Acqua Alta

I recently discovered this mystery writer and am backtracking to read all her books. She never fails to deliver a wonderful read. Her picture of Venice and its society and politics is piercingly honest and although she shows all that society's warts and corruption, there is a sense of objectivity and compassion in her telling and in her police commissario, Guido Brunetti. Brunetti is a full, well-realized character and his family gives him even more depth. Contrary to many mysteries, where all the loose ends are tied up and justice is served. Her stories often end with ambiguity and not necessarily with the bad guys getting their just rewards.

As an aside, his relationship and dealings with his superior, Patta, is worth the price of admission and give an even stronger, quite humorous picture of his control and tolerance.

Acqua Alta, the title, refers to the seasonal torrential rains of Venice and provides a backdrop to a tale of art, thefts and violence.

Of the only 5 (out of the 13) Donna Leon "Inspector Brunetti" highly atmospheric Venetian mysteries that are readily available in the U.S. at popular prices, this newly available paperback is our family's favorite. Read the dramatic first chapter and you will be hooked all the way to the end, perhaps the most satisfying climax (and the most action) of all her Brunetti ouevre--though, true to Leon's vision of Venetian politics, still somewhat ambiguous and certainly not pat. (Note: it is helpful but not essential to have read "Death at La Fenice," the first Brunetti mystery, which is also easily findable in the U.S. in paperback and which introduces two main characters in "Acqua Alta.")

i just became acquainted with this writer myself and began with

"death in a strange country." i bought three of her mysteries at the same time because they looked so promising and because i am planning a trip to italy (at least i was before reading these books)and thought these books might be a "painless" way to soak up some local color before i go. they are anything but painless. if i had no alternative to living there and the city of venice was as ms. leon describes it i would shoot myself. an example: should you find yourself in a particular hospital and unable to provide the requisite graft to the orderlies, nurses and staff, you may as well hang it up.

another: the commissario's supervisor (the equivalent of the chief of police) is so mercenary and so fearful of the economic and social elite that it is nothing more than a meaningless ritual to attempt to solve a crime because punishment occurs only when fate intervenes, not as a result of justice being served. this is one bleak picture believe me.

as to the writing, maybe someone can provide a suitable explanation for this quote, (i myself cannot make heads or tails out of it). at the end of a paragraph in which the author describes, in a trite passage, 2 attractive american girls buying ice cream cones she finishes with this sentence - "the bar filled with the sad boom of another boat as it crashed against the wharf." what in the world does that mean? if she is making an analogy about the disappointment of the barrista because the girls left with the cones instead of eating them in the bar it is probably the most tortured analogy i have ever read, if not i have no idea what she is talking about.

i have one other quibble concerning something which this author is not alone in doing. the story takes place in italy and the characters are speaking in italian 95% of the time. why are some words in italian for no apparent reason while everything else in the book is in english? many times the italian word used is not one that a non-italian speaker would be familiar with and it is likewise not possible for one with ordinary intelligence (me i hope)to discern the precise meaning from the context. why is this done? color? it's very annoying to me.

after reading this novel i will continue on to the third one that i bought, but unless she becomes graham greene, i won't be buying another. they are just too darn bleak.

I have listened with appreciation to five of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti novels. Now I have come to Aqua Alto and sadly must give an emphatic thumbs down! This negative review is not because of the gay advocacy theme, which IMO is an interesting and credible commentary. The negativity comes from the atrocious Blackstone Audiobooks production which used some untrained 19-yr-old American English speaker for Brunetti and other male voices. The male readings are a disaster and a violation of the author's work. In the context of the gay advocacy theme, the crude lack of artistry of the male voices turns the gay advocacy into mockery and polemic - not the author's intention I assume.

This story is all chatty exposition via dialogue interspersed with occasional kidnappings, beatings and hospitalizations. Characters say: "I did this, and then he said that and then I went there and came back here. . . ." and on and on and on.

All exposition with very few real "situations" or plot turns. Occasionally, the descriptions of Venice life are entertaining.

Donna Leon writes a fascinating novel of intrigue and evil in the city of modern day Venice. You get a good plot, lots of food to think about, and a picturesque city of Venice described. I do get hungry everytime Inspector Brunetti goes home for his wife's lunch or dinner.

Item came in record time - this is a new favorite author!

Good book.

Donna Leon has a knack for making you feel like you are there.

FUN BOOK ABOUT VENICE AND DETECTIVES.