Author: Donna Leon
Publisher/Format: BBC Audiobooks America, audio 7 hr, 45 min
Narrator: David Colacci
Characters: Guido Brunetti, Lorenzo Vianello, Signorina Elettra
Subject: Corruption in government, murder, blackmail
Setting: Venice
Series: A Commissario Brunetti Mystery (#13)
Genre: Mystery: Police procedural
Source: public library audio download
This is definitely one of my favorites in this series by Donna Leon. The complexity of the characters and their motivations continues to unfold as Leon carries on the saga of Commissario Guido Brunetti, his wife Paola, his children (marching smartly toward young adult maturity), and his comrades at the questura (police headquarters): Ispectore Lorenzo Vianello and Signorina Elletra. She adds in a very true to life ongoing tug-of-war with others on the staff - his boss, Vice-Questore Guiseppe Patta, and the stuffed shirt everyone loves to hate, Lieutenant Scarpa.
In this episode, an old woman, not well liked by anyone, is found brutally murdered, and her illegal alien house worker has disappeared. Brunetti is on a well deserved vacation, and does not discover until he returns that as usual, Scarpa has taken the easy way out, has not done his homework, and has declared the case closed. When a new witness appears to contradict Scarpa's conclusions, Brunetti feels compelled to reopen and take over the case. In the meantime, Vianello is dealing with an elderly relative who seems to have come under the spell of a TV evangelist cum rip-off artist.
Leon always adds into the mix wonderful discussions of current vs classic mores, police corruption, crime solving techniques and wonderful presentations of Italian food and drink. The story is especially enjoyable as an audio narrated by the incomparable David Colacci who captures the Italian inflections and intonations so well. I have yet to discover what's not to like about this series. I certainly recommend them to anyone who loves Venice, Italian food, good mysteries and strong characters, both male and female.
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I keep hearing about this series and absolutely must find the books to read. Now that our snow is melting, I'll get back to the library for something new.
ReplyDeleteoh, I should really be reading up on Venice...maybe I need to read this series and do it in a roundabout way...
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