| Donna
Leon's The Waters of Eternal Youth is the latest
installment of the Commissario Brunetti police procedural
novels that take place in contemporary Venice. As with all
her previous novels, Donna Leon presents a view of Venetian
life that is different from the vision presented to tourists
visiting Venice. In this glamorized tourist paradise, crime
does occur and Guido Brunetti sets out to solve the crimes,
while dealing with the realities of living and working in
Venice today.
In this release, Brunetti is asked by a long time resident
to investigate the suspicious death of her granddaughter some
years ago. Typical of the Brunetti novels by Leon, the crime
is rarely the focal point of the narrative. Her novels depict
how Brunetti deftly navigates the politics of his police department
and the city as he works to solve the crime, while remaining
a committed and loving husband and father.
What I enjoy most about Donna Leon's novels is that she brings
to life a Venice that hums with a daily rhythm not usually
seen by tourists. The regional nuances of living and working
in Venice are described with details that reveal Leon's deep
knowledge and appreciation of Venice, creating for the reader
a unique Italian urban treasure.
Donna Leon's novels are character driven, so regular and new
readers to these novels are regaled with Venetian life through
her characters. Brunetti takes the reader through the alleys,
the many palazzos and piazzas, and cafes of Venice as he works
his way around Venice and the adjacent towns to solve the
crime. Donna Leon's descriptions became real and immediate,
making the sounds, smells and cuisine of Venice come alive
for me, creating a variable treat to the senses that set this
and all her novels apart from the typical contemporary crime
novels.
Reviews of other titles in this series
Death
At La Fenice #1
Death
and Judgment #4
Drawing
Conclusions #20
Beastly
Things #21
The
Golden Egg #22
By
Its Cover #23
The
Waters of Eternal Youth #25
Earthly
Remains #26
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