The Temptation of Forgiveness (Guido Brunetti Series #27)

by Donna Leon Narrated by David Colacci

Overview

In the 27th novel in Donna Leon's bestselling mystery series, a suspicious accident leads Commissario Guido Brunetti to uncover a longstanding scam with disturbing unintended consequences Surprised, if not dismayed, to discover from his superior, Vice-Questore Patta, that leaks are emanating from the Questura, Commissario Guido Brunetti is surprised more consequentially by the appearance of a friend of his wife's, fearful that her son is using drugs and hopeful Brunetti can somehow intervene. When Tullio Gasparini, the woman's husband, is found unconscious and with a serious brain injury at the foot of a Venice bridge at midnight, Brunetti is drawn to pursue a possible connection to the boy's behavior. But the truth, as Brunetti has experienced so often, is rarely straightforward. An examination of Gasparini's home office reveals a number of strange coupons in his elderly aunt's name from a local drugstore, which over time reveal a long-running scam. As the 27th novel unfolds in Donna Leon's exquisite chronicle of Venetian life in all its blissful and sordid aspects, Brunetti is ever more impressed by the intuition of his fellow Commissario Claudia Griffoni, and by the endless resourcefulness and craftiness of Signorina Elettra, Patta's secretary and gate-keeper, and reminded of the ever-lasting virtues of his own family. His intellectual pursuits lead him to read Sophocles' play Antigone, so revealing of the unintended consequences that can erupt from bad decisions-and tempt him to consider at least personal forgiveness for a crime from the heart gone bad.

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review - Marilyn Stasio

The Venetian settings are enchanting and Commissario Guido Brunetti's investigative methods are drolly amusing. But it's the living, bleeding humanity of the characters that makes Donna Leon's police procedurals so engaging.

Publishers Weekly

01/15/2018
In Leon’s thought-provoking 27th Commissario Guido Brunetti novel (after 2017’s Earthly Remains), Elisa Crosera, a university colleague of Brunetti’s wife, fears that her teenage son has fallen prey to unidentified drug dealers and approaches him for help. Armed only with an informant’s tip, the Venetian policeman checks into the activities of a longtime dealer recently released from prison. When Crosera’s accountant husband, Tullio Gasparini, is found on a bridge, suffering from serious head injuries, Brunetti wonders whether Gasparini was pursuing his own investigation and posed a threat to his son’s drug connections. As Brunetti looks into Gasparini’s movements and background, he uncovers strange behavior by Gasparini’s aged aunt that may point to more sinister doings. Amid the procedural aspects of the case, vivid descriptions of Venice, and interludes with Brunetti’s pesky superior, Leon offers intelligent reflections on the fallout that can harm both innocent and guilty in the quest for justice. Agent: Susanna Bauknecht, Diogenes Verlag (Switzerland). (Mar.)

From the Publisher

Praise for The Temptation of Forgiveness:

Named a Best Crime Book of the Year by Marilyn Stasio for the New York Times Book Review
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
Named a Financial Times Summer Book Pick
Named a Most Anticipated Mystery of 2018 by Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“The Venetian settings are enchanting and Commissario Guido Brunetti’s investigative methods are drolly amusing. But it’s the living, bleeding humanity of the characters that makes Donna Leon’s police procedurals so engaging . . . In his sensitive dealings with the victims of crime, Brunetti proves as much a psychologist and social worker as a cop . . . Tagging along after this sleuth is a wonderful way to see Venice like a native.”—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

“[A] droll and intelligent series . . . As Brunetti makes his tactful way through a Venetian maze of office politics, family connections and moral conundrums, his focus switches from school children procuring narcotics to old people victimized by greedy and unethical medical professionals.”—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal

“[Commissario Guido Brunetti] is the perfect hero for Leon’s minimal, almost lyrical writing style . . . As usual in Leon’s novels, the frank depiction of the darker aspects of life in modern Venice sits right alongside some of the most enchanting descriptions of the city in contemporary fiction.”—Steve Donoghue, Christian Science Monitor

“Once again we’re in Donna Leon’s enticing, troubled and beautiful Venice with its bridges, canals, narrow lanes, tourists, fogs, pastries, wines—and crooks . . . Craftily, meticulously and ingeniously, Leon unfurls her plot . . . Leon’s prose is smooth and supple, and her latest mystery is one of her best.”—Providence Journal

“The Temptation of Forgiveness . . . presents the understated yet razor-sharp investigator with what is possibly his most complex mystery to date, arising from what appears to be a somewhat simple crime that has a particularly tragic result . . . Once again, Leon gives us that rare novel that will satisfy fans of pure mysteries while entrancing those who are interested in personalities, cultures, and the complexities of life and living. Do not miss The Temptation of Forgiveness or, for that matter, any of the books that have come before.”—Book Reporter

“Perfect beach fare . . . These Venice-based novels are sumptuous: charming, clever, atmospheric and compelling. Leon blends politics, philosophy, history and gastronomy into her mix, and ties it up with a mystery solved by the lugubrious and companionable Brunetti. Wonderful.”—Financial Times

“As in all the Commissario Brunetti novels, Venice, brooding over the human comedy, Venice watchful of the sea is always a main character . . . Leon’s mysteries are always welcome companions because they offer the intellect, as well as the heart, the food they crave.”—Reviewing the Evidence

“Donna Leon has written almost three dozen novels in this series, combining vivid descriptions of Venice, Brunetti’s appetite, and a wide variety of social ills. In this installment, she combines the taking advantage of elderly people and of government programs such as medicine and drug insurance, exposing both while Brunetti goes about in his calm manner conducting his investigation.”—Promoting Crime Fiction

“After more than twenty-five books in the series, this breaks some new ground . . . It is good to see such an established author changing and growing . . . Not only is the solution both surprising and believable, but it requires Brunetti to make a moral decision.”—Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“Dip into any of [Leon’s] 27 novels and you’ll find delightful places and faces and real cafes, restaurants and piazzas far from the mobs of San Marco. Whether it’s the charm of La Serenissima herself or Leon’s ability to turn Italy’s wild-west politics into highly personal pltos, there’s not a bad book in this long-running series, and The Temptation of Forgiveness is no exception. Our favorite people and places are here, along with some new ones, and the plot—drugs, death, corruption—leads to a satisfactory, if slightly cynical, end. In short, perfect Brunetti.”—Globe and Mail (Canada)

“Donna Leon has written almost three dozen novels in this series, combining vivid descriptions of Venice, Brunetti’s appetite, and a wide variety of social ills. In this installment, she combines the taking advantage of elderly people and of government programs such as medicine and drug insurance, exposing both while Brunetti goes about in his calm manner conducting his investigation. Recommended.”—Midwest Book Review

“As always, it’s a pleasure spending time in Brunetti’s world.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Thought-provoking . . . Amid the procedural aspects of the case, vivid descriptions of Venice, and interludes with Brunetti’s pesky superior, Leon offers intelligent reflections on the fallout that can harm both innocent and guilty in the quest for justice.”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] richly rewarding series . . . Another powerful exploration of the injustice of justice from a master of character-rich crime fiction. Guido Brunetti may be the most beloved protagonist in crime fiction, and if his shoulders are stooping over so many encounters with human tragedy, his fans will feel only excitement at the prospect of joining him in his twenty-seventh adventure.”—Bill Ott, Booklist

Praise for Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries:

“Donna Leon’s Venetian mysteries never disappoint, calling up the romantic sights and sounds of La Serenissima even as they acquaint us with the practical matters that concern the city’s residents.”—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

“Few detective writers create so vivid, inclusive, and convincing a narrative as Donna Leon . . . One of the most exquisite and subtle detective series ever.”—Washington Post

“The sophisticated but still moral Brunetti, with his love of food and his loving family, proves a worthy custodian of timeless values and verities.”—Wall Street Journal

“[Leon] uses the relatively small and crime-free canvas of Venice for rips about Italian life, sexual styles and—best of all—the kind of ingrown business and political corruption that seems to lurk just below the surface.”—Chicago Tribune

“Hers is an unusually potent cocktail of atmosphere and event.”—New Yorker

“For those who know Venice, or want to, Brunetti is a well-versed escort to the nooks, crannies, moods, and idiosyncrasies of what residents call La Serenissima, the Serene One . . . Richly atmospheric, [Leon] introduces you to the Venice insiders know.”—USA Today

“Donna Leon is the undisputed crime fiction queen . . . Leon’s ability to capture the social scene and internal politics [of Venice] is first-rate.”—Baltimore Sun

“Terrific at providing, through its weary but engaging protagonist, a strong sense of the moral quandaries inherent in Italian society and culture.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Brunetti is one of the most attractive policemen in crime fiction today.”—Philadelphia Inquirer

“As always, Brunetti is highly attuned to (and sympathetic toward) the failings of the humans around him.”—Seattle Times

“Leon’s writing trembles with true feeling.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Leon started out with offhand, elegant excellence, and has simply kept it up.”—Guardian

“Compassionate yet incorruptible, Brunetti knows that true justice doesn’t always end in an arrest or a trial.”—Publishers Weekly

“[Brunetti] is a superb police detective—calm, deliberate, and insightful as he investigates with a reflective thoroughness.”—Library Journal

“The appeal of Guido Brunetti, the hero of Donna Leon's long-running Venetian crime series, comes not from his shrewdness, though he is plenty shrewd, nor from his quick wit. It comes, instead, from his role as an Everyman . . . [his life is] not so different from our own days at the office or nights around the dinner table. Crime fiction for those willing to grapple with, rather than escape, the uncertainties of daily life.”—Booklist

“It’s difficult to describe the work of Donna Leon other than in superlatives . . . An annual blessing, a fine series—one of the finest (see what I mean) in the mystery (or any) genre . . . There are few reading joys that equal cracking the binding of a new Leon novel . . . If you have not experienced this world, so exotic and yet so familiar, you can pick up literally any volume in the series and begin a comfortable entry into Brunetti’s Venice.”—BookReporter

“One of the most popular crime series worldwide . . . While the Brunetti books, with their abundance of local color and gastronomic treats, appeal to the fans of the traditional mystery, Leon has something darker and deeper in mind.”—Life Sentence

“No author has delved into Venetian society quite like Leon, whose insider’s view shows how crime seeps throughout the city, touching all strata of society.”—Mystery Scene

Library Journal

10/01/2017
Commissario Guido Brunetti has his hands full when a friend of his wife asks him to help her son, whom she suspects of drug use. When the boy's father is found unconscious and badly injured at the foot of a gracefully arched Venetian bridge, Brunetti initially suspects the drug connection. But a long-running scam suggested by coupons, found at the victim's office but bearing the name of his elderly aunt, point the investigation in another direction. Twenty-seventh in the CWA Macallan Silver Dagger-winning, internationally best-selling series.

Kirkus Reviews

2018-01-10
A dying drug dealer and an elderly woman dressed in head-to-toe satin are among the lifelong Venetians whose apartments we visit, alongside Commissario Guido Brunetti, in Leon's leisurely 27th mystery.As the book opens, Brunetti has two unsettling meetings. First, his boss, the pompous and dim Vice-Questore Giuseppe Patta, calls him into his office to ask about rumors that someone at the Questura has been leaking classified information—and possibly also spreading gossip about Patta's henchman, Lt. Scarpa. Then Brunetti is visited by a woman he recognizes as a colleague of his wife, Paola, who teaches English literature at the university. Professoressa Elisa Crosera thinks her son is in trouble, probably with drugs, and wants Brunetti to solve her problem by arresting whoever's been selling to the students at the boy's expensive private school. "Ah, how wonderful to be able to do that, Brunetti thought. Arrest them and keep them until they went for trial and then have the judges send them to prison....Pity it didn't work that way." Brunetti checks to make sure the Carabinieri is investigating the problem of drugs in the schools and then, "his conscience salved," puts it out of his head—until a week later, when the professoressa's husband is found unconscious at the bottom of a bridge, unlikely to ever wake up. Could he have threatened a drug dealer? Or perhaps something untoward was going on in his job as an accountant? And what does his elegant but infirm aunt have to do with it? Leon provides the usual pleasures of walking the streets of Venice with Brunetti, guided by the "Venetian system of batlike echolocation" that helps him get around. It's good to see Brunetti admiring his colleague Claudia Griffoni's professional skills and also good that he keeps it to himself when he admires her looks. No one wants their favorite Venetian detective sexually harassing another commissario.The mystery isn't much to write home about, though the last few pages do provide Leon's trademark moral ambiguity—even the perpetrator is sympathetic—and, as always, it's a pleasure spending time in Brunetti's world.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170502998
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	03/20/2018
Series:	Guido Brunetti Series , #27
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

When they were seated, Patta began: “I’d like to speak to you frankly, Commissario.” Brunetti ignored the chance this remark gave him to ask how Patta had spoken to him in the past and, instead, nodded and put on a pleasant, interested expression. At least Patta had wasted no time with preliminaries.

“It’s about leaks,” Patta said.

“Leaks?” Brunetti asked, resisting the urge to look at the ceiling.

“From the Questura,” Patta continued.

Ah, that kind of leaks, Brunetti told himself and wondered what Patta had in mind. Nothing embarrassing had appeared in either Il Gazzettino or La Nuova di Venezia for some time, so Brunetti was without advance warning about what information might be leaking from the Questura.

“These leaks, sir: could you tell me more about them?”

“I wanted to speak to you, Brunetti, because you know people here,” Patta said, reminding Brunetti that this was still the old Patta, for whom any information about the inner workings of the Questura was to be treated as part of the Delphic Mysteries.

Brunetti waved a hand in the air, either to dismiss those hidden truths Patta believed he knew or perhaps to summon them from the vasty deep.

“They talk to you,” Patta insinuated. Hearing Patta’s suspicion relaxed Brunetti and told him that, though the subject might be new, the old, adversarial order had been restored. He tossed away his momentary warming towards Patta and returned to his native good sense.

“What is it you think they’ve been talking about Vice-Questore?”

Patta cleared his throat with a small noise. “I’ve heard rumors that some people are displeased with Lieutenant Scarpa,” Patta said, struggling, it seemed, to keep indignation from his voice. Then, more calmly, as though he considered it of lesser importance, he added, “It also seems that someone has been talking about a person brought in for questioning.”

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