Death and Judgment by Donna Leon is one of the author's Guido Brunetti mysteries. Guido Brunetti is the commissario of police in Venice, Italy. Brunetti is known for his devotion to family and the job. The man will do whatever is necessary to bring people to justice while attempting to maintain a sense of ethics. Like many Venetians, Brunetti likes wine and takes great pleasure in spending afternoons with his wife and daughter at home.

At work Brunetti tends to be somewhat mysterious. It is obvious he has had clashes with his superiors in the past, yet he does what is necessary to get the job done. He does not suck up to anyone. There is a great deal of tension between Brunetti and his immediate superior, Vice-Questore Patta. Brunetti does have a good relationship with his subordinate and co-worker Sergeant Vianello and police consultant Elettra Zorzi.

The book starts with an accident taking place near the city of Travisio. A truck from Romania derails and the driver and several women are killed. The entire incident is a mystery as is the presence of the women.

Prominent attorney Carlo Trevisan is murdered on the intercity train to Trieste. There seems to be no obvious motive, but the case is assigned to Brunetti. Not long after the murder of Trevisan, Rino Favero, a prominent accountant in Padua is also murdered. Although the two murders have no obvious links, Brunetti has a gut feeling that they are connected. When Trevisan's phone number is found in Favero's notebook, Brunetti's feelings are confirmed.

Brunetti connects with a police captain in Padua, Capitano della Corte. After Favero's autopsies are stolen, the murder is falsely determined to be a suicide. Because the case is no longer a homicide, Brunetti and della Corte must continue the investigation in secret. There are many players in the mystery, including Trevisan's widow, fellow lawyer Salvadore Martucci, and Ubaldo Lotto, Trevisan's brother-in-law and business manager. Brunetti likes none of these people but has no proof that any of them are links to the crimes.

When Lotto is also murdered, Brunetti is sure that the three men and their murders are linked in some way. After tracing phone numbers to a seedy bar in Mestre, Brunetti and della Corte discover that the men were involved in a widespread prostitution ring and distribution of snuff films. They may have also been involved in a pharmaceuticals cartel but of that there is no proof.

Franca Trevisan finally admits to knowing about her husband's business but seems to have little remorse. Brunetti and della Corte find the last person to be seen with Favero and learn her identity. Brunetti confronts the woman, Signora Ceroni and she confesses to the three murders saying that she performed a great right for society because the men were filthy pigs. She also confides to Brunetti, the high level positions of some of the people involved in the international cartel to transport prostitutes. The women who had been in the truck in Travisio were being brought into the country to work the streets.

Brunetti takes Ceroni to the Questura for holding until morning. When Brunetti arrives the next morning he finds that members of Special Branch had taken the woman to Padua, although he had left specific instructions that no one was to go near the prisoner. Brunetti immediately calls della Corte and is informed that Ceroni has supposedly committed suicide.