A quandary for Brunetti!
Trace Elements (Commissario Brunetti #29) by Donna Leon
Two seemingly simple cases that had no connection. A couple of Roma girls have pick pocketed the wife of a powerful person who wants them out of Venice in case further enquiries open up something they don't want exposed.
A dying woman who has something to confess to the police.
As investigations unfold, both cases are a minefield of complexities for Commissari Guido Brunetti and Claudia Griffoni. As always they are ably assisted by the highly efficient Signorina Elettra, whose computer skills allow them into places that they normally couldn't access.
One case involves a question of the health of the planet. Both cases speak to what the powerful are able to get away with. Brunetti is faced with conflicting choices.
As Brunetti summarizes his reflections and the questions the situation demands we are reminded of his love of mythologies of the past,
"His thoughts turned to the Eumenides and the characters’ desperate search for an understanding of justice based on something other than vengeance."
"Brunetti was both accuser and accused. He had to decide which crime to punish, which to ignore, and choose the greater criminal, or the better odds."
As always a complex, yet rewarding read. Leon's underlying themes of the environment, politics, graft and corruption, bubble away, rising to the surface throughout.
It took me sometime to understand the title. I was as confused as Brunetti--until we both weren't!
A Grove Atlantic ARC via NetGalley
****
Two seemingly simple cases that had no connection. A couple of Roma girls have pick pocketed the wife of a powerful person who wants them out of Venice in case further enquiries open up something they don't want exposed.
A dying woman who has something to confess to the police.
As investigations unfold, both cases are a minefield of complexities for Commissari Guido Brunetti and Claudia Griffoni. As always they are ably assisted by the highly efficient Signorina Elettra, whose computer skills allow them into places that they normally couldn't access.
One case involves a question of the health of the planet. Both cases speak to what the powerful are able to get away with. Brunetti is faced with conflicting choices.
As Brunetti summarizes his reflections and the questions the situation demands we are reminded of his love of mythologies of the past,
"His thoughts turned to the Eumenides and the characters’ desperate search for an understanding of justice based on something other than vengeance."
"Brunetti was both accuser and accused. He had to decide which crime to punish, which to ignore, and choose the greater criminal, or the better odds."
As always a complex, yet rewarding read. Leon's underlying themes of the environment, politics, graft and corruption, bubble away, rising to the surface throughout.
It took me sometime to understand the title. I was as confused as Brunetti--until we both weren't!
A Grove Atlantic ARC via NetGalley
****
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