Through a Glass, Darkly [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

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Since I started reading this series, I've been waiting with much interest for a mystery based on artistic glass making on Murano. Venice is well known for its glass, even if many pieces are now made in Asia and only sold in Venice or on Murano.

I remember like it was yesterday visiting Venice for the first time and being told that a glass maker would send a boat to take me to Murano so I could look over the glass. I liked riding around in the fast boats so this was an easy deal.

We headed out with a great flourish. Once there, we were treated like royalty and watched an artisan making objets d'art from molten glass. Inside the store, we were assured that many good values were available. I was especially impressed by the sculptures based on Picasso's style.

We bought a few items and were sent back by vaporetto. I guess we didn't spend enough to get a fast ride back. But it was fun!

Donna Leon portrays a darker view of Murano despite setting her story on leisurely spring days when everyone wants to play hooky from work. As the book opens, we find that an engineer concerned about the environment has married the daughter of a Murano glass maker who has a great desire to harm his son-in-law rather than let him near the family business. To help out the engineer, Marco Ribetti, who is a friend of Vianello, and Ribetti's wife, Commissario Guido Brunetti does a little informal investigating to see if there is a chance of real danger to Ribetti.

In the process of learning more about the angry father-in-law, Brunetti meets a very upset night watchman who has been made crazy from grief due to the slow development of his twin daughter. Everything seems fine until the night watchman turns up dead . . . having been roasted overnight next to a raging glass furnace he was supposed to tend.

Everyone is satisfied it's an accident, except Brunetti, who investigates on his own.

For those who like to find an intriguing murder in the first chapter and a steady progress towards finding out who did it, Through a Glass Darkly will be frustrating. This book is more about being a Venetian than it is a murder mystery.

If you've been reading this series for sometime, you know that Venetians are very fond of money and distrustful of their government. They even speak a dialect of their own with one another rather than deign to speak Italian.

Donna Leon wants to make the point that even if you are surrounded by corruption and incompetence, there are some forms of corruption and incompetence that are more desirable than others. She is probing the gray areas that are mostly black. I thought it was pretty well done if you have read at least five of the earlier novels in the series.

But what made the book come up above average for me was one of her best endings. I won't say more but be sure to stick with the book so you have a chance to see how she resolves this story.

If you want a straight murder mystery, I suggest you pick another book.

This is my first novel by Donna Leon and, I'm sad to say that it may be my only one. I found this novel rather boring; lots of filler text about the daily routine of the main characters (like, he opens the drawer, takes a spoon and stirs his coffee...come on!). It was recommended to me by a friend who knew that I had visited Venice recently and loved it so much. I don't know how the other books in this series are but, this one was boring. The setting and description of the way of life in Venice were the only interesting aspects of this crime novel. 2/5--not horrible but not good!

This is another fabulous Italian mystery, it is written with grace and warmth. The story is sophisticated told through the love Brunetti has for his family, friends and work. It is a mystery with a different twist; I really enjoy Donna Leon style of writing.

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