Another wonderful book by Donna Leon in the Guido Brunetti series - book 30! For people who have read these books, one would know not to expect plenty of action and drama. But, it excels in being a gentle slice of Venetian life through the eyes of our steady protagonist. This time, Brunetti was drawn by fellow Commissario Claudia Griffoni into investigating what happened to 2 young American women left severely injured outside a hospital.
Although the investigation into this went deeper and ranged further than first expected, I find it's not really the focal point of the book. As always, the relationship between Brunetti and his wife and children + the professional relationships he has with his colleagues in the Questura, are what the book is mostly about. Through him, we see clearly the complex interplay of personal and professional relationships in Italian life.

As a fan of this series I found the pace slow and the narrative plain. The actual plot starts after 50% and then concludes abruptly. As always I like the description of Venice and the food. Otherwise I couldn’t find anything much of interest.

Another thoughtful book by Donna Leon set in Venice, one of my favorite places in the world to visit. Commissario Guido Brunetti finds himself investigating when two young, injured women are left on the receiving dock of the hospital. The investigation quickly grows as mysterious comings and goings on the lagoon at night lead to bigger crimes possibly being committed. Donna Leon’s Venice comes alive with references to places and customs, and she doesn’t shy away from mentions of covid, Aqua Alta, politics, sexuality, the environment, the grey area between right and wrong, and preconceived notions we have of one another. For example, is there a difference between deceiving, misleading or betraying someone. While this book is a bit more somber than some earlier books, it’s very current when addressing the subject manner, so that can explain it. I did miss some of the food descriptions of Paola’s cooking, but their love for each other and family still came through. The abrupt ending had me, as it did at least one other reviewer, swiping at my kindle to read the next page, only to find there were none.
A huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for proving me with an advance copy of this quietly thought provoking book, with a favorite lead character, in a city fighting to figure out its future.

It's been years since I last read a Brunetti. It's one of those series which I enjoy so I leave some back, unread to go to when I'm in dire need of comfort and feeling at home.

I'm not Italian nor Venetian but with Brunetti I feel at home, we share the love of puzzles, curiosity, food, books.

Leon social voice is loud and clear in this one, also her social commentary on politics, community and the world around us. Her Brunetti does not live in a bubble.

I enjoyed reading this and did not want it to end. My only misgiving is that it ended so abruptly because I so needed to know more.

An ARC gently given by author/publisher through Netgalley.

Ahhh...magical incomparable Venice, the marvelous setting for the thirtieth book in the series. The Italian atmosphere is what draws me most as a regular visitor to Venice. It's not difficult to imagine Commissario Guido Brunetti gesticulating and conversing with his hands, practically a language of its own. Donna Leon's words bring Venetian life and culture to life, an extra-sensory experience.

Two young American girls are found dropped off at the Ospedale late under the cloak of night, badly injured. Brunetti investigates the whos and the hows and the whys as he is enmeshed in deceit and the lives of dodgy characters. As he learns more about those responsible he unravels more than he expects. The subplot is fascinating, too. We are also privy to snippets of his family which I enjoy. And what a treat to read a mystery which takes place on the water instead of roads due to necessity! I do prefer more suspense and tension in mysteries but this story is well written and kept me engaged throughout.

Mystery readers who yearn to travel to Italy in a book, do pick up this fun read. It will transport you!

My sincere thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

Brunetti finds himself focusing on the Giudecca in this latest mystery. Two badly injured girls have been left on the dock of the Ospedale, and the investigation into how they were injured and who left them there leads Brunetti into the deeper waters of human trafficking. As usual, Leon's musings on the larger implications of seemingly small crimes are timely; Brunetti's unthinking prejudice against Neopolitans causes a rift between him and Griffoni. Even the effects of the pandemic (and aqua alta) on Venice are mentioned. It's a solid outing, though it seems to be missing the delicious descriptions of Brunetti's meals and his wife Paola feels strangely absent from the scene.

This is an intriguing addition to Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti books, the 30th in the series. Brunetti is calmer in this one but no less driven as he investigates, along with his colleague Claudia Griffoni a puzzling crime involving two badly injured American girls and the two young men who seemingly abandoned them. The investigation turns into a deeper puzzle involving horrible, sinister activities. It is an absorbing read, filled with suspense and good food. It is also wonderful to be back in Venice again.

All series characters reach a natural end at which they simply seem too tired to go on, and I wonder if Guido Brunetti may not have finally arrived there. I am a huge fan of the character, but the narratives into which Leon has placed him recently are so slight as to be edging in the direction of downright silly. In this most recent entry in the series, the core narrative didn't really begin until more than two-thirds of the way through the book, and then it was brought to such an abrupt end that I wonder if Leon wasn't a little embarrassed at revealing that this was all she had to offer.

Character alone, even a great one like Brunetti, isn't enough to flesh out a good mystery, and Leon seems to have run out of stories worth telling. Guido Brunetti should be allowed to retire gracefully before the weak narratives into which he is being placed utterly humiliate him.

I thank the publisher for allowing me access to an ARC of TRANSIENT DESIRES. I'm sorry I couldn't offer more positive support for the book.

"Transient Desires" marks the 30th installment (30th!) in the Commissario Brunetti Series, and that just made me realize that I've been reading this series for over 20 years! More than half of my life! Each yearly meeting with Brunetti and Co. feels like meeting back with that friend you don't see often but when you finally do feels like no time has passed at all.

After being slightly disappointed with the latest books in the series, in "Transient Desires" Donna Leon is back to form, turning what in appearance was a minor crime into a much serious one. Unlike in her last books, here the story takes off practically from page one, when Brunetti finds out about two young American women that have been badly injured in a boating accident in the Laguna. To get to the bottom of the case he must enlist the help of the Carabinieri and the Guardia Costiera. Although it was nice watching him work with some new colleagues, I missed to see more of Vianello, Patta and, of course, Signorina Elettra.

The plot goes revealing its layers as the story progresses, and although it's not a whodunit where we don't know the "who" till the end, it managed to kept my attention, as the important thing to find out is if that persona will face justice or not. Everything leads to a last couple of chapters that kept me biting my nails and, although the end was quite abrupt (I had to check several times there was no more pages in the file), that's been quite the norm in Leon's last novels, so it didn't come as a surprise cause, as justice itself, it may not always be satisfying.

Once again Leon shows her ability to paint the city of Venice, allowing the reader to see it through the eyes of those who live there, and her skill in creating complex characters brought to life vividly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.