Give unto Others cover art

Give unto Others

Commissario Brunetti, Book 31

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Give unto Others

By: Donna Leon
Narrated by: David Sibley
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Once again, Commissario Guido Brunetti is willing to bend police rules for an acquaintance, even though Elisabetta Foscarini, the woman who asks the favour, is not really a friend. But her mother was good to Brunetti's, so he feels he has no choice but to repay the debt and agrees to look into the matter 'privately', rather than as a police official.

Her son-in-law has alarmed his wife by telling her they might be in danger because of something he's involved with.

Because Enrico Fenzo is an accountant, Brunetti suspects that the likely reason must be the finances of one of his clients. Brunetti takes a look and finds little: one client is an optician, another Fenzo's father-in-law, whom he helped establish a charity, another the owner of a restaurant.

He is about to tell his friend that he can find no reason for preoccupation when her daughter's place of work is vandalised, forcing Brunetti to turn his attention - still 'private' - to Elisabetta's own family.

What he discovers shows the Janus-faced nature of yet another Italian institution as well as the wobbly line that attempts to differentiate between the criminal and the non-criminal.

©2022 Donna Leon (P)2022 Penguin Audio Crime Thrillers Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Thriller Crime

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All stars
Most relevant  
I’ve read all of the Brunetti novels and in a way have found all of them fascinating but infuriating.
In the same way as when I’ve watched an episode of Montalbano on the TV, I wonder how a lead detective can be paid to spend his time investigating an apparent family disagreement, a throwaway remark which has perturbed a friend. There appears to be little crime of note in la Serenissima.
Even when things get ‘meatier’, Brunetti seems to have no other work across his desk that he should be concentrating on and can continue to pursue something that has interested him, even when he knows it isn’t in his remit.
I knew that it would end as it did - so many of these stories have a less than robust ending - and on this one I’d have liked Leon to really turn the screws on so many of the characters, seen and unseen, but it didn’t happen
Having said all that, it was an interesting listen made more so by the description of post (ish) Covid Venice.
And isn’t it about time that his kids jumped ship? Or are they destined to live at home until they’re in their 40s? They barely get a mention.

Another insight into the strange place that is Brunetti’s Venice

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It was ok characterisation & descriptive settings were good but the story was slow & a little weak

Pictures of Venice

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I am addicted to these books - I only found Donna Leon in my later life and now I live every day with Guido and Paula

Insight into human nature and Venetian life

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I reckon I've read or listened to all of the author's Brunetti novels and enjoyed them all. As before, this book has an interesting case to be solved, or not as is sometimes the outcome in these novels. Part of the charm of this series has been the inclusion of Brunetti's domestic life and the evocative descriptions of the delicious meals prepared by his wife Paula. Unusually, there are no comical scenes with his conceited boss, Patta. Even the usually fascinating Signorina Electtra lacks her usual verve in this novel. Altogether a competent book that doesn't stand out from all the 100s of other books in this genre, unlike the earlier books in the series. Maybe the author is getting tired of her characters and is simply going through the motions of producing another books. I've noticed many crime novel series deteriorate as the number of books increases.

Lacks the human touch of earlier books

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I do like this narrator, he has the perfect voice for a Donna Leon story. Once again Brunetti solves a crime and there is no legal ‘punishment’ however ……………..

Typical Brunetti

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The writing was so repetitive and irritating. A two-minute conversation covered a dozen pages because every little movement of hand or head had to be recorded in excruciating detail. Once you start to notice all the endless hand-wringing or tipping a chin this way and that way it becomes incredibly irritating. It's as if there wasn't enough content or action available, so it's been padded with detail. The event at the veterinary surgery is extremely poorly written. I totally understand why Donna Leon doesn't want these books to be translated into Italian. The lack of activity, the fact that most of the important discoveries and work are carried out by a woman who is employed as a personal or administrative assistant, while the police amble around: it is literally incredible.

Slow and overwritten: needs editing

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I very rarely give up on books, but I was so desperate after the first few chapters to know where the hell the story was going I had to waive the white flag ! Utterly boring and slow

I gave up!

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This was my least favourite book in the series. The supporting regular characters that added interest to previous books were pretty much non existent. I also didn’t especially enjoy the plot line. There were a couple of points in the books where I asked myself “Do you actually care what happens?” I guess I cared enough to finish the book. The narration was excellent, only to be let down by a weak story line.

Has the series had its day?

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