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Muerte Entre Lineas (2014)

by Donna Leon(Favorite Author)

3.7 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

8432222526 (ISBN13: 9788432222528)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

Seix Barral

series

Commissario Brunetti

review 1: The marriage dynamics between Brunetti and Paola are so vivid....here's a fun glimpse: Recalling his conversation with Contessa Morosini-Albani, Brunetti said, 'She makes a distinction between people like herself, who understand and love beautiful things, and people who simply want pretty things to put on the walls.' Even though he had tried to temper it, his uneasiness was audible, even to himself. Paola set her cup down without making a sound and turned to him. 'If I make a distinction between the careful reading to give to Roman history and a journalist who refers to the court of the Emperor Heliogabalus as a parallel for the current situation in Rome while having no idea who Heliogabalus was, would you call that a spurious distinction?' Her voice was mild, but Bru... morenetti heard the rustle of her tail in the underbrush as she prepared to strike. 'Or if I refer to my own benighted profession and suggest that my reading of The Portrait of a Lady might be a more nuanced than that given in a Hollywood film, is that a spurious distinction?' He lowered his head and studied the remains of his own coffee, then set his cup on the saucer beside hers. 'I suppose it depends on how visible you make your contempt for Hollywood,' he said. 'All contempt for Hollywood should be made as visible as possible.' That said, she smiled brightly and added, 'You know she's a snob. We all are. But she might have reason on her side.' 'Perhaps,' Brunetti said, making it clear it was concession and not agreement. He glanced at his watch, saw that he still had half an hour before he had to start back to work, and decided to ask Paola: she read everything and thought about what she read. 'You ever read science fiction?' 'Henry James wrote so little,' she said with a laugh. 'I'm serious,' he said. 'Yes. Some. But no more.' 'You ever read the one about burning books?' he asked. If she had, he knew it would be in there, packed away. 'No, not that I remember . Can you tell me more?' (p.113-114 of By its Cover by Donna Leon
review 2: The Biblioteca Merula in Venice has experienced a terrible desecration: a number of valuable old books have been stolen and others have had pages cut out. When Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates, Dottoressa Fabbiani - the chief librarian, tells him an American scholar, Dr. Joseph Nickerson, had been reading the cut up books. Brunetti also learns that another ardent reader, former priest Aldo Franchini, has been coming to the library for years to read 'Fathers of the Church'. Before long Brunetti discovers that Nickerson's credentials were falsified and that Franchini has been murdered. He also learns that book theft has become rampant in the country, with valuable tomes disappearing from libraries across Italy. While investigating the murder and thefts Brunetti learns a bit about obsessive collectors, greedy villains, and certain members of the Italian aristocracy. As always his boss's fashionable secretary, Signorina Elettra, provides valuable computer assistance as well as a touch of humor.Much of the charm of Donna Leon's books lie in the ambiance, including snippets about Venice - the canals and cafes, and Brunetti's warm interactions with his children and wife - a scholar, teacher, and excellent cook. Brunetti and his team conduct their investigation and solve the crime in an efficient manner, but without much excitement. This is a mildly entertaining quick read with familiar likable characters. less

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