I very rarely read 'detective' novels but an impending trip to Venice prompted me to try Donna Leon's series set in the city.

The series revolves around the work of Police Commissario Brunetti, his various side-kicks, his pompous boss and the ingenuous Signorina Elettra.

In Suffer the Little Children a child is removed from his family by the police during the middle of the night and its father is apparently assulted in the raid and is left fighting for his life. That this man is a well respected paediatrician deepens the mystery for Brunetti, for the raid was carried out by the Carabinieri and not the local police.

As with the others in this series, Donna Leon paints a vivid and loving picture of Venice; the storylines are fairly engaging however I find the characters in this particular book badly drawn. Perhaps a longer book written at a much slower pace may have made for a more satisfactory read.

However, and perhaps this is my fault for reading four of these books in quick succession, the plots are rather on the thin side; the complexities of real life are missing, people and situations seem at times one-dimensional. Brunetti's personal life appears a little too perfect to ring true - wonderful, if at times amusingly adolescent children; beautiful, intelligent, astute wife who not only cooks exquisite suppers but who is the daughter of a well-heeled, well-connected palazzo-owning Venetian. Even his mother-in-law is perfect!

My main puzzle with these books may seem a little trivial but how are we to believe in a character such as Brunetti who drinks so much alcahol - two or three glasses of wine at lunchtime, the best part of a bottle at supper, followed by glasses of grappa? I am amused he can walk in a straight line, let alone solve crimes!

Moderately enjoyable continuation of the Commissario Guido Brunnetti series taking place in Venice. Not one of the more compelling mysteries. Addresses the problems of illegal adoptions by parents who can't have children. ( )

http://tinyurl.com/5ud4qx

While this book isn't as stunning as her previous one (Through a Glass, Darkly), it is still about a zillion times better than most mystery series, at least most contemporary ones.

Why is it that most mystery authors begin to decline by about their 3rd or 4th book and it becomes unbearable to read anything by them ever again? Not so at all with Leon. It's as if her thoughtful police commissioner, not always the sharpest tack, becomes more interesting from novel to novel. Leon's not aging him or any of the other characters (which is somewhat irritating because I'm getting antsy that Vianello hasn't been promoted past Inspector yet), but she never runs out of schemes to write about. And lately, they lean not towards murders but towards white-collar crime, infinitely more variable, calculating and byzantine in terms of plot devices.

And maybe that shows my age, that I enjoy these more, but it must also be showing hers. I hope she doesn't get tired of writing any time soon. ( )

A group of Carabinieri (police) burst into a senior paediatrician’s house in the middle of the night attacking him and taking away his eighteen-month old baby. Injured he is sent to the hospital where Commissario Guido Brunetti is summoned to his bedside. What motivated such a violent assault by the police? Confronted with more questions than answers, the investigation brings Brunetti and his colleague, Inspector Vianello into a dangerous case involving a ring of baby traffickers and illegal money-making schemes.

This book is different from the usual murder investigation story Ms Leon writes but it is none the worse for that, some may be disappointed with the lack of suspense which makes the story a bit slow and at time tedious. As in all of her books she tackles a difficult and emotive subject, this one is of infertility, illegal child adoption and medical schemes. Attacking corruption seems to be Donna Leon’s favourite theme this one is no exception. The everyday lives of the Brunetti family with details of their eating habits are still present, although I found Guido acted with less spark and enthusiasm. I wonder if Ms Leon is running out of steam, it is not one of her best…. ( )

Fair average quality Donna Leon.