Donna Leon

In each story, Venetian detective commissioner Guido Brunetti investigates and solves one or more crimes, usually including murder, in the doges' city, with some help from uniformed sergeant Lorenzo Vianello. Meanwhile both Brunetti's family (head-strong son Raffi and daughter Chiara and wife Paola) and superiors, especially the jurisdiction's "vice-questore" Patta, more an ambitious politician then a law officer, often cause distraction or worse.