Dickens & Rumi

book

About Face

Donna Leon · 2009

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for About Face by Donna Leon. This book is content notes include Death of a character, Alcohol or drugs, Frightening scenes; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Good role models.

Book 18 · Commissario Brunetti MysterySource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 3/5 · Alcohol or drugs 2/5 · Frightening scenes 2/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Good role models 3/5
Series positionBook 18 · Commissario Brunetti Mystery
Recommendation2.8/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Death of a character 3/5
Recommendation 2.8/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
17Scored categories
17Evidence notes
2Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character3/5
  • Alcohol or drugs2/5
  • Frightening scenes2/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Good role models3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 20 · Drawing ConclusionsStrongest cautions: Death of a character 4/5 · Strong language 2/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · Death at La Fenice
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Death in a Strange Country
    Death of a character4/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  3. Book 3 · Dressed for Death
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5
    Gets more intense
  4. Book 4 · Death and Judgment
    Death of a character4/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  5. Book 5 · Acqua Alta
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  6. Book 6 · Quietly in Their Sleep
    Death of a character4/5Religious themes4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5
    Gets gentler
  7. Book 7 · A Noble Radiance
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  8. Book 8 · Fatal Remedies
    Death of a character4/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  9. Book 9 · Friends in High Places
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  10. Book 10 · A Sea of Troubles
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  11. Book 11 · Willful Behaviour
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  12. Book 12 · Uniform Justice
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  13. Book 13 · Doctored Evidence
    Death of a character4/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets more intense
  14. Book 14 · Blood from a Stone
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5
    Gets gentler
  15. Book 15 · Through a Glass Darkly
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  16. Book 16 · Suffer the little childrenAges 16+
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  17. Book 17 · The girl of his dreams
    Death of a character4/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  18. Book 17 · The Girl of His Dreams (A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery)
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  19. Book 18 · About Face
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  20. Book 20 · Drawing Conclusions
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  21. Book 21 · Beastly Things
    Death of a character3/5Graphic injury3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  22. Book 22 · The Golden Egg
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Graphic injury1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  23. Book 23 · By Its Cover
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Strong language1/5
    Gets gentler
  24. Book 24 · Falling in Love
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  25. Book 25 · The Waters of Eternal Youth
    Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Death of a character1/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  26. Book 26 · Earthly Remains
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  27. Book 27 · The Temptation of Forgiveness
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Violence3/5Death of a character2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  28. Book 28 · Unto Us a Son Is Given
    Death of a character3/5LGBTQIA characters3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Religious themes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets more intense
  29. Book 29 · Trace Elements
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Strong language2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler
  30. Book 30 · Transient Desires
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5
    About the same
  31. Book 31 · Give Unto Others
    Death of a character3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5LGBTQIA characters2/5Violence2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  32. Book 32 · So Shall You Reap
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury2/5Strong language2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    About the same
  33. Book 33 · A Refiner's Fire
    Death of a character3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5Religious themes1/5Romance1/5Sexual content & nudity1/5
    Gets gentler

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What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

A murder is central to the plot, with investigation, consequences, and reflection on loss and culpability.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Some descriptions of crime scenes are present but are not excessively graphic.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional mild profanity consistent with contemporary crime fiction.

Religious themes1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional references to the cultural and social role of religion in Italy.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Brunetti's stable marriage is a subplot, but romance is not the focus.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Atmospheric tension typical of a mystery novel; no jump scares or frightening creatures.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Casual consumption of alcohol, typically wine with meals in a European cultural setting.

Violence2/5
Why this rating?

Violence is generally depicted off-page or after the fact in a investigative context.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Products & advertising · 0/5Sexual content & nudity · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist demonstrates moral courage by pursuing the truth despite systemic opposition.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Encourages analytical thinking and critical examination of social structures.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Reflects the demographics of the Venetian setting.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

Offers insight into Italian social dynamics and environmental issues.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Kindness is shown through empathy toward victims and social justice efforts.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Focuses on integrity, environmental stewardship, and the cost of moral compromise.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Brunetti is portrayed as a thoughtful, principled, and dedicated professional and family man.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in About Face would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in About Face, and what caused that change?
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