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stmchester's review
3.0
I liked most of this book. It had the usual charming family conversations, observations about how the tourists are ruining Venice, and Brunetti misbehaving at work while he solves a crime.
Very enjoyable. Then Brunetti and his team were hot on the trail of the bad guys...and then it ended.
Huh?
Very enjoyable. Then Brunetti and his team were hot on the trail of the bad guys...and then it ended.
Huh?
400mom's review
4.0
Even though this is the 30th book in this series, I have only read a handful and feel that I am just getting to know some of the characters. The subject matter of this one seemed heavier than the others and I felt like we saw the emotion just under the surface of Brunetti. I am really enjoying this series and look forward to reading more of them.
margaret21's review
4.0
Donna Leon writes reliably good books about that all round reliably likeable Commissario Brunetti. And while this ne, for reasons I can't quite pinpoint may not quite reach the heights of her other books, it's still a good story, with a not-at-all straightforward plot and motivations. It involves his working with other providers of law and order in the city, and as ever, the water which surrounds Venice is at its heart. And as ever, the ending comes rather suddenly, with things to think about.
dogearedandfurry's review
4.0
I received a free ARC of this from the publishers via NetGalley, in return for an unbiased review. This is the 30th Brunetti book, which is quite remarkable really. This one starts out with two women being left on the dock outside A&E, but it’s really the story of how one of the men is connected to some trafficking via his brutal uncle. There was a little less of Brunetti’s historical and literary musings - though maybe more philosophical ponderings - but Brunetti remains a favourite character of mine. Shame Vianello wasn’t very present this time - maybe next book?
mhoffrob's review against another edition
4.0
I adore the Comissario Brunetti series, and this one does not disappoint. It delves into the mysterious appearance of two injured, American student mysteriously left at the dock of a hospital in Brunetti's Venice. INvestigating their injuries leads to smuggling, bullying, and much more. I will say that the ending was cut short - honestly, I'm concerned the last chapter might have been inadvertently left off the ARC it was so abrupt. I will await either the physical copy, or the next volume of the series, to know for sure.
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Transient Desires is the 30th outing for Commisario Brunetti & co. by Donna Leon. Due out 9th March 2021 from Grove Atlantic on their Atlantic Monthly Press imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
As always, this series is wonderfully relevant, with deeply considered and nuanced philosophy, characters who really live and breathe and who aren't complete paragons or evil caricatures. Leon is certainly one of the deftest writers currently writing and her novels are a joy to read.
Although some interactions between Brunetti and his colleagues and family will resonate more deeply with long time fans, this book works perfectly well as a standalone (but I recommend the whole series - it's wonderful). The author is adept at providing enough backstory to keep new readers engaged and current without info-dumping. I love his interactions with his colleagues and especially with his family - always loving, always philosophical. His children are growing up and approaching young adulthood. Their questions (especially his daughter's philosophical probing) had me nodding along in sympathy with Brunetti's occasionally fraught conversational forays.
The inter-agency cooperations between the Italian Coast Guard, the Carabinieri, and the State Police (Brunetti's office) are impressive and faithfully rendered, complete with initial distrust and testing of one another. There's also a great deal of subtle local posturing and teasing between the Neopolitans and Venetians and the different local cultures which can cause friction.
The antagonist in this volume is suitably awful and the tension and plotting are, as always, top notch. My major problem with the book (which dinged a half mark off the final) was the absolutely car-crash *abrupt* ending. It. Just. Simply. Ended. It was so abrupt that I literally went looking for more pages (checked both eARC formats which I received for review - it truly does just *end* that abruptly apparently).
The language is relatively clean, a few minor swear words, nothing worse. Some of the themes (prostitution, smuggling, human trafficking, homophobia) elicit a world-weary resigned feeling from Brunetti and the official police, which some readers might find distressing.
Highly recommended for fans of procedurals. The whole series is worthwhile and one that I revisit regularly.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Transient Desires is the 30th outing for Commisario Brunetti & co. by Donna Leon. Due out 9th March 2021 from Grove Atlantic on their Atlantic Monthly Press imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
As always, this series is wonderfully relevant, with deeply considered and nuanced philosophy, characters who really live and breathe and who aren't complete paragons or evil caricatures. Leon is certainly one of the deftest writers currently writing and her novels are a joy to read.
Although some interactions between Brunetti and his colleagues and family will resonate more deeply with long time fans, this book works perfectly well as a standalone (but I recommend the whole series - it's wonderful). The author is adept at providing enough backstory to keep new readers engaged and current without info-dumping. I love his interactions with his colleagues and especially with his family - always loving, always philosophical. His children are growing up and approaching young adulthood. Their questions (especially his daughter's philosophical probing) had me nodding along in sympathy with Brunetti's occasionally fraught conversational forays.
The inter-agency cooperations between the Italian Coast Guard, the Carabinieri, and the State Police (Brunetti's office) are impressive and faithfully rendered, complete with initial distrust and testing of one another. There's also a great deal of subtle local posturing and teasing between the Neopolitans and Venetians and the different local cultures which can cause friction.
The antagonist in this volume is suitably awful and the tension and plotting are, as always, top notch. My major problem with the book (which dinged a half mark off the final) was the absolutely car-crash *abrupt* ending. It. Just. Simply. Ended. It was so abrupt that I literally went looking for more pages (checked both eARC formats which I received for review - it truly does just *end* that abruptly apparently).
The language is relatively clean, a few minor swear words, nothing worse. Some of the themes (prostitution, smuggling, human trafficking, homophobia) elicit a world-weary resigned feeling from Brunetti and the official police, which some readers might find distressing.
Highly recommended for fans of procedurals. The whole series is worthwhile and one that I revisit regularly.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
obscuredbyclouds's review against another edition
2.0
I have only once read Donna Leon before and it was a child, so I can't much speak on how this compares to her other works, but this read like someone who knows what they're doing but there's not a lot of passion or life in it. The case unfolded slowly but felt rather tepid and tame - it honestly reminded me of reading the Three Investigators, that kind of crime writing. As this is the 30th case, I didn't expect the author to explain Brunetti or the other characters to me, but I was still a little underwhelmed by the characterisations. None of the persons came alive for me. I did think Venice came alive to me - although sometimes the appeal to authencity (especially when it came to the food) were a little much and did rather the opposite of making it seem natural.
Overall, the case was entertaining enough and it was en easy read. But the ending is very strange. Considering that the book is rather slow, suddenly the solution is presented within a few pages, and like other reviewers have said I, too, had to check if I missed some pages and then rereead the ending, because it didn't seem finished. It didn't read rushed - it read like a chapter is missing. Very odd reading experience.
Overall, the case was entertaining enough and it was en easy read. But the ending is very strange. Considering that the book is rather slow, suddenly the solution is presented within a few pages, and like other reviewers have said I, too, had to check if I missed some pages and then rereead the ending, because it didn't seem finished. It didn't read rushed - it read like a chapter is missing. Very odd reading experience.
lisa_jki's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
mserin's review
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hjulia5's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0