Donna Leon is an American author renowned for her captivating series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy. Her stories are centered around the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. These novels are written in English and have been translated into many foreign languages, although – at Leon's request – not into Italian. She formerly lived in Italy, still visits monthly, and prefers not to have recognition in the country.

Born on September 28, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey, Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then served as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the American military base of Vicenza, Italy.

Her crime novels, all situated in or near Venice, have garnered critical acclaim. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger award.