jjares reviewed on 5/16/2014 + 3413 more book reviews

At times, Donna Leon opens her stories like the TV show, Law & Order; the intro is not the main story. Inspector Vianellos friend, Marco Ribetti is in jail it is related to a peaceful demonstration that got out of hand. As the three men are leaving the jail, Ribettis father-in-law (Giovanni De Cal) starts screaming and cursing Marco. He also has hard words for the Commissario and Vianello.

Such rage catches Brunettis attention and he decides to give things a look. De Cal owns a glass factory in the famous region of Murano. Before long, De Cals night watchman is found dead in front of the ovens (for glass). Because Vice-Questore Patta tells Brunetti to leave the case alone, Guido must search for clues on the sly.

The night watchman had been blaming the disability of his young daughter on the pollutants at the glass factory. Could this be why he was killed? Because the glass factories of Murano are so widely known, this is a perfect place to set a murder. It is nice to see that pollution, graft and corruption are available world-wide; at times, Im afraid the US has the market cornered.


Guido Brunetti Series
1. Death at La Fenice (1992)
2. Death in a Strange Country (1993)
3. The Anonymous Venetian (1994) aka Dressed for Death
4. A Venetian Reckoning (1995) aka Death and Judgment
5. Acqua Alta (1996) aka Death in High Water

6. The Death of Faith (1997) aka Quietly in Their Sleep
7. A Noble Radiance (1997)
8. Fatal Remedies (1999)
9. Friends in High Places (2000)
10. A Sea of Troubles (2001)

11. Willful Behaviour (2002)
12. Uniform Justice (2003)
13. Doctored Evidence (2004)
14. Blood from a Stone (2005)
15. Through a Glass Darkly (2006)

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