The Venetian Commissario once again balances the daily job of crime with the unending political navigation of life in La Serenissima. Donna Leon never disappoints

Bestselling author, Donna Leon, is at her best in the 28th novel in the Commisario Guido Brunetti series, Unto Us a Son is Given. In this novel, Commisario Guido Brunetti is asked by his father-in-law to look into his best friend, Gonzalo’s, decision to adopt a son; he is in his 80s and has a vast estate from his business dealings in the art world. Gonzalo, who is gay, is in love with a man 40 years his junior and wants his estate to go to him rather than his estranged siblings. All those close to Gonzalo are against his decision to adopt, but he won’t listen to any of them. Brunetti is not excited to do this, but feels obligated, because his father-in-law has done so much for him in the past, so he delves into what all of Gonzalo’s friends are sure is a mistake. Unfortunately, Gonzalo drops dead before things are settled, and a woman, Bertie (who considers herself Gonzalo’s best friend), who comes to Venice to plan a memorial for Gonzalo is murdered. Brunetti becomes focused on investigating and solving the murder.

As usual, Donna Leon captures the culture of Venice, and makes her readers feel that they are actually there. She has a special talent for developing her characters so that they seem real, and readers of this series definitely feel they know Brunetti, et al, as well as real people in their lives. It is obvious that Leon knows Venice well, and with her writing talent, makes readers feel they also know it well. Anyone who has been to Venice will agree.

Having read most of the books in this excellent series, this installment is highly recommended. This particular novel is one of Leon’s best. Good Story, good characters, good building suspense, and good unexpected twists and turns that make the book unputdownable. Fans of Leon and those who may not be familiar with her will enjoy this excellent novel. Although it’s nice to read the series in order, this can be read as a standalone novel.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Commissario Brunetti is asked by his father in law to investigate the reasons why an elderly, close friend who wants to adopt and leave his fortune to a younger man. Brunetti would prefer not to interfere. But the elderly man drops dead and a friend who arrives in Venice for the memorial service. She is murdered in her hotel room. Brunetti now has something he can sink his teeth into.
Lots of the pleasure of these novels comes, for me, from the descriptions of Venice and its environs. Leon is very good at such illustrations.

Another cracker from Donna Leon. Brunetti is a well developed protagonist, and the Venice setting is always a delight.

I love Donna Leon's series of books featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti. They are both entertaining and philosophical, and include a rich portrayal of Venice and its residents. In particular, I love to listen to the audiobooks, which give such a realistic portrayal of the culture. In this episode, the Commissario is recruited by his father-in-law to investigate the proposed adoption of a young man by an elderly friend of the family. In addition, he's helping out Vice Questore Patta, his boss, with a little domestic problem. As usual, this was a book I couldn't put down, and enjoyed thoroughly! The only complaint I have is that I either missed the resolution to Patta's problem, or it wasn't provided. It seemed, in any case, as though it wasn't really a necessary sub-plot.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and #DonnaLeon for the opportunity to read "Unto Us A Son Is Given", the 28th novel in the Comissario Brunetti series. This installment is way far ahead of where I am in the series, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read.

I'm afraid this novel is a bit of a disappointment and feels like a placeholder for the next one. Three-quarters of the story is the lead up to the eventual crime. Mostly, but book is a discussion of whether or not one of Brunetti's father-in-law's oldest friends should adopt a (much) younger man and leave him his fortune when he eventually passes on. There is much discussion, much argument, and some research into the adoptee's past.

We are witness to some more of the inner workings of the police force, and there is a digression regarding 'good' and 'bad' children. I actually put the book down for a number of weeks, because I didn't think I had any reason to finish it.

When I did pick it up again, I was a little closer to the actual crime (after all, we do read these books mostly because they are mysteries, and there's generally a crime of some sort involved), and the narrative picked up steam and chugged along to the eventual solution and punishment (which actually goes mostly unmentioned).

Fans of the series, I'm sure, will be mostly disappointed. But fear not, there are more books to follow.

I have been a fan of Commissario Guido Brunetti for many years look forward to every installment - good or bad - the characters and setting always bring a smile to my face. This unfortunately, I can't rank good or bad - it was pretty mediocre. The main story is that a family friend of Guido's father-in-law (he is gay) wants to adopt a young man so that he will inherit his estate. There apparently are no provisions in Italian law to leave your estate to whomever you wish - it has to go to family. Guido, is asked by father-in-law to see if there is a way to prevent the adoption and more than half of the book is geared to this investigation. The friend dies and it appears that the adoption has taken place until an unexpected twist arrives. Then murder.

I love the series, this book not so much.

Thank you Netgalley, but unfortunately I was not able to download book prior to publication date so I will not be able to provide feedback.

I have been strolling slowly through the Italian detective world authored by Donna Leon. Ms. Leon is one of the top international mystery writers practicing the art. Her novels feature the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti and is set in that " nondescript " romantic town: Venice Italy! Leon brilliantly juxtaposed the romantic waterways of Venice with the dark, seamy underbelly of crime in and around Venice. Leon creates a nice pacing of her plots...not too fast as she grows the tension and the mystery.
And "Into Us A Son Is Given" fits the Brunetti Canon wonderfully. Thanks to Donna Leon for the countless hours of not she has provided us readers and for Net Galley for providing an advance copy for us to read and review.

If you don't like serious violence against an adopted parent who needs an heir, this may not be the easiest book you've ever read. I found it upsetting enough that I had difficulty coping with both the plot and its characters. So, indeed, did Brunetti, and Paola's father, Conte Falier, as well. The degrees of egotism evinced by the adoptee are hard to take, and yet I'm sure many people reading this now recognize the failure of ego in what is to be lived. That egotists should assume that of course they deserve what has been offered them, and we have all seen certain kinds of failure to connect with others. This novel is surely based on complex relations precisely those sociopaths we all know--and we may thank our lucky stars that they don't want anything of us.

Donna Leon gets better and better, and long may she continue to find the stories we take serioiusly.

Guido Brunetti never disappoints!

I love Donna Leon and Guido Brunetti. I have read the first 15 books in this series and still have the next 8 to go but when I was offered the opportunity of reviewing this, the newest book in the series, I couldn’t say no and, as always loved this one just as much.

Guido and his beautiful family are like old friends to me now as well as the various members of the workforce in the Venetian police department including my favourite the Signorina Elettra, the secretary of Vice Questore Patta, who seems able to find out everything about everybody through her enormous array of contacts.

The story revolves around a very old friend of Guido’s father-in-law, Count Faulier, a retired art dealer, Gonzalo Rodriguez de Tejeda, a gay man who nearing the end of his life wants to adopt his latest young lover Attilio Circetti, Marchese di Torrebardo. Guido is asked to investigate this young man who, if the adoption goes ahead, will become an extremely wealthy individual.

Guido begins to investigate the background of this young man and also the acquaintances made by Gonzalo over a long lifetime. Gonzalo passes away, due to natural causes and as the adoption has taken place, Attilio is the heir. However, when one of Gonzalo's lifelong friends Berta arrives from England to attend Gonzalo's memorial service, she is adamant that this adoption must not take place. Before any explanation is made she is found strangled in her hotel room.

Guido, in his usual methodical way, untangles the mystery but as with all Donna Leon's books, for me, the story is of almost secondary importance compared to the descriptions of the beautiful city of Venice, the family life, in particular, the meals prepared by Guido's wife, Paola and the day to day intrigues in this city.

I hope Guido will continue to thrive and that Donna Leon continues to bring us new stories, I have never been disappointed yet.

Dexter

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This book is another addition to Donna Leon's excellent Commissario Brunetti series. It is always a pleasure to read about Venice, Brunetti's family, and the personal intrigues within the police department.

This novel is somewhat different from her other works. Rather than focusing on a crime, personnel relationships form the basis of this engaging book.

Donna Leon writes the most understated and lyrical mysteries and this is no exception. It tells the story of Brunetti as he investigates the boyfriend of a family friend on the request of his father in law. What I love about Leon's stories is the slow burn quality of the narrative. The majority of this book sees Brunetti looking into the life of a young man to see whether he is taking advantage of an older man and we are treated to explorations of what it means to be part of a family and what we would truly do to save our friends even if it costs us their friendship. The prose is fabulous - very lyrical and with a certain flair that seems to work so well with the Italian setting. As I have mentioned, this is a very slow paced narrative, which won't necessarily appeal to those who love a thriller in the same vein as Lee Child. This is far more comparable to the literary crime novels of P. D. James and for me, cements Donna Leon as one of my favourite mystery writers working today.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Unlike most of the recent entries in this series, there is no corruption, no pollution. There is only love, and lust, and family, and friendships. Brunetti is asked by his father-in-law to investigate the young man his oldest friend is planning to adopt. He knows there is a sexual relationship between the two and he fears the older man is being used. Brunetti comes to appreciate his mother's words: "It would be nice if we could choose the people we love, but love chooses them.".

In this one Brunetti is more ruminative.. and in fact the story ambles along with much murky thinking .. his daughter asks clever, pointed questions at dinner table about the 'case' .. which is more family affair and contemplation too of homophobia.. should it seem more awkward when rich much older man takes on younger male charmer than if it's a May-December relationship between heterosexual couple where a fortune is involved? Old age is also on Leon's mind in this one. Although it's not action packed, all the family of people in this world are reliably here .. including his rather loathed boss's problem with insults his wife is receiving from next door child. Another mood to this series..

Unto Us a Son Is Given by Donna Leon is the 28th in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series but it easily reads as a standalone. Beautiful Venice is as much a part of this novel as Brunetti himself. Guido is approached by his father-in-law in the hope that he will discourage their mutual friend Gonzalo in his endeavour to adopt a much younger man as his son. The inheritance laws in Italy permit that this adoptee can then become heir to Gonzalo's entire fortune in the event of the old man's death. Guido sees nothing wrong with Gonzalo's plan but soon after, the old man collapses in the street and dies. It is at this point that the story becomes a mystery. I found that this book read more as a cozy than a police procedural. However, this takes nothing away from the enjoyment of this title. Although the action ramps up slowly, this novel packs quite a wallop. I look forward to reading other books by Donna Leon. Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN (PolProc-Guido Brunetti-Venice-Contemp) - G+
Leon, Donna – 29th in series
Atlantic Monthly Press – April 2019
First Sentence: "You know I don't like to meddle in things," Conte Falier told Brunetti.
Gonzalo Rodríguez de Tejada is a wealthy, titled man who has announced his intention to adopt a much younger man to be his son and heir. Conte Falier, father-in-law to Comm. Guido Brunetti, is concerned about his elderly friend, and asks Guido if he could look into the situation. With the aid of colleagues and contacts, Guido fears things may not be as straightforward they seem.
The theme of family is central this Leon's latest book, as is love. Brunetti's relationship with his family has become a hallmark of the series and that's very true here. But it also looks at what constitutes a family—'It would be nice if we could choose the people we love, but love chooses them." Having Brunetti question his feelings towards his preconceptions of gays is an interesting topic—"Was a preconceived notion the same thing as a prejudice?"
Although the majority of the book is crime-free, it is anything but slow and/or boring. There are so many layers and elements to reading Leon, as there are to life including Brunetti's own family and even his musings over literature and the law. Leon doesn't allow one to be lazy but asks that one take the time to think along the way. Leon's reference to a technique used by writers adds just the right touch of verisimilitude to the story.
Death does come. Even here, Leon's presentation of it is to be contemplated—"It is a terrible thing for us when a person dies here. … I don't mean here, this time, but always. A hotel – any hotel – isn't the same for days, even longer. It's strange because that's what the person is, a stranger to us, and yet we all feel their death. Maybe it's the absence of any real involvement with the person that lets us feel the mystery of death." Leon's insightfulness into the nature of humans often gives on pause. That is, perhaps, her greatest gift and truest strength.
"Unto Us a Son is Given" is a compelling story of relationships. One might wish the mystery had come sooner, but the twist is startling and very effective, and the procedural and investigative elements grab one's interest to the end.

Reading a Brunetti and traversing Venice with him is like slipping on your oldest sweatshirt; familiar, comfortable and enjoyable. Leon brings all our favourite characters together, makes us cook Italian dishes with her description of delicious meals and adds a gripping mystery to the mixture. Each page is savoured and panic sets in when you know this annual treat is nearing an end.
This is an excellent read. An intriguing plot secures and maintains your interest throughout. Leon’s wit, visual descriptions and insights of Venice are enough on their own but seeing it through Brunetti’s eyes as he tries to carry out his father in law’s difficult request makes it captivating.

I have enjoyed all the Brunetti series but I think this will be added to my top three with A Noble Radiance and Doctoring Evidence.
I can’t wait until 2020 for the next one!

A Venetian treat!

A brilliant, yet understated performance by Guido Brunetti, offset by his reading of The Trojan Women which seem to act as a reflective prompt for Guido all the way through.
Along the way we are treated to an insight into Venetian culture and practices. I love it!
Paolo's godfather, Gonzalo Rodríguez de Tejada, and a longtime family friend wants to adopt a younger man as his son. His friends, including Guido's father-in-law Count Orazio Falier, are shocked and try to dissuade him. For the younger man would inherit all.
Then Gonzalo fall and dies in the street, and a close friend from Gonzalo's days in Chile comes to Venice, along with a former lover of Gonzalo's to hold a memorial dinner. Unfortunately she is strangled in her hotel room.
All of Brunetti's instincts come to the fore. He is on high alert. Yet the way forward seemingly comes to a full stop. The past haunts the future, but how?
The delight is in Bruenetti's, instinctive and intelligent sleuthing, his pleasant ways with his co-workers and his accurate reading of situations and people.
A thoughtful crime mystery set in one of the world's great cities.

A NetGalley ARC

Commissario Guido Brunetti is asked by his father in law to investigate his friends plans to adopt a son, not a newborn baby, but a full grown man in his early thirties.
It turns out that all Gonzalo's friends are against his plans to adopt, even his oldest friend.

And then suddenly Gonzalo drops dead from a heart attack.
In the mean time Brunetti has to survive 3 weeks absence of signorina Elletra because she is going on holiday.

Until nearly the end of the book there doesn't seem to be any crime but in the end Brunetti discovers a murderer anyway.

As always I liked the interaction of Brunetti with his wife and family and the descriptions of Venice and I liked his retrospection on the subject of older men adopting a younger man.

I received an advanced reader copy from netgalley for an honest review.