Sunday, September 12, 2021

Review: The Girl of His Dreams by Donna Leon

Synopsis: One rainy morning Commissario Brunetti and Ispettore Vianello respond to an emergency call reporting a body floating near some steps on the Grand Canal. Reaching down to pull it out, Brunetti's wrist is caught by the silkiness of golden hair, and he sees a small foot - together he and Vianello lift a dead girl from the water.

But, inconceivably, no one has reported a missing child, nor the theft of the gold jewellery that she carries. Brunetti is drawn into a search not only for the cause of her death but also for her identity, her family, and for the secrets that people will keep in order to protect their children - be they innocent or guilty.

From the canals and palazzi of Venice to a gypsy encampment on the mainland, Brunetti struggles with institutional prejudice and entrenched criminality to try to unravel the fate of the dead child.



My second book by this author in as many days - and realise the well worn pattern of providing half a book on an "investigation" based on one character's concerns about another, before we actually get to the actual crime / mystery as detailed in the synopsis / blurb on back cover.

Definitely not pursuing this series any further - just takes too long to get to the actual mystery / crime that is supposed to be the whole basis for this book.

Edit: someone should really re-think these titles and this is definitely not suggestive of the content.

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