I've read several novels in Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series and have enjoyed them all, so when a publicist asked if I'd like a review copy of A Question of Belief, I happily said yes.

Donna Leon is the most graceful, consistent mystery writer I've read. Her style is smooth and substantial. "Unpretentious literary fiction" is a phrase that just popped into my head when thinking of her writing. Brunetti is such a good man and Venetian crime & politics are so vile, yet presented through Leon's masterful storytelling and calm voice, nothing seems simplistic or cheap by this juxtaposition. And although Leon follows the mystery novel conventions of red herrings and having a main plot and a subplot which keeps you guessing how/if/when they'll come together, nothing falls flat in this novel or any of hers that I've read. She catches the reader (or at least me) by surprise for not paying closer attention to all of the senses that can register clues.

The atmosphere she creates is delicious. The characters are delightful. I'd forgotten that Brunetti is a reader of the classics and his wife a Henry James fanatic. There's a delightful description of Brunetti noticing how the stack of books his wife plans to take on vacation changes as the day of departure gets closer.

This is a good mystery for those who don't like a lot of gore or gratuitous violence (there is a little bit, but it is quick and doesn't go into gruesome detail). ( )

Having read most of Leon's mysteries it's an extra treat when I can be surprised...this time with a twist of too much evidence. Always the ambiance...the food, the literary references and quirks of characters pull me in to enjoy these quick, slick reads. ( )

I had the distinct feeling I'd read this one already. It didn't improve with a second reading if that's the case. The body doesn't show up til page 117 and before that it's just oppressive heat and Venetian social machinations, neither of which were sufficiently interesting to catch my attention. Neither story is satisfactorily resolved and I guess that's often true of real life but in fiction I want some resolution if not a neatly tied off ending. ( )

A solid entry in the series, this story sticks close to Venice, confronting the murder of a model civil servant and the effects of a fraudulent spiritual and medical advisor on the elderly. The murder derails a part of Guido's participation in a family vacation in the mountains during a terribly hot season, and as usual the reader can feel the implacable heat and sun. ( )

Vacation time looms on the horizon as Brunetti begins on unofficial investigation into the way Vianello's aunt spends her child's inheritance. Court postponements also captivate his attention when a friend informs him about a noticed irregularity. He finds these a welcome diversion from the lack of cases leading up to vacation and knows their unofficial status makes them easy to drop. He looks forward to escaping the Venice heat in a mountain setting, but before he reaches his destination, he receives a call. A murder connected to the court date irregularities occurred. Vianello also returns from his vacation to assist. Everyone describes the victim as "a good man," but someone hated him enough to commit murder. Is the motive work-related or linked to his personal life? It's another great installment in the series with David Colacci doing the narration. ( )