Reviews

Death and Judgment by Donna Leon

srlemons42's review against another edition

4.0

This was another great entry into this book series! I'm having a great time working my way through this series. I'm looking forward to reading the next one!

diannel_04's review

5.0

Commissario Brunetti continues to keep me reading. This time a lawyer is murdered on the train between Padua and Venice and, naturally, nobody saw anything. A few days later an accountant is murdered and he has to figure out the connections.

Eventually he connects them to prostitution and snuff films and it all works out in the end.

Time to put book five on hold at the library.

ninscha's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

baklavopita's review

4.0

I've read this. I recall it. I didn't write it up. Sometime between 2013-2014

narflet's review against another edition

3.0

Massive step up from previous books. Not quite enough for me to say I really liked it and bump it to four stars, but I solidly enjoyed it and that's largely because it's a step up in the writing. I find this often happens when you read an author's works in order, you can watch the writing grow and improve as the author continues to learn and hone the craft. It's a really enjoyable thing to experience.

There are some brilliant, thoughtful sections in this book and I think that's what makes it interesting. I'm not really so interested in the whodunit, or working out the puzzle, but sections like the reflection on morality in chapter 13 are great. The themes of slavery and forced prostitution are done well in this book, they never felt to me like 'Now I'm exploring this hot topic in this book, having previously covered...', and they never felt crass or judgemental. Well handled. Plus, total sympathy with the murderer at the end, which is an interesting and different finish.

Another reason that the books gradually get more interesting is the gradual development of all the central characters. The progression of Elettra was particularly good. I liked her when she was introduced in the previous book, she's an interesting character, and the introduction of early internet and her use of it in this book was great. A real point in history, almost casually captured, and rather entertaining now (though I'm sure it wasn't meant to be in '95, in fact it probably was a bit 'hot topic' then!). Chiara is another great character (and Paola is getting better written too); it'll be interesting to see if there's any lasting effects for her after events in this book.

I've got the next two books from the library to read too (you reserve a book through the library system and there's no telling how long it'll take to turn up - this one took ages, then the other two followed very quickly behind it!), and I'm actually looking forward to them now.

lilias's review against another edition

3.0

I’ve read most of Donna Leon’s books, so it was interesting to go all the way back to the early years with this one. That Brunetti’s least liked colleagues and least likable colleagues are Sicilian have always given me pause. But in this book, we find out that Vianello, Brunetti’s friend, ally, and confidant at the Questura, is a supporter of Lega pushes that pause into full blown ick that contaminates the rest of the book. I’ve never read anything addressing this theme in Leon’s books, so maybe it’s just a feeling I have.

Otherwise, this is a sad and dark mystery, the kind I really like.

felicitydisco's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This series is quickly becoming a new favorite! I love Guido and his family and the FOOD.

nonna7's review

4.0

I was nearly finished this book when I came to a scene that was so familiar that I wondered if I had actually read the book before and just forgot it. However, it turns out that I had seen this on the German made Brunetti series and realized how close that series really is to the books. This book, written in 1995, reflect the author's realistic embrace of Venice and Italy. Her books detail the famous corruption that goes to the highest reaches of government and industry. However, in my opinion, the idea that Italy and other Mediterranean countries are especially corrupt is naive. This book talks about snuff movies and the sex trade, both of which are epidemic and, in my opinion, would be found in some surprising places right here in the USA. The book opens with a truck accident that results in bodies of women found on the side of the mountain where the truck tumbled down. The bill of lading in the truck stated there was lumber which there was. There also were women. When an important Venetian citizen is murdered, Brunetti is assigned to investigate & is cautioned by his slimy superior, Patta, not to make too many waves while he is doing it. then a business associate of the murdered man, an accountant from nearby Padua, is also murdered. Brunetti's daughter convinces her father to pay her to learn some things about the daughter of the murdered man which results in the daughter giving her a tape which turns out to be a horrific snuff film. That's when Brunetti realizes that there is far more to this case than he realized. Once again, there are no happy endings, but that's probably much more realistic.

mges's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

carodonahue's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5