Of all the Donna Leon mysteries I have read, this one was my least favorite. Don't get me wrong - it was very good, full of the usual: well-developed characters,plot twists, and the beautiful sites of Venice. This one was just too melancholy for me, full of the hopelessness of poverty, the ruthlessness of criminals and the greed of politicians who always get away with the money.From Amazon, "In Death and Judgment, a truck crashes and spills its dangerous cargo on a treacherous road in the Italian Dolomite mountains. Meanwhile, in Santa Lucia, a prominent international lawyer is found dead aboard an intercity train. Suspecting a connection between the two tragedies, Brunetti digs deep for an answer, stumbling upon a seedy Venetian bar that holds the key to a crime network that reaches far beyond the laguna. But it will take another violent death in Venice before Brunetti and his colleagues begin to understand what is really going on."From Publisher's Weekly, "The heady atmosphere of Venice and a galaxy of fully realized characters enrich this intriguing and finally horrifying tale, the fourth featuring Guido Brunetti, the stalwart and worldly Commissioner of Police in Venice. Shortly after the bodies of eight women are found near a truck that has been in a mountainside accident, Brunetti begins to investigate the shooting death of attorney Carlo Trevisan, counselor to influential industrialists and bankers. Two days later an accountant for politically active manufacturers is found murdered in his car. Both men, Brunetti discovers, had been placing calls to Eastern Europe, Ecuador and Thailand from a pay phone in a disreputable bar in Padua. Probing for more information, Brunetti relies on unique sources: his boss's secretary, who is particularly adept at using computers; a judge who owes him a favor; even his sergeant's wife, who raises gossip to an art form. Brunetti's wife, a professor of English, and his teenaged daughter offer invaluable aid. With consummate skill, Leon (Dressed for Death) gradually reveals the broad reaches of a corrupt network linking the privileged and powerful."
I really like the entire Commissario Brunetti series because I get to take a break from my normal life and read about fettucine truffle pasta. That said, this is my least favorite book so far. Without giving too much away, the plot of this book revolves around human trafficking and horrific sexual violence against women, which ruins the escapism for me. I just don't like reading books in which sexual violence is a major subplot or plot point, and I avoid them now if possible.However! The first half of this book had some pretty funny moments, and I highlighted a lot more in this installment. It features:- The aforementioned fettucine truffle pasta and a detailed description of the truffle being shaved onto said pasta- Paola describing American literature as "Puritans, cowboys, and strident women"- The very fashionable Signorina Elettra referring to her computer whiz friend as an 'acker'- Many equivalencies between lawyers and whores, mostly because they are notably difficult to obtain client lists from- Brunetti talking to his daughter, Chiara, about a contest to name a penguin at the Rome Zoo ("Spot"? come on Chiara)One thing that was missing in this book was Venice. It was much less of a character here, though this passage did make up for some of that: “We are a pessimistic people, aren’t we?” Brunetti asked. “We once had an empire. Now all we have,” she said, repeating the same gesture, again encompassing the Basilica, the campanile and, below it, Sansovinos Loggetta, “all we have is this Disneyland. I think that’s sufficient cause for pessimism.” Brunetti nodded but said nothing. She hadn’t persuaded him. The moments came rarely, but for him the city’s glory still lived.As I've said before, I appreciate the politicism that Donna Leon brings to her novels - she has some great lines in this one about the Italian tax system - but this particular subject is not one I personally enjoy reading. It may be time for me and my BFF Brunetti to take a break. But I'll be back!!!!
What do You think about Death And Judgment (2006)?
Brunetti was a different Brunetti in this one. Still as caring and humane but taking on the persona, from time to time, of a tough cop, something he can usually avoid doing. The surprise was that he is so good at it. He exercised his interrogator muscles in this one, to an extent that I don't remember him doing before. Of course, I am not reading these in sequence so I haven't seen all sides of him yet.I particularly enjoyed the rehash he would allow himself when he discussed the case(strictly speaking, a taboo)with Paola which helped him pull pieces of the case together. They are foils for each other and this creates such a fine and interesting relationship between them. And Chiara, turning detective/spy for him when it becomes apparent to her that this case involves people she knows. Always, Leon tells a comforting and finely designed story, giving us characters that are credible no matter what side of the law they are on. The government's corruption is clearly explained. The differences between the many histories of so many parts of Italy and the ear of the Italian when considering the dialects and slightly different 'languages' of the peninsula, who is a friend and who is a 'foe,' has always fascinated me. Just another good time from Leon.
—Shari
They exchanged a look, but before Brunetti Could say anything, Paola continued, "I'm not sure it's all that much larger an issue, but I think if I were to speak slightingly of you, it would be wrong."t"You always speak slightingly of me," Brunetti said, forcing himself to smile.t"No, Guido, I speak slightingly to you. That's different. I would never say any of those things about you."t"Because that's dishonorable?"t"Precisely," she said, smiling.t"But it's not dishonorable to say them to me?"t"Of course not, especially if they're true. Because that's between us, Guido, and that doesn't belong, in any sense, to the world." (p. 102)After a moment's pause, he continued, "It was obvious that they weren't married." Even before della Corte could ask, the waiter explained, "I don't know what it is that makes me say that, but I've watched a million couples here over the years, and there's just a way people who are married behave with one another. I mean, whether it's a good marriage or a bad one, even if they hate one another, they're always comfortable with one another." He waved the subject away as to complex to explain. Brunetti knew exactly what he meant but, like him, could never hope to explain it. (p. 176)
—Shuriu
Read this while in Venice - glad I did. I've now read the first 5 in the series and am retroactively updating Goodreads.I actually read Death and Judgement first but reading this out of order did not hurt. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of Venice since I was there at the time, but that isn't important to enjoying these well-written, engaging policier. I enjoyed the mix of police professional and family life. The plot was engaging and surprising at turns (reader's disclosure - I almost never guess who done it).The Commissario is very likeable. I suspect that is why I and others keep reading these books.
—Gary
