Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon

A Venetian Murder Mystery of Systemic Corruption, Greed, and False Accusations

When Maria Grazia Battestini, a notoriously mean-spirited elderly woman, is found brutally murdered in her Venice apartment, suspicion immediately falls on her Romanian housekeeper, who dies in a desperate attempt to flee the police with a stash of cash. Case closed—according to Commissario Guido Brunetti's glory-seeking superior.

However, a grieving neighbor steps forward claiming the housekeeper was innocent, prompting Brunetti to quietly reopen the investigation off the record. Digging into Signora Battestini's financial records, Brunetti uncovers a sordid web of extortion, fraudulent medical practices, and lucrative offshore accounts involving wealthy doctors and religious charities, exposing how far Venice's elite will go to protect their fortunes.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Donna Leon delivers a quintessential European police procedural featuring her beloved, cerebral detective, Commissario Guido Brunetti. Set against the vivid, rain-soaked canals of Venice, this atmospheric mystery trades fast-paced action for sharp social critique, procedural police work, and a deep exploration of institutional corruption and greed within Italian society.