Give Unto Others (A Commissario Brunetti Mystery)

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I did finish the book, with a little skimming, but I found it a disappointent. It’s not bad, but it’s not that great either, I’m afraid.

Brunetti is forced to confront the price of loyalty, to his past and in his work, as a seemingly innocent request leads him into troubling waters. Unarguably one of the most humane—and absorbing—of the series . . . The dilemmas demand the best of Brunetti, which is what he delivers.”— Toronto Star It might take a day or two,’ Signorina Elettra answered, tapping the erasered end of her pencil against the paper. ‘If it’s a small project, then it’s unlikely they’ll have adequate protection.’ And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.This was a comfortable return to Brunetti World with all of its regular touchstones. The outside world has moved on and there are references to a post-pandemic situation where some are reluctant to wear masks or are forgetful about it. Wife Paola is still teaching at the university and kids Chiara and Raffi are still in school (after 30 years!!). The timeless Brunetti household is an oasis from any turmoil of the outside world, where Brunetti can curl up with his favourite classical Roman or Greek literature and consult Paola for her opinion on his current case. It is a cozy world which is only occasionally interrupted by the criminal or ethical problems of those outside it. Once again, Commissario Guido Brunetti is willing to bend police rules for an acquaintance, even though Elisabetta Foscarini, the woman who asks the favour, is not really a friend. But her mother was good to Brunetti's, so he feels he has no choice but to repay the debt and agrees to look into the matter 'privately', rather than as a police official. He is about to tell his friend that he can find no reason for preoccupation when her daughter's place of work is vandalised, forcing Brunetti to turn his attention - still 'private' - to Elisabetta's own family.

Brunetti ultimately realizes that because Elisabetta’s request was “clothed in the trappings of old friendship” (p. 247), he behaved in ways contrary to his instinct and his training. What is the turning point in his approach to the puzzle that Elisabetta’s visit sets into motion? How do his brother’s recollections of their childhood help refocus the issue for Brunetti? You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts, Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases. 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 TribuneEven as an entry in such an idiosyncratic (and appealing) series, this case is one of the most personal our protagonist — a thoughtful, compassionate man — has faced.

Give Unto Others is the thirty-first book in the Commissario Brunetti series by award-winning American-born author, Donna Leon. Venice, in the pandemic’s tail end, and the Questura is not overrun with criminal cases, so Brunetti agrees to look into a private matter, off the books, for a former neighbour.

Give and it will be given to you in good measure, pressed down and overflowing, they shall cast into your lap. For with what measure you measure it will be measured to you.” Brunetti is forced to confront the price of loyalty, to his past and in his work, as a seemingly innocent request leads him into troubling waters Donna Leon’s I latest Brunetti novel was a Christmas gift I gave to myself. Although not to be published until March, I received a copy from NetGalley early. I was saving it until closer to the publication date, but on a particularly bleak day leading up to Christmas. I just had to read it. Of course, Brunetti and his team will wrap up everything but not without some big surprises and revelations that were never meant to see the light of day."

I’ve been following Brunetti for over twenty years (this is book number 31) and whenever I sit down with the latest episode I feel that I’m reacquainting myself with a group of old friends: Guido, his wife Paola and their children and also Brunetti’s colleagues at the Questura. The crime itself – if you can actually identify one – is often inconsequential to my enjoyment of these books, what I most enjoy is the verbal jousting that takes place between the various players and the frequent tangential musings on art, food, literature and history, or simply on the overt bureaucracy that is an inescapable component of life in this country. If this makes the books sound somewhat muddled or confused then I can only assure you that they don’t read this way. 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 Although Jesus was the Word made flesh, He made Himself a student of the law. In the book of Leviticus, a core book of the law, we find another variation of what we call The Golden Rule. The relatively bloodless nature of this mystery may also be a natural progression. Leon, who was born in New Jersey and who lived in Italy for many years, has increasingly focused on social issues in her books. Environmental threats, usually voiced by Brunetti’s children, have taken center stage in several of the Brunetti novels, including last year’s Trace Elements, and immigration, as well as abuse and corruption by the government, the medical establishment, and the Catholic church frequently play into his cases. Despite his official title, Brunetti spends as much of his time mulling over these issues as he does official police business, and the usual trappings of police procedurals — whether they be chases or lab work — play a secondary role in these books.The confidence we have in knowing that God loves us delivers us from fear but not from responsible action. In fact, God's love for us and in us sets us free to love our brother and sister even as God loves them. To fail this test of love proves that one's claim to love God is a lie—just as the previous claims to have fellowship with God while walking in darkness ( 1:6), to know him while disobeying his commands ( 2:4), or to possess the Father while denying his Son were lies ( 2:22-23). John has a double sense in "liar." A liar does not speak the truth in that what he claims is false, and his actions show that he has divorced himself from the reality of God. Brunetti] is a superb police detective—calm, deliberate, and insightful as he investigates with a reflective thoroughness.” — Library Journal The most richly accomplished of the brothers’ pairings to date—and given Connelly’s high standards, that’s saying a lot. So overall this felt rather slight to me even though the 'crime' speaks volumes - and I found the plotting rather holey, not least the perpetrator and their actions. Still, it's always fun to be in Brunetti's company even if this isn't a showcase book in the series.