong.«

The New York Times

»[Leon] has never become perfunctory, never failed to give us vivid portraits of people and of Venice, never lost her fine, disillusioned indignation.«

Ursula K. Le Guin / New York Times, New York

»Hers is an unusually potent cocktail of atmosphere and event.«

The New Yorker, New York

»[Leon] uses the relatively small and crime-free canvas of Venice for rips about Italian life, sexual styles and - best of all - the kind of ingrown business and political corruption that seems to lurk just below the surface.«

Chicago Tribune, Chicago

»Leon started out with offhand, elegant excellence, and has simply kept it up.«

The Guardian, London

»Leon whips up a brilliant narrative storm.«

Sunday Times, London

»Her depiction of Venice, its crimes and beauties, villains and heroes, high and low and the character of Brunetti and his family and friends has long been a delight for discerning readers. The warmth, understanding and shrewdness with which Leon’s elegant, witty prose depicts this particular part of Italy is a joy. She is one of the best European novelists around, and her unflinching address to current affairs makes her worthy of the highest regard.«

Amanda Craig

»Donna Leon's Venetian mysteries never disappoint, calling up the romantic sights and sound of La Serenissima even as they acquaint us with the practical matters that concern the city's residents.«

Marilyn Stasio / The New York Times Book Rreview

»She has reinvented Venice.«

Kristina Maidt-Zinke / Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich

»Her love for this city shines through from every line of her crime novels.«

Maria Wiesner / Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt

»Leon’s pedagogical eros is akin to that of Mary Poppins. Who could resist it?«

Simone Dattenberger / Münchner Merkur, Munich

»To read her is to restore the soul.«

Mark Sanderson / The Times, London
»Brilliant.«
Sunday Times, London
»A splendid series . . . with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it.«
The Sunday Telegraph
»Donna Leon can paralyze the reader with joyful suspense.«
The Mail on Sunday
»[Donna Leon] has never become perfunctory, never failed to give us vivid portraits of people and of Venice, never lost her fine, disillusioned indignation.«
The New York Times
»The most obvious appeal of Donna Leon's novels about Commissario Guido Brunetti is that they are so supremely civilized. For readers with a certain mindset—distaste for violence, love of Italy's cultural and sensual pleasures and scorn for officialdom — Donna Leon's novels are always a pleasure.«
Washington Post
»Donna Leon guides us through Venice like James Ellroy through Los Angeles or Manuel Vàzquez Montalbàn through Barcelona: with an eye used to detect what lies behind the façade.«
Le Figaro
»Donna Leon is a top thriller writer, on a par with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell. Women, so it would seem from literary history, have always been in their element with the genre of murder and violence.«
Sonntags Zeitung
»Brilliantly evokes Venetian atmosphere. The characters of Brunetti and his family continue to deepen throughout this series.«
The Times
»Brunetti's humane police work is disarming, and his ambles through the city are a delight.«
The New York Times, Book Review
»Brunetti remains unique – an everyman who's also extraordinary.«
Publishers Weekly
»A splendid series . . . with a backdrop of the city so vivid you can almost smell it.«
The Sunday Telegraph, London
»Donna Leon can paralyze the reader with joyful suspense.«
The Mail on Sunday, London
»[Donna Leon] has never become perfunctory, never failed to give us vivid portraits of people and of Venice, never lost her fine, disillusioned indignation.«
Ursula K. LeGuin / The New York Times
»The most obvious appeal of Donna Leon's novels about Commissario Guido Brunetti is that they are so supremely civilized. For readers with a certain mindset—distaste for violence, love of Italy's cultural and sensual pleasures and scorn for officialdom — Donna Leon's novels are always a pleasure.«
Patrick Anderson / The Washington Post

»Donna Leon guides us through Venice like James Ellroy through Los Angeles or Manuel Vázquez Montalbán through Barcelona: with an eye used to detect what lies behind the façade.«

Le Figaro, Paris
»Donna Leon is a top thriller writer, on a par with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell. Women, so it would seem from literary history, have always been in their element with the genre of murder and violence.«
Sonntags Zeitung, Zurich
»Brilliantly evokes Venetian atmosphere. The characters of Brunetti and his family continue to deepen throughout this series.«
The Times, London
»Donna Leon is the undisputed crime fiction queen.«
Sarah Weinman / Baltimore Sun
»In the footsteps of Brunetti, endowed with a ruthless humor and a healthy appetite, Donna Leon's readers discover Venice better than with a guide book.«
Le Monde, Paris

»Donna Leon's books are a joy.«

The Guardian, London

»When writing about her beloved Venice, Donna Leon can do no wrong.«

The New York Times

»[Leon] has never become perfunctory, never failed to give us vivid portraits of people and of Venice, never lost her fine, disillusioned indignation.«

Ursula K. Le Guin / New York Times, New York

»Hers is an unusually potent cocktail of atmosphere and event.«

The New Yorker, New York

»[Leon] uses the relatively small and crime-free canvas of Venice for rips about Italian life, sexual styles and - best of all - the kind of ingrown business and political corruption that seems to lurk just below the surface.«

Chicago Tribune, Chicago

»Leon started out with offhand, elegant excellence, and has simply kept it up.«

The Guardian, London

»Leon whips up a brilliant narrative storm.«

Sunday Times, London

»Her depiction of Venice, its crimes and beauties, villains and heroes, high and low and the character of Brunetti and his family and friends has long been a delight for discerning readers. The warmth, understanding and shrewdness with which Leon’s elegant, witty prose depicts this particular part of Italy is a joy. She is one of the best European novelists around, and her unflinching address to current affairs makes her worthy of the highest regard.«

Amanda Craig

»Donna Leon's Venetian mysteries never disappoint, calling up the romantic sights and sound of La Serenissima even as they acquaint us with the practical matters that concern the city's residents.«

Marilyn Stasio / The New York Times Book Rreview

»She has reinvented Venice.«

Kristina Maidt-Zinke / Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich

»Her love for this city shines through from every line of her crime novels.«

Maria Wiesner / Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt

»Leon’s pedagogical eros is akin to that of Mary Poppins. Who could resist it?«

Simone Dattenberger / Münchner Merkur, Munich

»To read her is to restore the soul.«

Mark Sanderson / The Times, London
Expand all
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Transient Desires, #30 in the Brunetti series, ranked #2 on the Spiegel bestseller list
On 26 May, Transient Desires appeared on the bookshelves and is currently on #2 of the Spiegel bests [More]
Unto Us a Son is Given #20 on the 2019 all-year Spiegel bestseller list
Donna Leon’s Unto Us a Son is Given climbed to #20 of the 2019 all-year Spiegel bestseller list (har [More]
Donna Leon's Unto Us a Son is Given shortlisted for ›Dagger‹ award 2019
Donna Leon’s Unto Us a Son is Given has made it onto the shortlist of the British Crime Writers’ Ass [More]
International Bestseller
Brunetti's 27th case, The Temptation of Forgiveness, made it to # 2 of the Spiegel bestseller list a [More]
Backstage
Donna Leon
Backstage
Biographies / 192 pages
2025
Im Warenkorb
Feuerprobe
Donna Leon
A Refiner’s Fire
General Fiction / 336 pages
2024
Im Warenkorb
Wie die Saat, so die Ernte
Donna Leon
So Shall You Reap
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2023
Im Warenkorb
Ein Leben in Geschichten
Donna Leon
Wandering Through Life
General Fiction / 192 pages
2022
Im Warenkorb
Milde Gaben
Donna Leon
Give Unto Others
General Fiction / 352 pages
2022
Im Warenkorb
Flüchtiges Begehren
Donna Leon
Transient Desires
General Fiction / 320 pages
2021
Im Warenkorb
Mit Brunetti durchs Leben
Donna Leon & Gabriella Gamberini Zimmermann
Brunetti’s Miscellany
General Fiction / 400 pages
2021
Im Warenkorb
Geheime Quellen
Donna Leon
Trace Elements
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2020
Im Warenkorb
Ein Sohn ist uns gegeben
Donna Leon
Unto Us a Son Is Given
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2019
Im Warenkorb
Heimliche Versuchung
Donna Leon
The Temptation of Forgiveness
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2018
Im Warenkorb
Stille Wasser
Donna Leon
Earthly Remains
Crime fiction / 352 pages
2017
Im Warenkorb
Ewige Jugend
Donna Leon
The Waters of Eternal Youth
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2016
Im Warenkorb
Endlich mein
Donna Leon
Falling in Love
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2015
Im Warenkorb
Tod zwischen den Zeilen
Donna Leon
By its Cover
Crime fiction / 288 pages
2015
Im Warenkorb
Das goldene Ei
Donna Leon
The Golden Egg
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2014
Im Warenkorb
Gondola
Donna Leon
Gondola
General Fiction / 140 pages
2013
Im Warenkorb
Tierische Profite
Donna Leon
Beastly Things
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2013
Im Warenkorb
Himmlische Juwelen
Donna Leon
The Jewels of Paradise
General Fiction / 304 pages
2012
Im Warenkorb
Reiches Erbe
Donna Leon
Drawing Conclusions
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2012
Im Warenkorb
Kurioses aus Venedig
Donna Leon
Venetian Curiosities
General Fiction / 80 pages
2011
Im Warenkorb
Auf Treu und Glauben
Donna Leon
A Question of Belief
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2011
Im Warenkorb
Tiere und Töne
Donna Leon & Michael Sowa
Handel's Bestiary
General Fiction / 144 pages
2010
Im Warenkorb
Schöner Schein
Donna Leon
About Face
Crime fiction / 352 pages
2010
Im Warenkorb
Bei den Brunettis zu Gast
Donna Leon & Roberta Pianaro
At Table with the Brunettis
General Fiction / 288 pages
2009
Im Warenkorb
Das Mädchen seiner Träume
Donna Leon
The Girl of His Dreams
Crime fiction / 352 pages
2009
Im Warenkorb
Mit Brunetti durch Venedig
Donna Leon & Toni Sepeda
Brunetti's Venice
General Fiction / 368 pages
2008
Im Warenkorb
Lasset die Kinder zu mir kommen
Donna Leon
Suffer the Little Children
Crime fiction / 368 pages
2008
Im Warenkorb
Wie durch ein dunkles Glas
Donna Leon
Through a Glass Darkly
Crime fiction / 352 pages
2007
Im Warenkorb
Blutige Steine
Donna Leon
Blood from a Stone
Crime fiction / 368 pages
2006
Im Warenkorb
Über Venedig, Musik, Menschen und Bücher
Donna Leon
On Venice, Music, People and Books
General Fiction / 352 pages
2005
Im Warenkorb
Beweise, daß es böse ist
Donna Leon
Doctored Evidence
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2005
Im Warenkorb
Verschwiegene Kanäle
Donna Leon
Uniform Justice
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2004
Im Warenkorb
Die dunkle Stunde der Serenissima
Donna Leon
Wilful Behaviour
Crime fiction / 384 pages
2003
Im Warenkorb
Das Gesetz der Lagune
Donna Leon
A Sea of Troubles
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2002
Im Warenkorb
Feine Freunde
Donna Leon
Friends in High Places
Crime fiction / 336 pages
2001
Im Warenkorb
In Sachen Signora Brunetti
Donna Leon
Fatal Remedies
Crime fiction / 320 pages
2000
Im Warenkorb
Eine Amerikanerin in Venedig
Donna Leon
An American in Venice
General Fiction / 96 pages
2000
Im Warenkorb
Nobiltà
Donna Leon
A Noble Radiance
Crime fiction / 304 pages
1999
Im Warenkorb
Latin Lover
Donna Leon
Latin Lover
General Fiction / 112 pages
1999
Im Warenkorb
Sanft entschlafen
Donna Leon
Quietly in Their Sleep
Crime fiction / 352 pages
1998
Im Warenkorb
Acqua alta
Donna Leon
Acqua alta
Crime fiction / 384 pages
1997
Im Warenkorb
Vendetta
Donna Leon
Death and Judgment
Crime fiction / 352 pages
1997
Im Warenkorb
Venezianische Scharade
Donna Leon
Dressed for Death
Crime fiction / 384 pages
1996
Im Warenkorb
Endstation Venedig
Donna Leon
Death in a Strange Country
Crime fiction / 400 pages
1995
Im Warenkorb
Venezianisches Finale
Donna Leon
Death at La Fenice
Crime fiction / 352 pages
1993
Im Warenkorb
Backstage
A Refiner’s Fire
So Shall You Reap
Wandering Through Life
Give Unto Others
Transient Desires
Brunetti’s Miscellany
Trace Elements
Unto Us a Son Is Given
The Temptation of Forgiveness
Earthly Remains
The Waters of Eternal Youth
Falling in Love
By its Cover
The Golden Egg
Gondola
Beastly Things
The Jewels of Paradise
Drawing Conclusions
Venetian Curiosities
A Question of Belief
Handel's Bestiary
About Face
At Table with the Brunettis
The Girl of His Dreams
Brunetti's Venice
Suffer the Little Children
Through a Glass Darkly
Blood from a Stone
On Venice, Music, People and Books
Doctored Evidence
Uniform Justice
Wilful Behaviour
A Sea of Troubles
Friends in High Places
Fatal Remedies
An American in Venice
A Noble Radiance
Latin Lover
Quietly in Their Sleep
Acqua alta
Death and Judgment
Dressed for Death
Death in a Strange Country
Death at La Fenice
Wie die Saat, so die Ernte
Heimliche Versuchung
Mit Brunetti durch Venedig
Tiere und Töne
Gondola
Ein Sohn ist uns gegeben
Stille Wasser
Heimliche Versuchung
Himmlische Juwelen
Latin Lover
Die dunkle Stunde der Serenissima
Flüchtiges Begehren
Beweise, daß es böse ist
Milde Gaben
Ewige Jugend
Ewige Jugend
Feuerprobe
Milde Gaben
Geheime Quellen
Reiches Erbe
Tod zwischen den Zeilen
Mein Venedig
Das goldene Ei
Flüchtiges Begehren
Feine Freunde
Geheime Quellen
Feuerprobe
Lasset die Kinder zu mir kommen
Tierische Profite
Auf Treu und Glauben
Tod zwischen den Zeilen
Wie durch ein dunkles Glas
Das goldene Ei
Bei den Brunettis zu Gast
Stille Wasser
Ein Leben in Geschichten
Wie durch ein dunkles Glas
Endlich mein
Das Mädchen seiner Träume
Ein Leben in Geschichten
Endlich mein
Schöner Schein
Blutige Steine
Die dunkle Stunde der Serenissima
Mein Venedig
Zwei Fälle für Commissario Brunetti
Wie die Saat, so die Ernte
In Sachen Signora Brunetti
Auf Treu und Glauben
Ein Sohn ist uns gegeben
Tierische Profite
Reiches Erbe
Lasset die Kinder zu mir kommen