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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I usually read Donna Leon's books when I need a break from all the heavy non-fiction or after finishing books that I struggled with. The Brunetti series are pleasant and flow easily, which make for the perfect commute or lazy Sunday type of read. I enjoy them, but I don't usually feel emotional about them.
This one surprised me. From social to systematic issues, it delves into prostitution (not the first time she wrote about it), corrupt travel agencies that offer tours for the rich to enjoy having sex with children, money and the power that comes with it, fidelity, breaking the rules, and the tricky power dynamics within the police system (Brunetti's boss, Vice-Questore Patta, closes the eye when it comes to power and often undermines his subordinates).
On the other hand, there's the fight for injustice that Paola, Brunetti's wife, is leading for a cause she believes in. She's a literate and liberal thinker, and the book begins with her throwing a stone through the window of a travel agency, accused of offering 'sex-tours' in Southeast Asia that involved young girls. We see another side of Paola and I admit I enjoyed seeing a woman try to make a change. Was she selfish? Of course. Did she hurt Guido's career? Yes. But, towards the end of the book, we see that she learned a lesson, which only makes her character more human.
Brunetti also evolved. We see his struggle to define his own 'fight', when he decides between breaking the law for Paola and following his duty as a detective. When he interviews some of the suspects, he takes on risks and listens to his instinct.
As much as I liked seeing this character development, the plot was weak and the issues were too broad to tackle in just 300 pages. Maybe these aspects will evolve in the following books, alongside Brunetti. I look forward to that.
This one surprised me. From social to systematic issues, it delves into prostitution (not the first time she wrote about it), corrupt travel agencies that offer tours for the rich to enjoy having sex with children, money and the power that comes with it, fidelity, breaking the rules, and the tricky power dynamics within the police system (Brunetti's boss, Vice-Questore Patta, closes the eye when it comes to power and often undermines his subordinates).
On the other hand, there's the fight for injustice that Paola, Brunetti's wife, is leading for a cause she believes in. She's a literate and liberal thinker, and the book begins with her throwing a stone through the window of a travel agency, accused of offering 'sex-tours' in Southeast Asia that involved young girls. We see another side of Paola and I admit I enjoyed seeing a woman try to make a change. Was she selfish? Of course. Did she hurt Guido's career? Yes. But, towards the end of the book, we see that she learned a lesson, which only makes her character more human.
Brunetti also evolved. We see his struggle to define his own 'fight', when he decides between breaking the law for Paola and following his duty as a detective. When he interviews some of the suspects, he takes on risks and listens to his instinct.
As much as I liked seeing this character development, the plot was weak and the issues were too broad to tackle in just 300 pages. Maybe these aspects will evolve in the following books, alongside Brunetti. I look forward to that.
This is the third Donna Leon book that I have read. I like the hints of Italian life and the place setting of Venice in her books. In Fatal Remedies, Brunetti's wife's active protest against a travel company causes them to wonder if her action indirectly caused a man to be murdered. Leon's books feature a lot of telling, opinionately, and thinking. This one includes a bit of action, which I found refreshing.
Even though it’s fun reading mindless mysteries, it’s always satisfying to find ones that have some kind of moral dilemma at their core that the hero must resolve. I had never read Donna Leon, who has taught for the University of Maryland in Venice, Italy for many years, but she weaves just such conundra into her police procedurals starring Commissario Brunetti of the Venice police department.
Brunetti is called out of bed one night to come to the station. His wife has been arrested for throwing a rock through the window of a travel agency. Apparently, this agency organized sex tours to Thailand and the Far East for Italian men, and Brunetti’s wife, Paola, thought something should be done about it. Despite Brunetti’s argument that the agency’s activities are not illegal, she refuses to compromise, and when word gets out to the press that a police official’s wife has been arrested, his career is put in jeopardy. Worse is to come when the owner of the travel agency is found strangled and the ripples caused by Paola’s rock arrive at unexpected beaches.
An important clue to Brunetti’s ultimate resolution of the investigation is that the finances of the murdered man were completely above board and untainted by schemes to avoid taxes. One policeman even remarks that cheating on one’s taxes was justification for almost any crime. No jury would convict if the defendant simply stated he had committed the crime to avoid taxes. Brunetti soon uncovers a scheme that involves the purchase and resale of outdated medicines that are transshipped to Africa and then to poor countries after having been sold to international aid agencies. Paola’s rock inadvertently provided the cover for a killing that was already foreordained.
Brunetti has to suffer through the typical administrivia, and in one delightful little game invented by a colleague, they manage to make it through the myriad administrative instructional lectures. Before each lecture the participants decide on a list of common buzzwords they know they’ll hear during the speech. Each person then picks a list of five of the words they believe will come up the most often. During the lecture, they place a coin on their card each time the word is heard and the person accumulating the most coins on his/her sheet wins all the coins of all the players. In one amusing scene, one of Brunetti’s friends asks a question in such a way as to elicit an answer that will supply several of the words she needs and wins the round.
Brunetti is called out of bed one night to come to the station. His wife has been arrested for throwing a rock through the window of a travel agency. Apparently, this agency organized sex tours to Thailand and the Far East for Italian men, and Brunetti’s wife, Paola, thought something should be done about it. Despite Brunetti’s argument that the agency’s activities are not illegal, she refuses to compromise, and when word gets out to the press that a police official’s wife has been arrested, his career is put in jeopardy. Worse is to come when the owner of the travel agency is found strangled and the ripples caused by Paola’s rock arrive at unexpected beaches.
An important clue to Brunetti’s ultimate resolution of the investigation is that the finances of the murdered man were completely above board and untainted by schemes to avoid taxes. One policeman even remarks that cheating on one’s taxes was justification for almost any crime. No jury would convict if the defendant simply stated he had committed the crime to avoid taxes. Brunetti soon uncovers a scheme that involves the purchase and resale of outdated medicines that are transshipped to Africa and then to poor countries after having been sold to international aid agencies. Paola’s rock inadvertently provided the cover for a killing that was already foreordained.
Brunetti has to suffer through the typical administrivia, and in one delightful little game invented by a colleague, they manage to make it through the myriad administrative instructional lectures. Before each lecture the participants decide on a list of common buzzwords they know they’ll hear during the speech. Each person then picks a list of five of the words they believe will come up the most often. During the lecture, they place a coin on their card each time the word is heard and the person accumulating the most coins on his/her sheet wins all the coins of all the players. In one amusing scene, one of Brunetti’s friends asks a question in such a way as to elicit an answer that will supply several of the words she needs and wins the round.
Commissario Brunetti book. I have no idea why I went a year without reading any Brunetti books. There was one that made me mad, but that was several books ago, and in general, I love that slightly world-weary Italian policeman, working in the name of true justice. Plus, in these books at least, Italian politics manage to be more corrupt than Illinois politics, which is downright mind-blowing when you think about it. No wonder the guy broods.
I so love Donna Leon's way with words as well as such great stories/mysteries. The relationship between Brunetti and Paula hits a peak in this one. Beautiful work!!
Nice being back in Italy again and into the life of Brunetti.
Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon (Comissario Brunetti #08) One of the things I love the most about these books is the relationship Brunetti has with his wife, Paola and in this book that relationship is put to the test from page 5.
There has been an act of vandalism against a travel agency and Brunetti is called in the middle of the night to go to the Questura and take care of things. Especially because the person responsible for the vandalism is his wife. How to act when their careers and personal lives intersect in such a violent way? And, what to do when you also throw in there a murder?
Four stars!
[I'm counting this for my Cruisin' Thru The Cozies 2014 Reading Challenge and as the letter "F" in the 2014 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge]
There has been an act of vandalism against a travel agency and Brunetti is called in the middle of the night to go to the Questura and take care of things. Especially because the person responsible for the vandalism is his wife. How to act when their careers and personal lives intersect in such a violent way? And, what to do when you also throw in there a murder?
Four stars!
[I'm counting this for my Cruisin' Thru The Cozies 2014 Reading Challenge and as the letter "F" in the 2014 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge]
Another straightforward "police procedural" from Donna Leon Commisario Brunetti. They are all so easy to read and enjoyable ... assuming you like this sort of thing, that is.