Having read seventeen of Donna Leon's novels about the Venetian Detective, Guido Brunetti, I am well familiar with his approach, methods, background and even culinary tastes. So, I was curious. Would the BBC adaptation of Leon's first novel, Death in La Fenice, be faithful to my mental image of the Commissario? The answer was - mostly. Maybe he was just a little more informal, but the biggest surprise however was the portrayal of the supporting cast. His wife Paolo was rather more involved in the investigation than I expected, and the Vice Questore, Patta, whilst still a pratt, was rather more of a dandy - with an English Saville Row suit and a silver topped cane. Broadcast in two parts, Brunetti was played by Julian Rhind-Tutt, and the story more or less stuck to the plot of the book. Well done and I enjoyed it. My review of the original book and plot is at https://tonyfitz1959.postach.io/post/death-at-la-fenice-by-donna-leon-read-14-8-17-5-5.

Cast included Julian Rhind-Tutt, Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong, David Horovitch, Clive Hayward, Jeany Spark, Siobhan Redmond, Jane Slavin, Hugh Ross and Susan Jameson. Dramatised by D J Britton from the novel by Donna Leon. Music by Julie Cooper. Produced and directed by Eoin O'Callaghan. Broadcast in two parts by BBC Radio 4 on 4th and 11th August 2024.