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Guests who pre-order a book at the time of registration will also receive temporary access to a post-event recording of this thrilling conversation. Please note the 12 pm PDT start time. Reserve your spot early!
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Donna Leon’s Commissario Brunetti is one of the most likable, captivating characters in mystery: incisive, principled, and dogged yet cultured, this hard-driving detective has a uniquely soft edge, and his fierce protectiveness of Venice and its people have long made Brunetti a reader favorite. The protagonist of Leon’s iconic detective series has been almost as loved as Leon herself for decades.
On March 16th, Kepler’s Literary Foundation is thrilled to present Donna Leon with Charles Finch in conversation for the 30th book in Brunetti’s saga, Transient Desires. Whether you’re a new reader or have followed every installment of Brunetti’s mysteries, it's time to celebrate— because this novel has all of the hallmarks that make Leon's writing unputdownable.
When two young American women return with brutal injuries after joyriding in the Laguna with local young men, hawk-eyed Brunetti questions why their escorts vanish so quickly after bringing the injured women to the hospital. Following that thread, Brunetti uncovers what a gut-wrenching, complex case that leads to technically brilliant and ruthlessly organized criminals operating underground in the beautiful, storied city. As pursuit of justice takes Brunetti further afield, he must rely on new colleagues whose truthfulness and motivations are not always clear. Absorbing and richly atmospheric, with a keen insight into human failing plus all of Leon’s finesse for finely plotted twists, the 30th Brunetti mystery will be an absolute delight for diehard fans and new readers alike.
Interviewing Leon is Brunetti devotee and bestselling mystery writer Charles Finch, author of the popular Charles Lenox mysteries, including the recently published An Extravagant Death. Finch’s first contemporary novel, The Last Enchantments, is also available from St. Martin's Press. He recently received the 2017 Nona Balakian Citation Award, for excellence in reviewing, from the National Book Critics Circle. His essays and criticism have appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Washington Post, and more.
Don’t miss this engrossing escape to Venice with Donna Leon.
**Please consider joining with a book or donation to support the production of this event and make it possible for us to continue bringing you great conversations. Registration will close one hour before the event; please reserve your spot early to guarantee access, as registrations are limited.**
Photo of Donna Leon by Regine Mosimann, Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich. Photo of Charles Finch by Timothy Greenfield Sanders.