»Leon narrates in a very personal way - and addresses her audience directly, almost as if they were old acquaintances and friends.«

»And yes, this woman really has something to tell.«

»In A Tale of One’s Own, Donna Leon lets us in on her ironic humour and her way to handle truth.«

»And yes, this author really has something to say.«

»The bestselling detective novelist sold tomatoes in New Jersey and taught English in Iran, before finding happiness (and murder) in Venice . . . So how has La Maestra achieved so much? A delightful companion in life and on the page, she says her high-flying literary career is due to a ‘general chipper stance towards the world’ and, despite her Catholic parents, a Protestant work ethic. Let’s call them the wings of Leon.«

»Wandering through Life is subtitled ›A Memoir‹, but this does not do justice to such a remarkable book. It is not, by any means, a conventional memoir. It is a series of short, sometimes directionless excursions into facets of Leon’s life and view of the world, some autobiographical, some philosophical and some purely whimsical . . . Leon has created a beautifully crafted looking glass into her world.«

»In this book, Ms. Leon puts Brunetti firmly in the background and brings herself to the fore . . . Her book is full of spontaneous decisions and aimless meandering . . . Warm, witty, and engaging.«

» [Leon’s] memoir invites readers into her world of adventures, and she’s certainly had plenty . . . She vividly and engaging describes her love of crime, Venice, and opera, her dream of finding the perfect cappuccino (more difficult than one might imagine), and the games she created with friends throughout the world. Leon’s wit and life well-lived will draw in varied audiences, who can live vicariously through her. Fans of her series will certainly enjoy this memoir and the brief letter she includes to dissuade them from trying to find Guido Brunetti at the Questura.«

»Charming . . . Delightfully approachable.«

»Although celebrated crime writer Leon describes herself as ‘feckless and unthinking by nature,’ she is anything but in the pages of her sprightly memoir, where she focuses the same keen eye for detail and backstory that infuses her beloved, long-running Venetian mystery series featuring Guido Brunetti . . . Leon is coy and discerning in the anecdotes she selects to chronicle her 80 years on Earth, whether lamenting Venice’s environmental degradation or reveling in the works of Handel. Though fans will bask in these candid glimpses, one need not be a devoted Brunetti aficionado to appreciate Leon’s delightfully spirited account of a life well lived.«