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Commissario Brunetti #22
The Golden Egg
"In The Golden Egg, as the first leaves of autumn begin to fall, Vice Questore Patta asks Brunetti to look into a minor shop-keeping violation committed by the mayor's future daughter-in-law. Brunetti has no interest in helping his boss amass political favors, but he has little choice but to comply. Then Brunetti's wife, Paola, comes to him with a request of her own. The mentally handicapped man who worked at their dry cleaner has just died of a sleeping pill overdose, and Paola loathes the idea that he lived and died without anyone noticing him, or helping him.Brunetti begins to investigate the death and is surprised when he finds nothing on the man: no birth certificate, no passport, no driver's license, no credit cards. As far as the Italian government is concerned, he never existed. Stranger still, the dead man's mother refuses to speak to the police, and assures Brunetti that her son's identification papers were stolen in a burglary. As secrets unravel, Brunetti suspects that the Lembos, an aristocratic family, might be somehow connected to the death. But why would anyone want this sweet, simple-minded man dead?"
276 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
1116 people are currently reading
2877 people want to read
About the author
Donna Leon
98 books2,907 followersDonna Leon (born September 29, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey) is an American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 928 reviews
April 23, 2013
Donna Leon could write a book describing nothing but what the Commissario had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I would not only read it, I would savor every word. As usual in a Brunetti novel, there is a mystery here to be solved--not even a true police case this time around--and that mystery allows Leon to share what she thinks about the state of the world. While I tend to agree with her beliefs, I read her books primarily for the characters and the glimpse into their daily lives as Venetians. While others might find the descriptions--of how Guido read the paper in the morning or decided to take the vaparetto or stopped for a drink before heading back to the office--to be banal, for me those moments are the joy. In this outing, we learn a little more about some of Brunetti's colleagues, get a glimpse of his growing children, and see again the easy rapport he has with wife Paola. If I had one wish for Leon, it would be for her to go back to the characters of Guido's in-laws, a fascinating couple who have been absent from the series for far to long.
June 14, 2013
This may be Leon's darkest crime novel yet. They're all pretty bleak, as corruption in the government at least, is rife. But this is disturbing on a more personal level for Brunetti and for readers--the crime involves human cruelty that is more chilling than one that involves graphically described violence. I've read all in the series, and while I'm not certain this is the best, it has certainly stayed with me. Brunetti battles corruption in the police department and beyond in modern Italy, solving intriguing cases, and taking us with him throughout Venice. Wonderful sense of time and place, people and customs. I love the glimpses of his family and family life, and that's especially prevalent here, set up in contrast to the murder victim's family. There's not as much humor as in others, but there's a lot of heart. In his starred review in Booklist, Bill Ott called it a "celebration of the humanizing power of words." It is that, and in smart dialog, polished and intelligent prose Leon helps those of us who love language see what life would be without it.
April 22, 2013
Let me begin by saying that Donna Leon is incapable of writing a bad book. This book is well worth reading. That being said, it is not up to the standard of her other books featuring Venetian Comissario Guido Brunetti. Both the depiction of the characters and the plot itself are a shadow of Leon’s usual writing. Most of the stories in this quite phenomenal series have dealt with important socio-political-religious issues. They have represented a loving, an educated and, at times, despairing, view of Venice and by extension, of Italy. It is this quality that has had me coming back to her writing, book after book.
The Golden Egg is quite simply not up to her usual standard. The story, concerning the life and death of a sad young man who was, or appeared to be, a deaf-mute, simply has no scope. It would have made a good short story perhaps.
Donna Leon’s books never have “happy endings”. This one ties up things more completely than most, but I can’t help feeling that a cliché title predicting an unsurprising cliché ending are indications that perhaps it is time to put Guido Brunetti, Paula, and the rest of the team out to pasture.
The Golden Egg is quite simply not up to her usual standard. The story, concerning the life and death of a sad young man who was, or appeared to be, a deaf-mute, simply has no scope. It would have made a good short story perhaps.
Donna Leon’s books never have “happy endings”. This one ties up things more completely than most, but I can’t help feeling that a cliché title predicting an unsurprising cliché ending are indications that perhaps it is time to put Guido Brunetti, Paula, and the rest of the team out to pasture.
August 14, 2022
This is always such an interesting series. But this is the second time in the last few books when an “unofficial” investigation has been at the center of the plot. It makes me wonder why Guido didn’t have more official duties to attend to. This time, Brunetti is following up on a request by his wife. It rolls along at a slow pace. A deaf, supposedly mentally handicapped man has apparently committed suicide. But there is no record of him - no identity card, no medical records, no other official records. That, despite him living with his mother.
The joy of the story is always the characters, the Venice background and the politics.
I was distraught that David Colucci was not the narrator on this one. Thank heavens it was a one off as David Rintoul was less than ideal.
The joy of the story is always the characters, the Venice background and the politics.
I was distraught that David Colucci was not the narrator on this one. Thank heavens it was a one off as David Rintoul was less than ideal.
April 5, 2013
I am ashamed that it has taken me so long to discover Donna Leon. I can honestly say I am a fan who is going to go out and get more books, preferably the first three, in this Commissario Brunetti series. The Golden Egg is the 22nd novel in the Brunetti series but I feel that it can be read as a standalone as well. Although I'm sure it could have only helped if I had read any of the previos books, I don't feel like anything was lacked in regards to character depth, or vivid imagery. Leon's writing is top-notch and I can't wait to read more by her.
The Golden Egg begins with Commissario Brunetti accepting a request from his boss to investigate a potential scandal for the mayor who up for re-election involving his future daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law may be in violation of shop-keeper laws. Something completely minor and really has nothing to do with the main dish of the plot. Paola, Brunetti's wife, is saddened by the idea that a mentally handicapped boy has been found dead by eating sleeping pills and may have died alone. Paola only knows of the boy because he "works" at their local cleaners. Brunetti agrees to find out what happened and this is where things get interesting. In an attempt to verify his identity, there is no proof that he's alive. There is no birth certificate, passport, ID, or school records. The boy, which find to later be a man, seems not to exist and his mother isn't giving up any information either. She blames his lack of papers on a recent theft.
I especially liked Brunetti and see why this series has made it to the 22nd book. He seems like a caring man, almost to the point of annoyance. He's not the typical detective that are used in American based procedurals. At times he makes moves based on how it is perceived and is very cautious of his actions not offending someone. I thought this was very interesting because it wasn't common. We often get the wise cracking, forceful brutes as police archetypes. Apparently Venice does not have this problem.
Although Leon's work falls under the thriller category, there wasn't much "thrilling" about it (not meant to be a slight)only it's not over the top in the usual thrilling sense associated with novels under this classification. There are no gun fights, no ripping down the streets in Mini's, and no horribly mangled gorrey dead bodies. It's a genuine mystery supported by interesting characters with a plausible, real plot that explores the depth of character and greed. I repeat I'm ashamed I haven't read this writer's work before now but as they say: better late than never.
The Golden Egg begins with Commissario Brunetti accepting a request from his boss to investigate a potential scandal for the mayor who up for re-election involving his future daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law may be in violation of shop-keeper laws. Something completely minor and really has nothing to do with the main dish of the plot. Paola, Brunetti's wife, is saddened by the idea that a mentally handicapped boy has been found dead by eating sleeping pills and may have died alone. Paola only knows of the boy because he "works" at their local cleaners. Brunetti agrees to find out what happened and this is where things get interesting. In an attempt to verify his identity, there is no proof that he's alive. There is no birth certificate, passport, ID, or school records. The boy, which find to later be a man, seems not to exist and his mother isn't giving up any information either. She blames his lack of papers on a recent theft.
I especially liked Brunetti and see why this series has made it to the 22nd book. He seems like a caring man, almost to the point of annoyance. He's not the typical detective that are used in American based procedurals. At times he makes moves based on how it is perceived and is very cautious of his actions not offending someone. I thought this was very interesting because it wasn't common. We often get the wise cracking, forceful brutes as police archetypes. Apparently Venice does not have this problem.
Although Leon's work falls under the thriller category, there wasn't much "thrilling" about it (not meant to be a slight)only it's not over the top in the usual thrilling sense associated with novels under this classification. There are no gun fights, no ripping down the streets in Mini's, and no horribly mangled gorrey dead bodies. It's a genuine mystery supported by interesting characters with a plausible, real plot that explores the depth of character and greed. I repeat I'm ashamed I haven't read this writer's work before now but as they say: better late than never.
December 7, 2022
People stopped talking, people knew nothing, people forgot. Let officialdom be represented in the form of the police, and forgetting quickly turned into total amnesia.
In this recent addition to an excellent series centred on Venice police commissario Guido Brunetti, his wife Paola alerts him to the death of a deaf mute man, aged in his forties, who helped at the local drycleaners. An accidental overdose? But the mother acts suspiciously, the autopsy reveals no physiological damage to her son’s hearing. Brunetti’s interest is piqued when it appears there is no record of the man’s existence.
In a country filled with fake blind people, with others collecting the pensions of relatives who had died a decade before, of people declared to be 100 per cent incapacitated who played golf and tennis, and here was a genuinely disabled person who had never made any claim on the state.
As with her previous books, author Donna Leon gives the reader an intriguing, and at times unsettling contemporary view of the historic city where chicanery runs beneath the surface: a suspicious fire in an old factory slated for redevelopment; a Vice-Questore eager that no embarrassment should befall the Mayor due for re-election; an impromptu police presence at the airport to remind baggage handlers they had not lost interest in them; an ancient family’s secrets brought to light.
Verdict: another satisfyng read.
In this recent addition to an excellent series centred on Venice police commissario Guido Brunetti, his wife Paola alerts him to the death of a deaf mute man, aged in his forties, who helped at the local drycleaners. An accidental overdose? But the mother acts suspiciously, the autopsy reveals no physiological damage to her son’s hearing. Brunetti’s interest is piqued when it appears there is no record of the man’s existence.
In a country filled with fake blind people, with others collecting the pensions of relatives who had died a decade before, of people declared to be 100 per cent incapacitated who played golf and tennis, and here was a genuinely disabled person who had never made any claim on the state.
As with her previous books, author Donna Leon gives the reader an intriguing, and at times unsettling contemporary view of the historic city where chicanery runs beneath the surface: a suspicious fire in an old factory slated for redevelopment; a Vice-Questore eager that no embarrassment should befall the Mayor due for re-election; an impromptu police presence at the airport to remind baggage handlers they had not lost interest in them; an ancient family’s secrets brought to light.
Verdict: another satisfyng read.
September 11, 2023
The unfortunate death of an unfortunate man, but is it murder? It doesn't appear to be. But Brunette can't get it out of his head. It being a slow time for crime in Venice he receives permission from his superiors to look into it, and he uncovers a crime so vicious I will have trouble sleeping tonight imagining how someone could be so cruel.
May 20, 2013
Like many of the reviewers here, I LOVE Donna Leon's books, and I'm especially fond of Commissario Guido Brunetti. The author is not just a writer of mysteries; I would say her books are literary fiction structured around a mystery with lots to tell us about life. (Louise Penny is another "mystery" author who's writing just gets better and better, deeper and deeper.) Some of Leon's more recent books have been a little too structured around a here's-what's-wrong-with-the-world theme for me: the description in "Beastly Things" of the slaughter of animals to feed those of us who are not vegetarian was a little much.
"The Golden Egg" looks at the subject of language, how we communicate, and the subtle ways we can manipulate other people through it's use - or non-use. And of course we see this through Brunetti's eyes; a more thoughtful and caring policeman could not exist anywhere. I'm glad he exists in Venice so I can enjoy that beautiful city and its food vicariously. After a leisurely investigation, the ending will stun you, as it did Brunetti. One of the best in the series.
"The Golden Egg" looks at the subject of language, how we communicate, and the subtle ways we can manipulate other people through it's use - or non-use. And of course we see this through Brunetti's eyes; a more thoughtful and caring policeman could not exist anywhere. I'm glad he exists in Venice so I can enjoy that beautiful city and its food vicariously. After a leisurely investigation, the ending will stun you, as it did Brunetti. One of the best in the series.
November 5, 2024
Davide Cavanella, 40-ish, was found dead of an apparent overdose of sleeping pills. Davide was known throughout the neighborhood as the deaf and retarded man who "worked" at the cleaners. Worked is not quite accurate as the women allowed him to do things there, but he was not truly employed.
Our friend, Commissario Brunetti, is a curious and empathetic man. Even he does not truly understand why the death of this young man has captured his attention. The reader follows him as he tries to understand how this tragic death could have happened. I'm used to reading about his solving a murder. This was so entirely different.
Donna Leon gives us yet another look at Venice and its society. We are given a glimpse of how some of Brunetti's staff can - falsely - turn on the charm in order to garner confidence from some members of the public. Naturally, not all is what it seems. People lie, but who are the liars and who are the truth tellers? And, even when they know who are the liars, are some statements true and other not and how to tell which?
This was a very good read. I think this one will stay with me and a very very good 4-stars - top for the genre.
Our friend, Commissario Brunetti, is a curious and empathetic man. Even he does not truly understand why the death of this young man has captured his attention. The reader follows him as he tries to understand how this tragic death could have happened. I'm used to reading about his solving a murder. This was so entirely different.
Donna Leon gives us yet another look at Venice and its society. We are given a glimpse of how some of Brunetti's staff can - falsely - turn on the charm in order to garner confidence from some members of the public. Naturally, not all is what it seems. People lie, but who are the liars and who are the truth tellers? And, even when they know who are the liars, are some statements true and other not and how to tell which?
This was a very good read. I think this one will stay with me and a very very good 4-stars - top for the genre.
May 23, 2013
Sitting down to read a new Donna Leon mystery novel is like sitting down to eat at my favorite Italian restaurant. I approach each book with anticipation and savor the memories of the Venetian setting and her appealing and very human characters, especially her hero, Commissario Guido Brunetti and his delightful family. I am never disappointed.
Leon is an American who has lived in Venice for thirty years. Her love and knowledge of the city and its inhabitants breathe through every page. I find myself slowing my reading pace way down to slip into the scene and wander the streets of Venice with Brunetti. He has to carry on in doing his job despite corrupt politicians, an impossible boss and some untrustworthy colleagues, but he continues to seek the truth in the cases confronting him. He doesn't always get his man (or woman) but he invariably untangles the reasons behind perplexing crimes. Leon usually slips a social or environmental issue into her plots, but avoids being heavy-handed. Her books make me happy. I encourage you to pick up one of her novels and enter the world of Guido Brunetti.
Leon is an American who has lived in Venice for thirty years. Her love and knowledge of the city and its inhabitants breathe through every page. I find myself slowing my reading pace way down to slip into the scene and wander the streets of Venice with Brunetti. He has to carry on in doing his job despite corrupt politicians, an impossible boss and some untrustworthy colleagues, but he continues to seek the truth in the cases confronting him. He doesn't always get his man (or woman) but he invariably untangles the reasons behind perplexing crimes. Leon usually slips a social or environmental issue into her plots, but avoids being heavy-handed. Her books make me happy. I encourage you to pick up one of her novels and enter the world of Guido Brunetti.
February 26, 2020
Another good one in the Brunetti series. My full review is here: http://patricksherriff.com/2020/02/26...
August 12, 2021
I enjoyed diving back into the Brunetti world.
This story was heartbreaking. Maybe because I had had many years teaching students with disabilities. (Hint)
The actual mystery was quite interesting.
DNA/DNU detail (hint) was quite engaging as well.
This story was heartbreaking. Maybe because I had had many years teaching students with disabilities. (Hint)
The actual mystery was quite interesting.
DNA/DNU detail (hint) was quite engaging as well.
June 29, 2013
The Golden Egg is the latest in the Commissario Guido Burnetti Mysteries. If you are a fan of the series you will not be disappointed. If this is your first time to read a Commissario Brunetti mystery you will be a new fan.
The world of Brunetti: The series is set in Venice and each book adds another layer to the world where Brunetti lives. Donna Leon is a long time resident of the city and she brings it to vivid life.
Politics: Like previous books there are many statements about how politics work in Italy. According to the books politicians are not well-loved.
Characters: The characters have been developed over the series. Both the main and side characters are well-deveolped. There are added dimensions for several characters in each book. I learned more about some of the side characters in The Golden Egg. Look for how Italians from the North and South of Italy feel about each other.
Plot: The plot in The Golden Egg develops as the story progresses. This story has a flow and rhythm where one action leads to another unexpected piece of information that leads to another and another. It is not until the last chapter that the entire plot is revealed. Even here it is not with a bang. It creeps up and surprises you.
The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries are some of my favorites. While I have read the entire series I did not read it in order. Each book can stand-alone.
The world of Brunetti: The series is set in Venice and each book adds another layer to the world where Brunetti lives. Donna Leon is a long time resident of the city and she brings it to vivid life.
Politics: Like previous books there are many statements about how politics work in Italy. According to the books politicians are not well-loved.
Characters: The characters have been developed over the series. Both the main and side characters are well-deveolped. There are added dimensions for several characters in each book. I learned more about some of the side characters in The Golden Egg. Look for how Italians from the North and South of Italy feel about each other.
Plot: The plot in The Golden Egg develops as the story progresses. This story has a flow and rhythm where one action leads to another unexpected piece of information that leads to another and another. It is not until the last chapter that the entire plot is revealed. Even here it is not with a bang. It creeps up and surprises you.
The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries are some of my favorites. While I have read the entire series I did not read it in order. Each book can stand-alone.
January 17, 2016
Question: How can a crime novel with no crime be interesting? Answer: in this case, it can't - or at least this one doesn't. I had read the first book in this series and it was good. Unfortunately, The Golden Egg moves at a sluggish pace and creates virtually no tension or even concern. Commissario Brunetti devotes so much time to wandering around Venice and trying to solve a crime that doesn't exist, that it is difficult to imagine such a leisurely police force existing anywhere on earth. I wanted to stop reading on many occasions and the resolution at the end was simple moralizing with no consequences. This really read more like a Venetian travelogue then a crime novel. With so many better crime series, I won't be heading any deeper into this one.
April 21, 2013
This series always tells me more about Venice and the people of this city than it does about anything else. The crime itself is always seems to be a secondary element in the stories. And in this book the crime is a lesser element than normal - I'll says no more.
This chapter in the life of the Venice policeman meanders along. Lots of coffe is consumed and the normal cast are all in attendance. There is a sense that they are all getting older, drawn out for the first time, I think. Then again, after more than twenty books that shouldn't really be a surprise. Along with many other long time fans, I'm hoping there are still many more episodes to come!
This chapter in the life of the Venice policeman meanders along. Lots of coffe is consumed and the normal cast are all in attendance. There is a sense that they are all getting older, drawn out for the first time, I think. Then again, after more than twenty books that shouldn't really be a surprise. Along with many other long time fans, I'm hoping there are still many more episodes to come!
October 21, 2018
It seemed like there's a lot of hype about this series, but I don't see it myself. Sure the book is well written, in fact I can't fault the language, but the actual story leaves so much to be desired. Firstly we keep delving off the side into other little cases, And then not having any follow up for these. And then really who gives a flying fudge about the office politics of two minor charscters?
I'm sad to say that I just wasn't gripped at all, and the main storyline concerning Davide's death is so pitifully obvious that I almost wanted to weep. I feel like the money I spent on this book was wasted. Can I get a refund please?
I'm sad to say that I just wasn't gripped at all, and the main storyline concerning Davide's death is so pitifully obvious that I almost wanted to weep. I feel like the money I spent on this book was wasted. Can I get a refund please?
June 8, 2023
Fairly enjoyable, but not nearly as good as the earlier books in the series.
August 4, 2013
Book 22, in the Commissario Brunetti series
First I admit being a huge fan of this series but after reading this latest I am really not sure what to make out of it. “The Golden Egg” unfolds in such a languorous manner and keeps the same slow pace throughout I felt I had taken a sleeping pill and waiting for the knockout (ouch). IMO it is too quiet with very little drama, definitely not MS. Leon’s standard, it seemed as if the penmanship may have come from a different stroke…..or strongly influenced by the works of the Queen of Crime….very predictable, always the same old beat….
This detective story centers on the life and death of a young man who was never heard to speak and never existed, a man with no identity. As Brunetti tries to find out the basics about him, he takes to the streets and canals of Venice for answers. He probes various people and faces the political mire and hopeless Italian bureaucracy along the way. His sharp-tongued wife Paula and the children play a prominent part that provides a bit of flavour to this mystery.
This series has never been action packed but this one is more ponderous than many of the previous novels. Brunetti is a thoughtful man, not given to hasty decisions or dramatic gestures and his language is overly correct…..he is definitely not the typical detective found these days.
After 22 books it may be time to put Guido Brunetti and Paulo and the rest of the cast to pasture.
First I admit being a huge fan of this series but after reading this latest I am really not sure what to make out of it. “The Golden Egg” unfolds in such a languorous manner and keeps the same slow pace throughout I felt I had taken a sleeping pill and waiting for the knockout (ouch). IMO it is too quiet with very little drama, definitely not MS. Leon’s standard, it seemed as if the penmanship may have come from a different stroke…..or strongly influenced by the works of the Queen of Crime….very predictable, always the same old beat….
This detective story centers on the life and death of a young man who was never heard to speak and never existed, a man with no identity. As Brunetti tries to find out the basics about him, he takes to the streets and canals of Venice for answers. He probes various people and faces the political mire and hopeless Italian bureaucracy along the way. His sharp-tongued wife Paula and the children play a prominent part that provides a bit of flavour to this mystery.
This series has never been action packed but this one is more ponderous than many of the previous novels. Brunetti is a thoughtful man, not given to hasty decisions or dramatic gestures and his language is overly correct…..he is definitely not the typical detective found these days.
After 22 books it may be time to put Guido Brunetti and Paulo and the rest of the cast to pasture.
August 19, 2013
It is no mean feat to sustain a mystery series at this high a level through 18 novels. Of course, that is just what Donna Leon has accomplished, and more (this is the 19th Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery). Of course, "The Golden Egg” features that charming and erudite Venetian detective in a tale that begins with the death of a mentally challenged deaf mute who works in a tailor shop frequented by Brunetti’s wife, Paola. She goads Brunetti into looking into the death, which appears to be natural.
At the same time, Brunetti’s boss timidly asks him to look into whether or not the mayor’s son’s fiancée, part owner of a store, is evading taxes or paying bribes to tax officials. The mayor, of course, is running for reelection and could do without any embarrassing revelations. The Commissario solves this one quickly and smoothly, but spends the entire novel on the other investigation, which becomes more complicated with every interview, no part of which is an official inquiry.
The charm of Brunetti’s home life, his relationship with his wife, daughter and son are always plusses in the books that make up this series. Unlike most others, the central theme of this novel is not a serious issue, but a personal, subtle one. Written with the usual depth of knowledge about Venice, its allure and atmosphere, the novel is recommended.
June 20, 2013
"To learn this little, he had avoided his professional responsibilities for a week, and had engaged or commandeered the help of other officers of the state, all in pursuit of what was becoming to seem like nothing more than a whim." - To those already acquainted with Inspector Brunetti, this will seem typical - he ignores or gets around orders from above because they are either stupid or venial, while pursuing the human interest: in this case the death of an apparent deaf-mute.
The main story, in between meals and reflections, is the search for some official identity for the dead man: " A person can't live somewhere all his life and not leave any traces. It just can't happen", declares the ever-efficient Signora Elettra, but the more Brunetti, abetted by her and his colleagues Graffini, Vianello and Puccini look, the more mysterious it all seems.
At the end, has a wrong been righted? I won't spoil the story, but I think many of you will guess. I have read all of Donna Leon's novels and have loved every one. The biting asides about the corruption and slackness of Italian bureaucracy and the cruelty of a few contrast with the kindness and humanity of so many of the characters and the beauty of the architecture.
The main story, in between meals and reflections, is the search for some official identity for the dead man: " A person can't live somewhere all his life and not leave any traces. It just can't happen", declares the ever-efficient Signora Elettra, but the more Brunetti, abetted by her and his colleagues Graffini, Vianello and Puccini look, the more mysterious it all seems.
At the end, has a wrong been righted? I won't spoil the story, but I think many of you will guess. I have read all of Donna Leon's novels and have loved every one. The biting asides about the corruption and slackness of Italian bureaucracy and the cruelty of a few contrast with the kindness and humanity of so many of the characters and the beauty of the architecture.
March 18, 2017
What an amazing story! I'm sure we have all been drawn into a mystery where someone we're aware of but don't know very well ... perhaps see all the time but never talk to ... suddenly disappears. We notice it, we wonder about it and usually, we let it go. But in this latest book about Commissario Brunetti, his wife finds out that the silent young man "the boy" at the laundry has died. Everyone assumed that he was deaf, dumb and mentally slow — that the pills he overdosed on were accidentally ingested.
The Brunettis, however, wonder at such a sad life and somehow the Commissario gets involved and weeds through the sad, unrecorded life to find out more, much more than he envisioned. This is a gripping tale that will keep you spellbound not from the violence, but the silent, growing signs that this is much more about a young man crippled by life. It is definitely a book to read and savor.
The Brunettis, however, wonder at such a sad life and somehow the Commissario gets involved and weeds through the sad, unrecorded life to find out more, much more than he envisioned. This is a gripping tale that will keep you spellbound not from the violence, but the silent, growing signs that this is much more about a young man crippled by life. It is definitely a book to read and savor.
April 23, 2013
A couple of years ago, my wife and I were going to visit Venice. "Get a Donna Leon book," a friend said. I read three before the trip and all of them since and anxiously await the launch of a new one each year. If you are looking for train crashes, bombs bursting in air, major mayhem, you should search elsewhere. But for a delicate and deft treatment of a society with corruption just enough under control that God withholds another dose of fire and brimstone, read her books. The Golden Egg can be read as a stand alone, but when I find an author like Ms Leon, I go to the first one and read them in order.
March 6, 2016
I enjoy Leon's books and characters but this time I particularly enjoyed the book because of the structural framework in its writing. It began with an explanation of the Brunetti family's love of words and especially Paola's insistence on accuracy then moves on to the death of a deaf, mute man. Brunetti conducts one of his moral searches for the truth amidst Venetian corruption and prejudice and the story wraps up with the reader increasingly aware of and sensitive to the importance of words. Many Brunetti stories end with a slight feeling of dissatisfaction that crimes have been 'got away with' but this time some sort of ironic justice was achieved.
May 18, 2019
The story opens with a wonderful family scene with our inspector playing a usual language game with his wife and two children. The humor is wonderful and revealing of the characters. The mystery was excellent, but beyond that the characters and dialog were superb. This story took place in Venice where I once visited. I enjoyed seeing the travel by boat in my minds eye, something we don't often imagine as public transportation in a city. I'm delighted that there are more than 20 books in the series and am eager to get the first book. I listened to this one in audio and greatly enjoyed the narration. It was especially helpful with the pronunciation of so many Italian words.
May 6, 2016
Not one of Leon's better murder/mysteries. At the heart of the story is a middle-aged man who apparently has committed suicide. A deaf-mute who has been rejected by his family so thoroughly that he is never provided with specialized care for his condition--oh yes, and we learn later that he might not even have been deaf. Very sad.
August 8, 2018
I love Donna Leon's books. They are carefully constructed and written, and her beautiful use of language and metaphor encourages me to read more slowly and thoughtfully than I might otherwise do. I've followed her since I discovered her years ago, completely by chance, while perusing the library mystery section. What a treasure.
April 9, 2015
Ah Venice, Brunetti, murder, deceit..... what more could you ask for. It amazes me the quality of the writing, Leon has been doing this for so many years, chronicling the changes in Venice and the world for many years, love her.
October 17, 2018
Ein Genuss mal wieder zu Gast bei Brunetti zu sein. Sind mir doch so viele Personen inzwischen vertraut und so fühlt es sich fast nach Heimkommen an.
Ich lese die Serie seit Jahren. Eine Zeit lang, konnte ich gar nicht auf die deutsche Ausgabe warten und habe quasi dank Brunetti begonnen Bücher auch in englischer Sprache zu lesen.
Warum ich die letzten Jahre meinem Lueblings Commissario fern geblieben bin, kann ich gar nicht sagen.
Jetzt hat er mich wieder. 5 Sterne, weil das Ende so grandios und einfach ala Brunetti war.
Mir stand das Grinsen im Gesicht.
Werde schnell in Erfahrung bringen, wieviele für mich neue Fälle nach diesem noch erschienen sind.
Ich lese die Serie seit Jahren. Eine Zeit lang, konnte ich gar nicht auf die deutsche Ausgabe warten und habe quasi dank Brunetti begonnen Bücher auch in englischer Sprache zu lesen.
Warum ich die letzten Jahre meinem Lueblings Commissario fern geblieben bin, kann ich gar nicht sagen.
Jetzt hat er mich wieder. 5 Sterne, weil das Ende so grandios und einfach ala Brunetti war.
Mir stand das Grinsen im Gesicht.
Werde schnell in Erfahrung bringen, wieviele für mich neue Fälle nach diesem noch erschienen sind.
July 3, 2018
Mais comment fait-elle ? Donna Leon est vraiment une magicienne ; une des (très) rares auteurs dont j'ai aimé tous les livres, certes à des degrés divers (bien qu'elle soit plus souvent en haut du panier qu'en bas) mais qui ne m'a jamais déçue. Je crois qu'elle pourrait parler de la migration des abeilles au pôle nord, elle réussirait à m'intéresser 😄
Bref, un très bon cru !
Bref, un très bon cru !
April 24, 2013
The Golden Egg is the twenty-second instalment in Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti series set in Venice. As someone just finishing the third book in a crime fiction series, I find it astonishing that anyone could write twenty-two (and counting). Equally impressive is the author's ongoing ability to engage, entertain and surprise in this deceptively simple, ultimately harrowing story.
Brunetti is given the official task in The Golden Egg of making enquiries into a possible bribery case that might embarrass the mayor, a scenario the sartorially splendid Vice-Questore Patta is keen to avoid. Unofficially, at the behest of his wife Paola, he looks into the death of a deaf-mute man, who worked at the dry cleaners in the Brunettis' own neighbourhood. The man died from an overdose of sleeping pills, though whether intentionally or by accident is unclear.
What is puzzling about the man-child, identified as Davide Cavanella, is how little is known about him. While Patta's secretary, the indomitable Signorina Elettra, attends seminars on the newest techniques for combating identity theft and computer hacking, Brunetti tries to fathom how a man in his forties in highly bureaucratic Venice could leave so little trace.
Davide's mother seems angry and defensive when questioned about his death, which sets Brunetti off on a hunt for the truth, not only about the man's death but about his life.
The Golden Egg contains all the elements that make Leon's books a pleasure to read: familiar characters in Brunetti's family and colleagues, evocative descriptions of Venice, ruminations on Italian politics and society, both passionate and philosophical.
But this is no writing by numbers. Being such an established author with a loyal fan base allows Leon to deviate from the conventions of the genre. Rather than a dead body in the opening chapter, we get a glimpse into Brunetti's family life:
If the Brunettis had a religion, aside from a formal adherence to some of the outward decorative manifestations of Christianity, it was language. Pens and jokes, crossword puzzles and teasers were to their what communion and confirmation were to Catholics.
A dead body doesn't appear until Chapter 4, by which stage Brunetti has been given his official assignment.
It's only in retrospect that I realise how cleverly the story was crafted -- how the dynamics outlined in the first few chapters contribute to the impact of the ending. It was only at the end, too, that I realised the significance of the book's title.
The Golden Egg is the work of a master, entertaining, surprising and moving. Highly recommended.
Brunetti is given the official task in The Golden Egg of making enquiries into a possible bribery case that might embarrass the mayor, a scenario the sartorially splendid Vice-Questore Patta is keen to avoid. Unofficially, at the behest of his wife Paola, he looks into the death of a deaf-mute man, who worked at the dry cleaners in the Brunettis' own neighbourhood. The man died from an overdose of sleeping pills, though whether intentionally or by accident is unclear.
What is puzzling about the man-child, identified as Davide Cavanella, is how little is known about him. While Patta's secretary, the indomitable Signorina Elettra, attends seminars on the newest techniques for combating identity theft and computer hacking, Brunetti tries to fathom how a man in his forties in highly bureaucratic Venice could leave so little trace.
Davide's mother seems angry and defensive when questioned about his death, which sets Brunetti off on a hunt for the truth, not only about the man's death but about his life.
The Golden Egg contains all the elements that make Leon's books a pleasure to read: familiar characters in Brunetti's family and colleagues, evocative descriptions of Venice, ruminations on Italian politics and society, both passionate and philosophical.
But this is no writing by numbers. Being such an established author with a loyal fan base allows Leon to deviate from the conventions of the genre. Rather than a dead body in the opening chapter, we get a glimpse into Brunetti's family life:
If the Brunettis had a religion, aside from a formal adherence to some of the outward decorative manifestations of Christianity, it was language. Pens and jokes, crossword puzzles and teasers were to their what communion and confirmation were to Catholics.
A dead body doesn't appear until Chapter 4, by which stage Brunetti has been given his official assignment.
It's only in retrospect that I realise how cleverly the story was crafted -- how the dynamics outlined in the first few chapters contribute to the impact of the ending. It was only at the end, too, that I realised the significance of the book's title.
The Golden Egg is the work of a master, entertaining, surprising and moving. Highly recommended.
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