Fatal Remedies - SPOILER Thread - (Brunetti #8) (Oct/Nov 24)

[Susan]

Welcome to our Oct/Nov 24 buddy read of Fatal Remedies: (Brunetti 8) The eighth book in the Commissario Brunetti Mystery series is first published in 1999.

For Commissario Guido Brunetti it began with an early morning phone call. A sudden act of vandalism had just been committed in the chill Venetian dawn, a rock thrown in anger through the window of a building in the deserted city. But soon Brunetti finds out that the perpetrator is no petty criminal intent on some annoying anonymous act. For the culprit waiting to be apprehended at the scene of the crime is none other than Paola Brunetti. His wife. As Paola's actions provoke a crisis in the Brunetti household, Brunetti himself is under pressure at work: a daring robbery with Mafia connections is then linked to a suspicious accidental death and his superiors need quick results. But now Brunetti's own career is under threat as his professional and personal lives clash - and the conspiracy which Paola had risked everything to expose draws him inexorably to the brink...

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

I've finished this now and found it a really compelling and enjoyable read, thanks to the quality of Donna Leon's writing - despite the problems with Paola's actions which we've already discussed in the other thread.

I also think there's possibly a problem with the plot twist about the drugs trade. The recipients might have no way of knowing that drugs are out of date if the dates on the packs have been altered (I remember similar news stories in the past involving tinned and packeted food).

But surely they would notice if placebos were sent instead of the real thing, and also if old wound dressings were falling to bits, as described. Then again, in the UK we've just had the Covid scandal about out-of-date and useless PPE!

[Judy]

I've just read Susan's great review and was interested to see the point that the question of whether the pizza chef killed his wife is never resolved. That's a shame - I don't think a question of who dunnit should be left unresolved in a novel like this, even though it so often happens in real life.

[Susan]

Yes, Brunetti obviously thought he had killed his wife, but I felt that storyline needed to be somehow concluded. Even if he was not found guilty.

[Sandy]

I hadn't noticed that the question of the pizza chef's wife was left unresolved and now I'm annoyed. Like Judy said, it is true to life but I hold my fiction to higher standards.

Once I got past my disbelief in Paola's actions the mystery was quite good. I can understand why the books are not translated into Italian; Leon is quite harsh on Italian corruption.

This is the second time I've noticed how apt the title is once you know the resolution. The other was Noble Radiance.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I've just read Susan's great review and was interested to see the point that the question of whether the pizza chef killed his wife is never resolved. That's a shame - I don't think a question of w..."

Oh, my goodness, I had forgotten all about the pizza chef! That’s another example of how disjointed this one felt, like a couple different plots mashed up, kind of left my head spinning a bit!

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "I hadn't noticed that the question of the pizza chef's wife was left unresolved and now I'm annoyed. Like Judy said, it is true to life but I hold my fiction to higher standards.

Once I got past m..."

Good point! I imagine it would be therapeutic for Leon to vent about Italian corruption to the rest of the world, but not publish in Italian, keep her mouth shut and head down - go on living and working in the country in peace! Kind of like long-time partners and friends- you wait until you leave the party and get into the privacy of the car or your own home to dish on and rehash the people/situations you’ve both just encountered! ;o)

[Susan]

When I saw her talk, she claimed she is not unkind to Italy compared to other Italians! She also said (you can believe this or not) that she just preferred not to be known in Italy as she lived there at the time. She now lives in Switzerland. Personally, I believe she was naturally wary of her mentions of the mafia, even fictional comments.

As a side comment, Italy is currently saying they will give UK residents large tax breaks and trying to entice the wealthy to move to Milan.

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "When I saw her talk, she claimed she is not unkind to Italy compared to other Italians! She also said (you can believe this or not) that she just preferred not to be known in Italy as she lived the..."

Interesting…I think you may be right about the mafia references, better safe than sorry. I’ve never been, but if you like fashion and risotto, among other features, Milan could be attractive. But my brother and sister-in-law just returned from a Switzerland holiday, and were bedazzled by the scenery, people, public transport, etc. I don’t know that Leon will be tempted back to Italy, but who knows…

I imagine the UK government isn’t pleased about that!

[Judy]

interesting thoughts about Leon not allowing her books to be translated into Italian. It hadn't struck me that it might be because of her criticism of the Mafia, but that makes sense, great point!

Sorry to have another moan, as I do really like this series, but Signorina Elettra seems to be able to find out anything almost by magic. I'd like a bit more information about how she does it as it seems too easy. I almost wonder if she will turn out to have Mafia contacts, or maybe contacts with disaffected members!

I'm also getting a slight overload of characters like this in our books at the moment! During the discussion of our challenge read of Death in the Garden, Sandy pointed out that the plot element of Caroline calling on her old schoolfriends in that series is similar to Mrs Pargetter calling on her late husband's associates in the Mrs Pargetter series.

Both of those series are fairly light and frothy so I'm not so bothered, but in a more serious series like this one I'd like to feel that it is actually possible for Elettra to get all the information she comes up with - I'm just not sure if she could.

[Susan in NC]

I just thought she was able to navigate the early worldwide web, and gain access to databases at government, banking and utility institutions. These would be troves of information if one knew how to get into them!

I remember working in the mid-1990s at a very small company where the head of IT explained the basics of the emerging internet. The rest of us employees didn’t use it much, but Charles did and said it would eventually become easier to use and very helpful!

[Judy]

Interesting, Susan - that could be, though I'm not sure how much was online back then! It will be interesting to see Brunetti himself get to grips with the internet as the series goes on :)

[Sandy]

What really brought back memories for me were the flying toasters on the computer screen. I hadn't thought about those for years. Or the annoying paperclip pop-up.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "Interesting, Susan - that could be, though I'm not sure how much was online back then! It will be interesting to see Brunetti himself get to grips with the internet as the series goes on :)"

You’re right - I certainly didn’t understand it, and I don’t remember paying bills or anything online (which would put our info out there for the signorina to sift through at her leisure!)

[Susan in NC]

Sandy wrote: "What really brought back memories for me were the flying toasters on the computer screen. I hadn't thought about those for years. Or the annoying paperclip pop-up."

Oh, yes! That made me chuckle - I wonder if eventually her screensaver will be those pipes laying themselves to fill the screen!

[Susan]

The other thing about Donna Leon and her audience - which were very elderly compared to any other book talk I have been to anywhere - was her resistance to tech. She mentioned she dislikes mobile phones, the fact people don't talk at airports, etc.

I do not mean to be impolite here, but I do go to a lot of author talks, living in London - at Foyles, Waterstones Piccadiilly and Daunt Books in particular. I have to say the Donna Leon evening was a weird one. Her audience were obviously quite obsessed by her - fair enough - but very keen to nod and clap her every utterance.

She admitted she created Signorina Elettra to cover her own confusion and dislike of computers. So it is just a get out clause for her to have this woman who can do everything and as Brunetti doesn't understand it, she probably doesn't need to either.

Don't get me wrong, I am glad I saw Donna Leon and it was fun, but my teenage daughter was less impressed and said she felt she hated her generation! She was not tempted to try one of her novels afterwards, which she often is.

Switzerland is pretty but very expensive, Susan. However, Venice is a city where tourists outnumber the locals and must, I feel, be a difficult place to live.

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "The other thing about Donna Leon and her audience - which were very elderly compared to any other book talk I have been to anywhere - was her resistance to tech. She mentioned she dislikes mobile p..."

That’s the impression I’ve gotten about both places from travel programs. And I think Venice is really struggling with over-tourism and how to address it. As you say, it must make life difficult for Venetians!

Interesting about the Leon talk - and I agree with you, if she herself hates/doesn’t understand technology, I could see her channeling her feelings through Brunetti, and Sra Elletra being a kind of techie fairy godmother- just a wave of her mouse, and ta-da, all doors open!

Your daughter’s take is intriguing, and makes me wonder if Leon will be like a modern-day ECR Lorac - prolific and very popular with our generation and older, but the next generation simply not that interested, her books fade away…

[Susan]

Book talks and book festivals do tend to err to the middle aged and elderly, although I have been to ones this year held by authors my daughter loves who were much younger and in great numbers - which was encouraging. They were Holly Jackson (previously YA, who has an adult novel coming out next year) and Alice Oseman). I am used to audiences being fairly mature though, but Donna Leon's was pretty much all in the seventies, eighties and even older. It was unusual in the make-up and she obviously has a bit of a hobby horse about phones and laptops. I felt like saying, there's no going back now, forget about it! Anyway, that, I feel is why she invented the magnificent Signora Elletra, who weaves her magic.

Don't get me wrong. I am pleased I met Donna Leon and I love this series, but - like Venice and tourism - she is fighting a bit of a losing battle with expecting the world to change.

Thinking of her bemoaning people being on their phone on a train though, it's no different from GA novels where you have a grumpy businessman hiding behind his newspaper really. People need and protect their space.

[Judy]

I'm jealous that you heard the talk by Donna Leon, Susan. Thanks for letting us know what it was like and about her attitude to technology, which is definitely interesting in terms of the novels and characters like Elettra.

[Susan]

I am very lucky, I can easily get to Waterstones Piccadilly, Foyles or Daunt Books and go to a lot of these talks. Have Pete Townshend and Ben Macintyre coming up!

[Susan in NC]

Susan wrote: "Book talks and book festivals do tend to err to the middle aged and elderly, although I have been to ones this year held by authors my daughter loves who were much younger and in great numbers - wh..."

Absolutely-I’m currently rereading Hallowe'en Party by Christie, and it’s set in 1969 and full of older people bemoaning the current state of English education, manners, justice, and society in general! Definitely seeing a trend among the generations…

Just curious- sounds like your daughter is a reader, I’m curious if her friends are book lovers. I ask because I saw a shocking comment the other day in an article, an English literature professor said a freshman student was complaining about having to read an entire book for the class. She said throughout high school, she’d read articles, paragraphs, even chapters, but had never been required to read an entire book!

[Jill]

I suppose it’s showing my age, but when I was at school we all read Shakespeare Lord of the Flies ,1984, Shane, and many others. My husband reads and my younger son, but the elder son says if a book is any good, they will make a film of it and he’ll watch that.

[Susan in NC]

Jill wrote: "I suppose it’s showing my age, but when I was at school we all read Shakespeare Lord of the Flies ,1984, Shane, and many others. My husband reads and my younger son, but the elder son says if a boo..."

Same here, we read books in high school and college. My son did the same, but he’s not a reader now. My husband read as a boy, and says he reads plenty for his business these days - but he’s not a fiction fan.

[Susan]

My husband likes non-fiction. My daughter is a voracious reader, but sadly both my sons less so. I did try to make them all love books and at least I succeeded with one of them I guess. At least they can all read fluently and my younger son is in the last year of a history degree, so he reads for his studies, if less for pleasure.

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "I just thought she was able to navigate the early worldwide web, and gain access to databases at government, banking and utility institutions. These would be troves of information if one knew how t..."

I always assumed it was a combination of internet knowledge and contacts, which would include knowing people who know people who know people. As a former government employee, I learned various ways to access information - LEXIS, Westlaw, etc.

There was some directory on LEXIS that provided a way to find missing persons. I told my supervisor about this and she was able to locate where her father had absconded to. He had since died but she learned that she had half-brothers and took a trip to their locale and met them. So, if you know where to look a lot of things can be found out.

[Jan C]

Susan wrote: "The other thing about Donna Leon and her audience - which were very elderly compared to any other book talk I have been to anywhere - was her resistance to tech. She mentioned she dislikes mobile p..."

I used to go to author talks when I lived in Chicago. Most were at a suburban Barnes & Noble - Michael Connelly and Scott Turow. At the Turow one much of the audience were his friends and relatives, as it was in the town where he grew up. I saw Connelly a couple of times.

Two reasons why Leon's fans were elderly - she's been writing a long time and some of us have been reading her for a long time. Secondly, us older folks have time on our hands and time to go see someone do a reading. There've been a few people here but I haven't gone to see them - Rick Steves was here a couple of weeks ago.

[Jan C]

Susan in NC wrote: "Jill wrote: "I suppose it’s showing my age, but when I was at school we all read Shakespeare Lord of the Flies ,1984, Shane, and many others. My husband reads and my younger son, but the elder son ..."

We read books in high school - Shakespeare, Lord of the Flies, Grapes of Wrath. We were supposed to read The Plague but the girls in my discussion group (including me) objected to reading about rats.

The only books I remember from college were a Maigret book - Les Braves Gens - and waiting for Godot (in English, although I tried it in French). Difficult to read a mystery in another language.