Donna Leon

It all starts with a nun - or an ex-nun to be more precise. She is one of the nuns who had taken care of Brunetti's mother for awhile so when she comes with a tale of possible murder and elderly abuse, Brunetti decides to investigate, even if all he has is a woman's word. It is a quiet book - while there is death (and murder in some cases), it is an exploration of the state of elderly care and the lives of the nuns who deal with that more than anything else. Brunetti comes out a bit more show more morally ambiguous than usual although it feels more like Leon being more comfortable using his sense of justice (vs the law) than before. It also makes the story feel more personal on some level - stories about idealized policemen never really work properly. show less

Death in a strange country is the second Brunetti novel - a body found floating in the canal is identified as that of an American serviceman from the giant base at Vicenza, leading to an investigation that brings to light not only the inevitable political corruption but also some of the more uncomfortable aspects of the long-standing US military presence in Italy.

Like all long-term expats, Leon has fun criticising both the country she comes from and the one she's living in. It's good to see show more that her Venice is not simply the tourist-gem we like to think it is, and it's also nice that it's never a foregone conclusion that Brunetti will triumph over the systematic evils he finds in his investigations. On the other hand, the things Leon chooses to represent "the real Italy" sometimes almost seem to be drawn from the other side of the same box of Italian clichés as tourist-Venice - tax-evasion, the maffia, chiuso per restauri, pollution, corrupt businessmen and politicians, etc. Maybe it's all a bit too easy...? show less

This is number thirty three in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series and I have happily read all of them.

Leon is an excellent writer, sharing wit and wisdom and capturing so well the the pulse and rhythm of Venice. Not the Venice that the hoards of day trippers experience, but the real city of the Venetians who reside there. It is a joy to read such a literate writer whose books touch on philosophy, classical literature, political science, history, justice. Her books transcend one show more genre…they are police procedurals, mysteries, literary fiction.

The cases, while always intriguing, are almost secondary to the wonderful characterizations, musings and observations of life, especially Venetian life, by Brunetti. It is always so nice to visit again with all the familiar actors, flamboyant Signora Elletra, strong and wise Paola, philosophical Guido, comical Patta, capable Griffoni, loyal Foa.

The plot of this installment involving the “baby” (underage) gangs trying to wreak havoc on the islands of the Veneto intersects with Brunetti and Griffoni’s interaction with an acclaimed hero from the suicide attack on the Italian carabinieri headquarters at Nasiriyah during the Iraq War twenty years ago. My only hesitation with this story is that I would have liked to have known what happens next for one of the characters. I don’t want to say any more as I don’t write spoilers, but if you read it, you will know who I mean.

Leon conveys so much what Venice is all about....the politics, the cynicism, the decaying beauty. I feel that Brunetti and his family and associates are old friends. Last time we were in Venice, I passed by the Questore fully expecting to encounter him and stopped at his favorite bar for a coffee. Leon's books make me want to return to La Serenissima. show less

Guido Brunetti is a thoughtful, compassionate, and even-tempered man, who is well-read and curious about human behavior. Even he might admit that his job as Commissario di Polizia in Venice is not particularly taxing. Brunetti relies heavily on the expertise of the incomparable Signora Elletra Zorzi, who apparently can hack into any database at will. When Brunetti needs medical, employment, or financial records, many of which are confidential, the commissario asks Signorina Elletra for help, show more and she is more than happy to comply. In Donna Leon's "The Temptation of Forgiveness," Brunetti investigates an assault on Tullio Gasparini, who is married to a colleague of Guido's wife.

The author takes us on a tour of Venice's sights, including the city's fog-bound canals, picturesque cathedrals, and vaporettos or waterbuses. In addition, Leon describes in delectable detail the meals that Guido's wife, Paola, prepares for her husband and two children. On a more serious note, there is social commentary about corruption among government officials and the inducements that lead people to engage in illegal activities.

To Leon's credit "The Temptation of Forgiveness" reveals Brunetti's flaws as well as his strengths. No one would accuse him of being a workaholic. He takes time from his workday to enjoy a stroll, read the local newspaper, eat a leisurely lunch, or gaze out the window. He also makes an uncharacteristic error in judgment that leads him to misread the evidence and jump to an erroneous conclusion. By far, the most compelling scenes of the novel take place during its final pages, when Guido confronts a felon for whom he feels a measure of sympathy. This latest installment in Leon's long-running series is not particularly compelling or fast-paced, but it is worth reading for its varied cast of characters, wry humor, atmospheric descriptive writing, and insight into the decisions we make for good or ill. show less