In Dressed for Death, third in Donna Leon's Brunetti series, Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates the murder of a man, found in a field, dressed in a red dress with red stiletto heels. The man had been beaten, his face crushed beyond recognition. At first, everyone - including Brunetti - assumes that the man was probably a transvestite prostitute, and the killing because something has gone wrong in an fairly commonplace - but distasteful - transaction. However, as Brunetti digs deeper, he discovers connections with some well-placed people in Venice society, people trying to cover up both their potentially scandalous activities and the ever-present corruption that seems to thread its way through Italian society.

Once again, Leon has woven a tale that combines a good mystery with a bit of social commentary. Here the commentary is about prejudices against transvestites and homosexuals. Brunetti finds himself confronting his own biases toward both groups. In a subplot, Vice-Questore Patta (Brunetti's self-absorbed and politically inclined boss), finds that his wife has run away with Italy's master of porn. Throughout the book, Leon is gently prodding her readers to think about various issues of sex, scandal and gossip.

Another good installment in the Brunetti series. ( )

Another pleasant adventure with Commissario Guido Brunetti. A nearby town calls Brunetti in to investigate the corpse of what is apparently a transvestite found lying near the industrial district, a common hangout for the sex trade.

I enjoyed this one even more than the last (Death in a Strange Country). The story felt more like a mystery, whereas the last one felt a bit more like a political treatise. This is not to say that Leon doesn't provide some commentary on social issues in this episode. In this one, she turns her attention to the condition of prostitutes, particularly male prostitutes, and transvestites in Italy. As usual, there is a fair degree of cynicism about Italian authorities and social conventions as Brunetti works to resolve the case in spite of them.

Three books in and this series is still one I recommend—they are getting better as they go. ( )

3rd in the Commisario Brunetti series set in Venice.

In a field in Mestre, a small city just to the west of Venice on the mainland, in a field used by the most desperate type of prostitutes, a worker in an abbatoir discovers the body of a middle-aged man dressed in a cheap red dress and red shoes. His face has been smashed in, making him virtually unidentifiable.

Because it’s August, and Mestre’s Questura is understaffed due to holidays and other misfortunes, Patta decides to “lend” Brunetti to the Mestre force to investigate the crime. Not that there’s much doubt in anyone’s mind what happened--something “gone wrong” in a transaction by the most despised of prostitutes, transvestites. Brunetti, who was supposed to go on the family’s annual vacation in the mountains, instead sees Paola, Chiara, and Raffi off at the train station, and returns to a hot, humid Venice--and Mestre--for this distasteful investigation. Before too long, Brunetti is less than convinced of the apparent motive for the murder; the investigation takes him further into the world of transvestite prostitution and those of the moneyed class in Venice who use their services.

In most of her books, Leon uses some social issue as a background for her plots, illuminating the less than pleasant aspects of Italian life--in this case, transvestites and the attitudes felt by most Italians towards them, attitudes that in many cases are utterly hypocritical. She does a good job of this without ever becoming preachy, letting the characters speak for themselves and showcase the situation. While I don’t think that Leon does as good a job on the same subject as Magdalen Nabb in her Marshal Guarnaccia series (The Marshall’s Own Case), it’s still a glimpse into that world.

Because Paola and the teenagers are off on vacation, this book does not have their strong contributions to the series, but that is more than made up for by the introduction of one of Leon’s great characters, the ineffable Signorina Elettra Zorzi. Nominally secretary to Patta, the pompous Vice Questore, Elettra in her debut appearance gives ample notice of the serene, sophisticated, highly talented computer hijacker role which she will expand in future books. The book is worth reading if just for the relish of her appearance. Patta plays an unusually large role in this book in a surprising way. We’re getting used to some of the more minor ones now, such as Sgt. Vianelli and his always off-stage wife Nadia who has found a second career as amateur investigator; all the minor characters lend strength to the series.

All in all, an excellent story, with the usual good plotting, fine writing, and strong characters. Highly recommended. ( )

Third in the Commissario Guido Brunetti Italian police procedural series. When a man dressed in women’s clothing is found in an area frequented by prostitutes in a smaller city near Venice, Guido is sent to investigate due to a staffing shortage in that district. With his vacation just on the horizon, Guido ends up having to send Paola and the children off to the mountains without him, while he slogs away in the oppressive heat and humidity of a Venice summer hunting for clues. As usual, some influential people end up mixed up in the mess that becomes the investigation and Guido has to tread on a few toes along the path to the solution. I really enjoy everything about this series—the author’s writing style, the atmosphere she paints, and her characters, too. Excellent! ( )

The same formula as the other books about commissario Brunetti. But it works.