Don't Always Hit the Mark #3

The general idea behind this regular feature on my blog is that even the best authors, or your favourite ones, don't always achieve the same rating with the reader. In previous posts I looked at how I have rated novels by Agatha Christie, and Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine.

My general benchmarks are

5.0 Excellent
4.0 Very Good
3.0 Average
2.0 Poor
1.0 Did Not Like
0 Did Not Finish

This week I'm considering another author whose new book I always look forward to: Donna Leon.

I have a couple of reviews on my blog, but many more books listed in my database.

• ABOUT FACE
• THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS
• SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN
  

Mini reviews of titles not actually reviewed in a full post are here.

My ratings in descending order:

1. BLOOD FROM A STONE (2005), my rating 4.8
2. DOCTORED EVIDENCE (2005), my rating 4.8
3. THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY (2006), my rating 4.8
4. SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN (2007), my rating 4.8
5. THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS (2008), my rating 4.7
6. A VENETIAN RECKONING (1996), my rating 4.6
7. FATAL REMEDIES (1999), my rating 4.6
8. THE ANONYMOUS VENETIAN (1994), my rating 4.6
9. ABOUT FACE (2009), my rating 4.4

There are gaps in this list, but that is probably due to the fact that my database begins only at the end of 2004 rather than that I haven't read them. ABOUT FACE is #18 in the series, and I actually think I have probably read about 16 of them over the years. In my review of ABOUT FACE I tackle the issue of whether you need to read them in order.

You'll see that my average rating is about 4.7, and that I didn't enjoy the last one as much as I have others. But all the ratings show that I generally do rate Donna Leon very highly, almost always close to Excellent. Why?

I listed Donna Leon as one of my favourite authors very early in my blog.
They strike a chord with me partly because I have been to Venice several times and love the city. I also love the way Leon weaves a crime fiction story against a background of modern Venice and it's problems such as political corruption, illegal immigration, the rising waters, the challenges to traditional industries, and industrial pollution.
I have enjoyed also the development of the characters, and visiting with her protagonist Guido Brunetti is like renewing an old friendship.

Which of the Leon novels sticks in your mind as the best?