About Face is Book #18 of the Commissario Guido Brunetti series written by Donna leon.
A highly recommended title and series featuring the Venetian detective Commissario Guido Brunetti.
**** ( )

Franca Marinello is a well-read woman who catches the attention of Commissario Guido Brunetti. She is seated across from him at dinner at the home of the Cont and Contessa Falier, his in-laws. Her appearance is well-known due to excessive plastic surgery. The story behind it isn’t.

Franca Marinello visits Brunetti at his office a few days later to ask a favour of investigating a certain matter. His investigating leads him to a suspicious death, illegal transport of garbage and a visit from a carabinieri from nearby Marghera. The carabinieri is investigating Mafia takeovers of local businesses in his area.

As Brunetti investigates, he feels there are connections between all these cases, but finding the common thread is difficult.

Leon’s books are still enjoyable reading as the story lines unfold. I also enjoy scenes of life in the Brunetti household, as they give a more rounded image of Brunetti and his world. ( )

eco-awareness, murder, murder-investigation, class-consciousness, law-enforcement, departmental-rivalry, injustice, international-crime-and-mystery, interpersonal-problems, Venice, Italy, family, family-dynamics, friendship*****

It all began with dinner at Brunetti's in-laws. Then the trail of murder, deceit, and more began. A real morality play.
Voice actor David Colacci continues to add much to a good story. ( )

I just couldn't get into this. Maybe I've read too many Leon books too closely together. It took over 100 pages for a dead body to appear. I didn't care about the characters and it all seemed too familiar and the same as the previous 17 novels. Time for a change methinks ( )

One of the better Leons I've read, and very welcome. Of course, it's the usual battle between the corrupt government and the honest policeman, with some very interesting additions of Comorra activity the crisis of garbage, both toxic and putrefying, in Italy. The sense that Brunetti is getting even more disheartened is palpable. ( )