This 31st Bruntetti mystery land us back in Venice, a wonderful place to be. Brunetti is approached by Elizabeth Foscarini, an acquaintance from his childhood, Her mother befriended Brunetti's and he feel he must help her in her quest to find out why her daughter is unsettled by her son-in-law's behavior. He tells his wife that they may be in deep trouble and since he is an accountant, Brunetti and his crew start following the money. This installment is perhaps not as compelling as some others, but fans like me will still devour it.

Give Unto Others Donna Leon

5 stars

Donna Leon never disappoints

I have read nearly every one of the series of Guido Brunetti books and have enjoyed them all. This author has found a particular way of writing that brings her characters to life. I feel that I am almost a family member of Guido, his wife Paola and his children, Chiara and Raffie.

All the books are set in Venice, a city I have been lucky enough to visit more than once and the author’s love for the city in which she lives shines through. What is also very apparent is the way Italian society works and how minor crimes are overlooked or swept under the carpet and it is this sort of crime that Guido is especially gifted at discovering and solving. Again I have first-hand experience of the Italian way of life having lived there for 2 years and these stories are always so authentic.

Guido does not seem to get involved in terrible murders or horrendous crimes but likes to become embroiled in actions that on the face of it are not potentially a crime at all.

When an old acquaintance of Guido’s mother, Elisabetta Foscarini, comes to see him about a potential problem in the marriage of her daughter, Flora and her husband Bruno del Balzo, although on the surface there seems to be nothing for Guido to get involved with, he still feels an obligation to at least look into the situation, mainly due to the memories of kindnesses given to his family by this woman.

The problem seems to be based around a charity that Bruno Del Balzo helped to set up in Belize and it is only when Guido starts to investigate this charity that he discovers that many other relatively prominent people in Venice have also been involved in using this charity and not always for charitable reasons. With the help of his fellow police officers and my favourite character, Ignoring Elettra, a secretary who seems able to penetrate any government secrets, Guido discovers the truth little by little.

There is never any real violence in these stories and to me, the story is often secondary to the wonderful characters around Guido and the delightful descriptions of his home life, the meals he eats and the literature that he and his wife love to read and discuss.

I would also like to give praise to the way that Ms Leon has incorporated the pandemic into this book. It has obviously just been written but unlike some other books that I have read recently she has included Covid unobtrusively, not completely ignoring its existence but just mentioning areas such as wearing masks and social distancing in a subtle way.

I thoroughly enjoy reading the books in this series and long may they continue. I am dreading the time when Guido Brunetti reaches retirement age, maybe his son or daughter will take on his mantle!!



Dexter


Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

My wife tells me I have to read Donna Leon books in order; and I suspect it's true. While I was drawn to the characters and the mystery, it felt incomplete...as if I had walked in to a story already being told. The mystery was interesting but not particularly compelling. It is one of the first novels I've read that deals tangentially with the way COVID-19 has affected our world.

Brunetti is one of my favorite book characters. He is a caring policeman with a wife and two teenagers living in a 4th floor walkup apartment in Venice. I love the descriptions of his walking in the streets of Venice or riding along the canals. This book is in the current time, and COVID problems have made some changes to Venice.

In this book, a woman Brunetti had known as a teenager (a selfish girl he didn't particularly like, but her mother was kind to him), Elisabetta del Balzo, comes to the Questura and says she is worried about her daughter Flora and her husband. She explains that Flora's husband Fenza may be doing something bad. Brunetti is not too busy and agrees to look into Flora's husband. He finds that Fenza's clients think he is a great accountant. However, he had helped del Balzo (Flora's father) start a charity, a hospital in Belize. When Flora's veterinary office is broken into, and a dog is badly injured with blood all over, Brunetti is more concerned. A woman across the street calls to him to come see her. When he goes to talk with her, she claims she saw a woman outside during the night who went around to the back and then she heard barking. She thinks the woman was Flora's Mother.

Brunetti gradually realizes the unease is about the charity in Belize, and he starts investigating it. Fenza had helped with the startup. There are two friends of Brunetti's father-in-law who are also involved in the charity. With the help of Elettra, Puticini, Griffoni and Vianello he gradually finds that the charity isn't quite as pure as it was supposed to be, and Elisabetta may be jealous of the woman working for her husband's charity. Elisabetta may be more concerned about herself, than for her daughter Flora.

Another enjoyable read from Donna Leon . Guido manages to solve the case, this one, more personal, with his characteristic expertise and charm. The description of Venice makes the city come alive to the reader.

I await new Brunetti books with anticipation each year. Stepping into Venice with him and his family is now part of the rhythm of my year and one I would greatly mis. This does not disappoint and adds another layer of insight into a character I hold in high esteem Brunetti’s wrestles with his conscience, his integrity and philosophy are all part of the beauty of this series and we get more glimpses of his childhood and what has made him the man he is. I loved every word!!
It is part of who he is that he cannot reject the request for help from a childhood ‘not quite’ friend which takes him on a journey through the past and present in Venice which we as readers get to join. Paola is as much loved by me as her husband and I love to join them at the dinner table for zucchini pasta and hear their family discussions. Thank you, Donna Leon for this wonderful creation - this whole series and this book have brought great joy to me and to my family who are all avid fans. Everyone knows when I am mid Brunneti as our menu is always filled with Paola inspired dishes of risotto and pasta and the grappa is out!!!
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to an old Brunetti fan or someone fortunate enough to be just beginning their journey.
I would

"Brunetti is forced to confront the price of loyalty, to his past and in his work, as a seemingly innocent request leads him into troubling waters.

What role can or should loyalty play in the life of a police inspector? It's a question Commissario Guido Brunetti must face and ultimately answer in Give Unto Others, Donna Leon's splendid 31st installment of her acclaimed Venetian crime series.

Brunetti is approached for a favor by Elisabetta Foscarini, a woman he knows casually, but her mother was good to Brunetti's mother, so he feels obliged to at least look into the matter privately, and not as official police business. Foscarini's son-in-law, Enrico Fenzo, has alarmed his wife (her daughter) by confessing their family might be in danger because of something he's involved with. Since Fenzo is an accountant, Brunetti logically suspects the cause of danger is related to the finances of a client. Yet his clients seem benign: an optician, a restaurateur, a charity established by his father-in-law. However, when his friend's daughter's place of work is vandalized, Brunetti asks his own favors - that his colleagues Claudia Griffoni, Lorenzo Vianello, and Signorina Elettra Zorzi assist his private investigation, which soon enough turns official as they uncover the dark and Janus-faced nature of a venerable Italian institution.

Exploring the wobbly line between the criminal and non-criminal, revealing previously untold elements of Brunetti's past, Give Unto Others shows that the price of reciprocity can be steep."

My mom was a real big fan of Donna Leon.

The latest Donna Leon reveals more details of Brunetti's childhood. He is approached by an old acquaintance who asks for him to help watch over her daughter. The friend claims that her son-in-law may be dangerous and seeks Brunetti's skills and connections. As Brunetti investigates, he learns of possible corruption and the abuse of confidence. Leon and Brunetti approach the situation with such delicacy and humanity that we're reminded of why this series is so important. The underlying decency that Brunetti and his colleagues show make Give Unto Others another engrossing read.

I read this book right away, but am having a hard time writing a review. As much as I hate to think it, perhaps it is time to retire this beloved series: the author, at least, seems to have lost any interest.
The crime at the heart of this mystery is not compelling, or even interesting, in any way; the ‘solution’ is unsatisfying; and while the resolution does clarify details the reader may have been too bored to notice, the step-by-step recap and explanation seems the author’s pedantic (and petulant) response to the public disappointment voiced at the abrupt ending of the previous book. I won’t be posting a review.

Once again Donna Leon has placed a social issue on Commissario Guido Brunetti's desk. An old acquaintance asks a favor, can Guido look into something unofficially for her. This is awkward for him but he will do his best. And so we get to follow another investigation leading to psychological and moral dilemmas. There is much here for a book discussion group.
This is a review of an advanced reader copy provided by Netgalley.

I like Ms. Leon, don't get me wrong but this novel, due to be released in a few months, seems like a non-starter. No murders, not a lot of action, I'd call it more of a cerebral non-thriller.
That said, any book by Leon with her lovely descriptions of Venice make for a pleasant literary vacation. Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the opportunity to read the advanced copy of this novel.

Leon's most recent book featuring Venice's Commissario Guido Brunetti is more low-key and less violent than many of her recent titles-a nice change! Brunetti is asked by a childhood acquaintance for help with an unknown issue involving her daughter and son-in-law. Brunetti begins to explore, off-the-record, and discovers, as is usual for a Leon book, a host of interconnected plots. The story moves along quickly and is a satisfying addition to the Brunetti series. As always, the culture, history, and current events (Covid, climate change, money laundering) of Venice provide great background flavor. Leon fans will enjoy and perhaps find her more gentle approach to Venetian crime quite a nice change.

The previous Brunetti book ended with a melancholy, somewhat discouraged inspector thinking about retirement. In this 31st installment in the series Brunetti is back in stride and even bending the rules. When Elisabeta, a former neighbor from his much younger days, approaches him with concerns about her daughter's safety, he's torn. He recalls that he didn't much like Elisabeta when they were young but that her mother was always kind to his during a difficult time. Elisabeta asks Brunetti to launch an unofficial investigation into her son-in-law's life saying she fears he's a danger to her daughter. Past loyalty wins over wisdom and Brunetti agrees to see what he can discover. Oddly, he immediately involves his closest co-workers thereby endangering their careers and his own as the investigation escalates.. While I liked the post-pandemic descriptions of Venice and enjoyed the touches of humor (a cat sent home from the vet in a police vaporetto) the plot seemed a bit forced. Respected friends of Brunetti's in-laws are involved and using his staff in a personal case and reading about how they can justify their actions doesn't align with Brunetti's character. There are insights into his youth and family and the usual mouth-watering descriptions of meals but he should have told Elisabeta to hire a private investigator sent her on her way.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Another great read from Donna Leon. I randomly discovered Brunetti a few years ago and he’s been a wonderful part of my life. Now that I’ve caught up with the author, my visits with Brunetti are further in between. This meeting was a little different as Brunetti is working on a white-collar crime rather than a murder or death. I did feel that the beautiful descriptions of Venice were a little lacking in this title. I was also a little disappointed that Donna Leon chose to incorporate Covid into the story. I flinched every time someone put on a mask or went to shake hands and instead went “oops, I forgot”. But Leon has always tried to incorporate real life events so I’m trying not to hold that against the book. I also missed some of our usual conversations with Chiara as she’s long been one of my favorite characters, but I suppose that’s part of having “our” children grow older. Overall this was a wonderful addition to the series and I enjoyed being back in the company of Brunetti, Griffoni, and, of course, everyone’s favorite assistant. I will be anxiously waiting for my next meeting with Brunetti et al.

I always look forward to Donna Leon's books and this one did not disappoint. We learn more about Brunetti's young life and how he misunderstood some of that history. This book also involves more of his colleagues in this criminal or not criminal investigation. Unexpected conclusion.

Donna Leon, Give unto Others, Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Monthly Press, 2022.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.

Reading a Donna Leon is always delightful. Once again, she has evoked the special features of the world of detection in Venice with location, Italian culture and languages, class differences and history providing a complex background to a crime that must be solved by Guido Bunetti and his ingenious colleagues, sometimes avoiding the rules and always aware of the possibility of being spied upon. Woven alongside the detective theme is that of the literary world in which Paola immerses herself in her academic employment and at home. She often provides an idea or even a simple story which illuminates or provides a context for Brunetti’s investigation and a clue to the sharp reader.

A past relationship, based on proximity and youth, although sharply separated by class, leads to Brunetti investigating a crime that rests on personal failings, greed and family discord. This is the thirty first novel in which Brunetti appears, but even here Leon adds more depth to his character. His strengths and weaknesses are further established, when his relationships with other protagonists raise the consequences of misunderstanding shared history. Brunetti’s interactions with his colleagues are beautifully drawn and those with Paola and his mother-in-law, while so lightly sketched, suggest a wealth of meaning.

The solution to the crime is satisfying, although empathy and recognition that all crimes cannot be solved by usual law enforcement is an important part of accepting the resolution. Donna Leon’s deft touch, her main character’s integrity and thoughtful, imaginative approach to crime, together with the luxury of almost living for a short time in Venice reminded me again how much I admire Donna Leon’s books. And to think that there are thirty-one of them available to reread! What splendour.

It could be that This Donna Leon series has worn out it’s welcome for me. I read her avidly early on, took a break, and was underwhelmed by this latest title. If you like a philosophical approach to crime,, descriptions of Venice, then this is the book for you.

In Venice the first wave of the pandemic is beginning to wane, with lockdowns and curfews at last being wound down. For months the city has seen a significant downfall in the number of crimes the police have been called upon to investigate, so when an ex-neighbour of Commissario Guido Brunetti calls on him to request a favour he is inclined to offer his assistance. It’s a small matter and she’s certainly not reporting something that would normally involve the police, it’s just that she’s worried that her son-in-law may be experiencing some troubles and would Guido mind digging around a bit and hopefully set her mind at rest. Such is the way with this series that it seems natural he’d help.

Brunetti enlists some of his colleagues in his quest for information – yes, four officers of varying ranks (plus a secretary, the wily Elettra Zorzi) form a brain trust to crack this particular challenge. As information stacks up a picture slowly starts to emerge - but is there a crime here? In truth, it hardly matters. The puzzle will be solved, of that we are sure, but the pleasure here is principally in the journey to its resolution. Along the way, I particularly enjoyed the chemistry between Brunetti – a born and bred Venetian – and his fellow Commissario, Claudia Griffoni, a Neapolitan by birth. Griffoni has played an increasing part in these tales of late and I think she offers an interesting counterbalance to the Venetian’s rather staid approach. They get on well, respecting each other’s skills, but they are very different people and I believe the perceptible tension between them adds something to the mix.

I’ve been following Brunetti for over twenty years (this is book 31) and whenever I sit down with the latest episode I feel that I’m reacquainting myself with a group of old friends: Guido, his wife Paola and their children and also Brunetti’s colleagues at the Questura. The crime itself – if you can actually identify one – is often inconsequential to my enjoyment of these books, what I most enjoy is the verbal jousting that takes place between the various players and the frequent tangential musings on art, food, literature and history, or simply on the overt bureaucracy that is an inescapable component of life in this country. If this makes the books sound somewhat muddled or confused then I can only assure you that they don’t read this way.

The author’s stories do, though, paint a warts and all picture of the city of Venice, showing us the underbelly of a place replete with high culture and wealth. Often the spotlight is on a specific crime that’s been committed but on other occasions it's focus can feel somewhat nebulous. And at times it’s clear to see how the issue(s) being addressed might easily be transferrable to another place and another time, but at other times it feels that the problem really is specific to this place and its unique environment. I’ve only visited Venice once but those few days made a huge impression on me. For now, my re-visits are through Donna Leon’s annual slice of thought provoking fiction: her brilliantly observed characters; her highly tuned eye spotting things most casual observers would walk straight past; her intelligent insight into problems both modern and timeless.

It’s another classy episode from one of my very favourite writers. I’m always sad to reach the conclusion to one of these books as it means I’ll have to wait a further twelve months for the next one. Maybe I’ll have to go back to the start and read through the series afresh – I need to find a way of bridging that gap.

Donna Leon’s thirty-first installment in the Commissario Brunetti series, Give Unto Others, is a lackluster entry that will satisfy only die-hard fans.
I’ve read several of Leon’s Commissario Brunetti books, and while none of them was a favorite (or even a standout) for me, I enjoyed them as solid mystery novels (side note: I am, however, perpetually enraged that either Leon or her publisher or both continue to list books in this series on the LGBTQ Mystery chart on Amazon, which is a deceptive, manipulative practice that blocks out other authors writing actual LGBTQ mystery).
This latest book, though, is a disappointment. It drags. Brunetti’s motivations for becoming involved are perplexing at best (throughout his first conversation with the woman who requests his help, he alternatingly thinks of how much he didn’t really like her growing up and, then, how well she’s aged—perhaps a concern of the author?), and it’s not especially not clear why Brunetti would agree, without knowing anything else, to become involved in an unofficial capacity.
A disappointing novel in an otherwise reliable series.

3.5 stars

An ex-neighbor of Commissario Guido Brunetti’s, Elisabetta Foscarini has asked Brunetti to look into her daughter Flora del Balzo who’s been married to Enrico Fenzo for three years. According to Flora, her husband had changed about two months ago and always seemed nervous. She suspects Enrico is doing something shady. Since Enrico’s an accountant, Brunetti suspects his life might be in jeopardy because of the finances of a client.

Overall an interesting detective story. Would recommend

Thank you to Donna Leon, NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the ARC of this book