Brunetti's Venice: Walks with the City's Best-Loved Detective

For any Donna Leon and Guido Brunetti fan, this book is a must for a visit to Venice. I was unsure about the setup, as Sepeda states she is trying to write for the "armchair reader" at home as well as someone walking around Venice. I used the book while I was physically in Venice, so I can only comment to that side. I hadn't realized how confusing and difficult Venice is to navigate, so I found the maps helpful and the walking instructions fairly clear. Judging from tourist maps of Venice, I think it might be more helpful to have the book, as at least there the routes are plotted. The content is very good. Sepeda does an excellent job of merging locations with passages from the books. Even though I'd already read all the books, I found having short passages in front of me while experiencing "Brunetti's Venice" quite enjoyable. I also enjoyed short quotes from other famous books about Venice and Sepeda shows a clear knowledge of the city's history. All in all, a fun book to have in the city, helps bring Brunetti to life.

Terrific book. Puts you right into the heart of Venice. "Walking" Brunetti's paths is a lot of fun.

My husband & I were planning a trip to Italy, for both business & pleasure, & decided to cap it off with a trip to our beloved Venice (we live near Venice, CA) to celebrate my 50th birthday. And what do I randomly come across prior to travel? Brunetti's Venice !! I was excited to get it & see what I might discover. And even though we had a friend with us in Venice, who's from the Veneto, as well as a Venetian meet us for drinks, it was also thrilling for me to take the time to consult the book & find La Questera as well as Brunetti's apartment. When I read the next book I will have a new set of images in my head to go with it, which is great fun for me. By the way, the Venetian claims he may consult for author Donna Leon (with him I'd say there's a 50/50 probability; he's just one of those kinds of guys) which would only add to my enjoyment of her series.

This is a fascinating book. I just wish I had had it while I was reading all the Brunetti books, which I read with a guide book to Venice in one hand. It didn't have many of the important places like the Questura, and the Brunetti apartment or his favorite haunts, so it was fun to see where they all are, real and fictional. I recommend this book to all Donna Leon readers.

Having read all of Donna Leon's books (and anxiously awaiting her next on April 13) I am thoroughly enjoying this. I only wish I had had it when I was in Venice...maybe next time . However it was a great "trigger" to start reminiscing.