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"Your situation is always ambiguous, isn't it, Guido?", his father-in-law, Count Orazio Falier, observes of Donna Leon's soulful detective, Guido Brunetti, at the beginning of her superb 28th Brunetti novel, Unto Us a Son is Given. "The world we live in makes that necessary," Brunetti presciently replies. Count Falier was urging his Venetian son-in-law to investigate, and preferably intervene in, the seemingly innocent plan of the Count's best friend, the elderly Gonzalo Rodriguez de Tejada, to adopt a much younger man as his son. Under arcane Italian inheritance laws this man would then be heir to Gonzalo's entire fortune, a prospect Gonzalo's friends find appalling. For his part, Brunetti wonders why the old man, a close family friend, can't be allowed his pleasure in peace. And yet, what seems innocent on the Venetian surface can cause tsunamis beneath. Gonzalo unexpectedly, and literally, drops dead on the street, and his good friend Berta Dodson, just arrived in Venice for the memorial service, is strangled in her hotel room—having earlier sent Gonzalo an email saying "We are the only ones who know you cannot do this," referring to the adoption. Now with an urgent case to solve, Brunetti reluctantly untangles the long-hidden mystery in Gonzalo's life that ultimately led to murder—a resolution that brings him way more pain than satisfaction. Once again, Donna Leon brilliantly plumbs the twists and turns of the human condition, reuniting us with some of crime fiction's most memorable and enduring characters.
"Your situation is always ambiguous, isn't it, Guido?", his father-in-law, Count Orazio Falier, observes of Donna Leon's soulful detective, Guido Brunetti, at the beginning of her superb 28th Brunetti novel, Unto Us a Son is Given. "The world we live in makes that necessary," Brunetti presciently replies. Count Falier was urging his Venetian son-in-law to investigate, and preferably intervene in, the seemingly innocent plan of the Count's best friend, the elderly Gonzalo Rodriguez de Tejada, to adopt a much younger man as his son. Under arcane Italian inheritance laws this man would then be heir to Gonzalo's entire fortune, a prospect Gonzalo's friends find appalling. For his part, Brunetti wonders why the old man, a close family friend, can't be allowed his pleasure in peace. And yet, what seems innocent on the Venetian surface can cause tsunamis beneath. Gonzalo unexpectedly, and literally, drops dead on the street, and his good friend Berta Dodson, just arrived in Venice for the memorial service, is strangled in her hotel room—having earlier sent Gonzalo an email saying "We are the only ones who know you cannot do this," referring to the adoption. Now with an urgent case to solve, Brunetti reluctantly untangles the long-hidden mystery in Gonzalo's life that ultimately led to murder—a resolution that brings him way more pain than satisfaction. Once again, Donna Leon brilliantly plumbs the twists and turns of the human condition, reuniting us with some of crime fiction's most memorable and enduring characters.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Due to publisher restrictions the library cannot purchase additional copies of this title, and we apologize if there is a long waiting list. Be sure to check for other copies, because there may be other editions available.
Reviews-
Narrator David Colacci's rambling pace is just right for the 28th mystery featuring the ever-philosophical Commissario Guido Brunetti. This time the Venetian police detective reluctantly agrees to investigate an old family friend, the wealthy and gay Gonzalo, who is about to adopt a much younger man as his heir. When Gonzalo dies and his close female friend is then murdered, Brunetti solves the crime while musing on the frailties of human nature. Colacci's Brunetti is gruff and has an understated Italian accent, while his wife and children speak more gently. Colacci switches seamlessly from the storyline to the conversations of the many locals and police officers of Venice. All in all, a delightful listen. J.E.S. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
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Narrator David Colacci's rambling pace is just right for the 28th mystery featuring the ever-philosophical Commissario Guido Brunetti. This time the Venetian police detective reluctantly agrees to investigate an old family friend, the wealthy and gay Gonzalo, who is about to adopt a much younger man as his heir. When Gonzalo dies and his close female friend is then murdered, Brunetti solves the crime while musing on the frailties of human nature. Colacci's Brunetti is gruff and has an understated Italian accent, while his wife and children speak more gently. Colacci switches seamlessly from the storyline to the conversations of the many locals and police officers of Venice. All in all, a delightful listen. J.E.S. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
