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As Venice experiences a debilitating heatwave, Commissario Brunetti prepares to escape the city and spend time with his family in the mountains. However, the weather is the last thing on Ispettore Vianello's mind; it seems his aunt has become obsessed with horoscopes and has been withdrawing large amounts of money from the family business. Not knowing what to do, he consults Brunetti and asks permission to unofficially trail her, which leads to the flat of Stefano Gorini. But who is this man? And why is Vianello's aunt giving him large amounts of money? A few days later, Brunetti receives a visit from a friend who works at the Commune. It seems that discrepancies have been occurring at the Tribunale involving Judge Luisa Coltellini and Araldo Fontana, an usher with a flawless track record. While having coffee with friends Signorina Elettra soon discovers that Fontana is living in a luxurious apartment on the Misericordia. But how can an usher afford such an expensive apartment, and what is his involvement with Judge Coltellini? Brunetti asks Signorina Elettra to investigate further but the computer system at the courthouse is down, and so Brunetti leaves with his family for their holiday. When news reaches Brunetti that the usher from the Tribunale has been murdered, in a violent attack in the courtyard of his home, he returns early to investigate. It soon becomes clear that Araldo Fontana was a good man, so why would someone want him dead? And, does Judge Coltellini have anything to do with it?
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
About the Author
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for many years and previously lived in Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Iran and China, where she worked as a teacher. Her previous novels featuring Commissario Brunetti have all been highly acclaimed; including Friends in High Places, which won the CWA Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction, Through A Glass, Darkly, Suffer the Little Children, The Girl of His Dreams, and most recently, About Face.
--This text refers to the
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edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Descriptions of Heat and Humidity So Vivid You'll Feel Yourself in the Story,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 112,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (#1 HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: A Question Of Belief: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery (Hardcover)
"Can a man take fire to his bosom,And his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?" -- Proverbs 6:27-28 (NKJV) I love this book! If you liked any books in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series, you must be sure to read A Question of Belief. The descriptions of what it is like to be in Venice during the dog days of summer while you dodge tourists and pigeons couldn't be finer. The book also contains two intriguing mysteries that will easily hold your attention to the end. In addition, Ms. Leon does a superb job of developing the relationships among the characters in ways that will draw you more deeply into the story. As the book jacket indicates, Brunetti is drawn into two eyebrow-raising situations by others. One is a reliable member of the local Venetian bureaucracy and the other is Brunetti's colleague, Ispettore Vianello. Such men cannot be ignored. In addition, other events intervene to force Brunetti's hand . . . just as he's about to enjoy his dreams of sleeping comfortably in the cold, crisp air of the Alps. At first blush, both situations seem to be simple to understand, but difficult to change. Alas, that's like believing that one of those mirrors that makes everyone seem tall and thin is the truth. Before the book ends, Brunetti has a murder mystery to drag him all over Venice in mid-day. You'll sweat along with him while he tracks down the truth. Even if it reminds you of summer weather, read the book on a pleasant day and you'll find the descriptions to be fun to contemplate. Also, you'll remember to take care when you visit Venice. I can well remember continually seeking air conditioning during one August there. Here's a tip: The Peggy Guggenheim Gallery in her former home on the Grand Canal is nice and cool. You have to keep art cool. It's good for the people, too. Enjoy!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too Many Minor Details,
By
This review is from: A Question Of Belief: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery (Hardcover)
Book 19, in Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery seriesMs. Leon is notorious at setting up highly charged atmospheric scenes with a Venetian flair and creating a wonderful cast of characters to go with it. In this latest mystery, we have once again, Commissiario Guido Brunetti dealing with a well-developed bureaucratic system built on stubbornness and corruption. The story opens with Brunetti looking forward to a summer of fresh mountain air with his family and catching up on his reading. It is to be a well-earned rest away from the debilitating heat and the hordes of tourists that invade his hometown during the peak season. Before leaving, he agrees to help investigate the suspicious activities Inspector Lorenzo's aging aunt seems to be involved with. Apparently her interest in astrology has attracted the attention of a new found friend and Lorenzo is worried because she has been regularly withdrawing large sums of money from her bank. He suspects she may have fallen prey to a swindler and has been duped by the charms of a notorious "faith healer". On another front, things start to move quickly on cases that have been delayed in court. It is suspected that Judge Luisa Coltellini and Araldo Fontana have been sidelining files for the benefit of one of the parties and reaping the rewards for quite some time. Brunetti knows this practice contributes to the lack of efficiency and ethics of the judiciary system, leaving a black mark on all. Before leaving on vacation he sets in motion a quiet investigation by his team. His best laid plans and vacation is cut short, when it is learnt that Fontana has been murdered in a violent attack. His quiet investigation explodes and he is brought back in the thick of the action and into the simmering Venetian heat... I am a fan of this series; the stories are usually refreshing, captivating and have an underlying message. Although interesting, this latest is not one of Ms. Leon's best, I found the plotting lacked suspense and the pacing rather slow moving. Too many minor details bogged down the storyline and the mystery is overshadowed by long descriptions of the culture, the food and the architecture. In this novel or travelogue it appears Ms. Leon has let her love of Venice override her love for writing exquisite mysteries. Some may enjoy it and some may not......
5.0 out of 5 stars
Venice Broils and So Does Brunetti,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Question Of Belief: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery (Hardcover)
Donna Leon is one of those authors whose books I'll buy immediately and without question; her long-running series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice police is a wonderful study of that great but troubled city and its people (and its food). A Question of Belief is the latest, the 18th, in the series, and in it we find poor Brunetti suffering through a sweltering August in Venice. He and his family have been dreaming of their upcoming two-week vacation in the mountains, where it's cool, but for Guido that dream will be at least delayed, if not hijacked completely. It seems a long-time civil servant, a court clerk who appears to have an unhealthy relationship with a female judge who postpones certain legal proceedings when it benefits one side or the other, has been murdered in the courtyard of the palazzo where he lives with his mother in an apartment for which they are charged a ridiculously low rent, and Brunetti is needed to investigate. As always, the people about whom Leon writes are filled with motives about which we - and Brunetti - may or may not learn enough, but slowly a picture emerges of just what led to this death....To say more about the plot would be unfair, but I will note that Leon's love of Venice is once again in evidence, even when the weather is causing misery for everyone trapped there. There's a bit less description of food, and Paola and the children are sorely missed while they're on holiday in the mountains, which means that the book focuses more constantly on the murder investigation than perhaps some of the other volumes in the series, but that's okay. We'll assume that Paola will return home refreshed and ready to tackle Brunetti in all sorts of philosophical and culinary works in the next book!
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