john - you might also enjoy the Aurelio Zen series by Michael Dibdin [mainly set in Rome] and Magdalen Nabb's Marshal Guarnaccia series set in Florence.

both have a very good sense of place, IMO.

If you like mysteries set in Italy, you will like the Inspector Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri. The inspector, who has to deal with crime, bureaucracy and the mafia in Sicily, loves a good meal.

There is also an Italian language TV series based on the Montalbano books that is fun to watch.

mama-mia - my italian teacher says that her mother, who lives in Ischia, loves il commissario; I always think of her when I watch him.

John - I finally have several of the Donna Leon books behind me now. I love that the city of Venice is really another character in the book. Wherever Guido goes, he takes time to glance around and appreciate his unique city. That, and, of course, that he rarely misses a chance to go home and have lunch with his family!! Thanks for the recs. Great for the years I can't get there myself.

annhig and mama_mia - thanks for the recommendations - looks like I'll be all set with some new Italian mysteries to read. I really like to find a good series - can't wait to get started on these.

hanabilly - I know what you mean. Guido is one of my favorite characters. I don't think any of these books have ever been made in to movies but I wonder who would make a good Guido - and who would play Elettra?

trouble is, john, they become quite addictive.

They have made a series of the Zen books, with Aurelio played by Rufus Sewell.

Oh, good questions, John! Well, I can see him in my mind, of course, so now I have to go searching for the embodiment of the character I see.

There was a German television series based on the Donna Leon Guido Brunetti books. Apparently, it is in German because her books have not been translated into Italian. The series DVD has English subtitles.

The Montalbano books by Andrea Camilleri were originally written in Italian and then translated into English. The TV series was done in Italian but you can get the DVD with English subtitles.

Both series can be found on Amazon.

Sounds like you had an interesting time thanks for you reply