Alles illegal: Commissario Brunetti erfährt, dass sein eigenes Heim genauso entstanden ist, wie er so vieles in Italien kritisiert.
Alles ist illegal und alles soll kaschiert werden.
Ein Beamter des Katasteramtes erklärt Guido und Paola, dass es Zweifel an der Rechtmäßigkeit des Baues ihrer Wohnung gibt.
Und dieser Beamte stirbt.

Selbstverständlich musste er nicht sterben, weil er Guidos Wohnung in Frage stellte, aber für Familie Brunetti ergibt sich eine spannende Frage: Begibt man sich in den Sumpf, der einem selbst das Obdach retten könnte?
Sicher nicht der beste Brunetti, aber immer überlegt und immer faszinierend.

Wer sich auf Donna Leons Commissario Brunetti einlässt, muss wissen, dass er keinen Krimi liest sondern eine Geschichte über Menschen, die eben zufällig in Kriminalfälle involviert sind.

Friends in High Places
Donna Leon

9th in the Commisario Brunetti series, set in Venice, Italy.

Brunetti receives a visitor from the Officio Castato, the Registration Office, that controls permits and titles to all property in Venice. The visitor, Franco Rossi, tells a totally panicked Brunetti that because there is no record of the renovations that constitute his apartment to the building, the best he can hope for is a huge fine but the possibility exists that the apartment will be torn down.

Later, Brunetti receives a phone call from Rossi, clearly uneasy, who wants to talk with him in person. But before Brunetti can make the meeting, Rossi dies in a fall from a third floor window. It seems like an accident, but Brunetti, having witnessed the terror on Rossi’s face when confronted with heights, believes that Rossi has been murdered.

The main protagonist in this book is Italian corruption, specifically the way it plays out in Venice. In all her books, Leon is unsparing in her criticism of corruption in all dealings that Venetians have with officialdom; this is nowhere more true than in real estate, and she at least mentions it from time to time in other books. But this is a close look at a major way that illegal money flows into the hands of corrupt officials.

There is a subplot involving Patta that is very well done, showing yet another way that the justice system is corrupted and efforts by law enforcement officials frustrated.

The end of the book, which is the climax, not usual for Leon, is hair-raising.

As usual, the comprimario characters, such as Paola, Signorina Elettra, and Sgt. Vianello make large contributions to the strength of the plot.

Another excellent installment. Highly recommended. ( )

Also under the title "The Dark Side of Venice"

(The ninth book in the Guido Brunetti series)

One day, Commissario Brunetti is visited by Franco Rossi, a young bureaucrat concerned about the lack of official approval to build his apartment years before. There are no existing plans for this addition in the registry's office; in fact, on record, the flat was never built. The Brunetti family fears a blackmail scenario, resulting in demolition or an enormous fine even though the original construction was done years ago and the legal aspect was duly notarised.

After months of anxiety and a lack of follow-up from the registry's office it comes to Brunetti attention that Rossi has been found dead. With an interest on more than one level, the detective looks into the young man's work life and discovers an underworld link to drugs and loan-sharking. At the same time, Brunetti's boss Patta reveals his personal problems in relation to the world of drug dealers, thugs and crooks ..it never ends.. Ms Leon successfully plays with the idea that corrupt practices breed more corruption.

This is a very good read, written in a simple language with the odd Italian word to accentuate the atmosphere. The returning characters are well drawn; Brunetti and his wife are the same likable couple maintaining balance between their working life and their family life. What is an Italian story without food, the author never lets us down and her description is so vivid you can almost smell the aroma.

This is another well done book in her series. ( )

(spoilers)
I put this book down with a strong sense of unfinished business - there are several plot lines that are not tied up by the conclusion of the novel. Although that is all part of the bleak picture of corruption and futility that makes up Brunetti's world, it still left me feeling unsatisfied. ( )

Another good story in the Brunetti series. Set in modern day Venice the story is as much about life in Venice and his family as it is about a murder mystery.

I love the characters from his family to his co-workers and friends. The ins and outs of trying to live in Venice/Italy, along with their customs and culture. Great setting and just a wonderful warm feeling.

The crimes and the criminals are painted as sad and human, and not just evil baddies. The victims are people, and this book had incredibly wrenching portrayals of the survivors, without being maudlin or exploitive.

The only problem is the ending. Leon never has a neat happy Hollywood ending with everything tied up. And that is fine, its like real life. But this time she seemed to not even really connect the crime to the suspects. We have some dead people, we have some ideas, and we have some who may have been the perpetrators or puppet masters, but nothing concrete. Because this isn't the newspaper, or real life, I do want a bit of entertainment type closure. But other than the ending it was one of her better ones. Can't wait for the next one. ( )