Customer Reviews

The Death of Faith

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"The Death of Faith" is another splendid, can't-put-it-down engagement with Guido Brunetti. I despaired of reading any more of Donna Leon's fine prose and carefully crafted plots when notified last year that publication had been cancelled of a forthcoming book. Led by a note in another review, I checked out Amazon.co.uk, where I found "Death of Faith," "A Noble Radiance," and the book I just finished, "Fatal Remedies." Each is as good or better than its predecessor. I remain a dedicated fan. (Be aware, "The Anonymous Venetian" was published in the US with the title "Dressed for Death.")

It's always interesting to travel with the Commissario on his cases, and pleasant to share fine Italian lunches with his family, his English professora wife and his two rebellious teenagers. Brunetti is the classics-lovin, uncorrupted anti-hero who struggles successfully with both the underworld and the legal powers that be, with the aid of his beautiful and thoughtful secretary, who's a whiz of a hacker. The description of place and people is so fine that one has the sense of being in Venessia. In her novels, Donna Leon has pulled no punches in advertising (in an entertaining way) the rottenness of elements of the ruling hierarchy in Italy, but this 'Brunnetti' is a special. Here, one is made aware of the fascist Catholic sect Opus Dei. This was interesting for me because I'd never heard of Opus Dei, and then read more about it on the web. I would rate "The Death of Faith" as one of the strongest of Leon's novels.

If you haven't read any other books in the Guido Brunetti series, don't start with this one. Go back and begin with Death at La Fenice.

The Death of Faith is one of Donna Leon's best stories in terms of making the mystery hard to understand until she chooses to let a key clue become available. The book also displays the problems that detectives have in solving crimes when doors are closed to them. As a result, this is a fine police procedural that you'll enjoy. Those who don't like the plodding steps involved in a detailed investigation may find this book to be a little slow for their taste.

If you dislike books that look at the potential for abuse in the Catholic Church, I recommend you skip this book: You won't be pleased.

Vice-Questore Patta is off on a second honeymoon, leaving Commissario Guido Brunetti in charge. He's at loose ends because crime has also taken a holiday when a vaguely familiar woman arrives to report her suspicions. Once Brunetti realizes that this is a person he has highly trusted in the past, he's inclined to take her report seriously. But scratching around doesn't yield any corroboration . . . until unknown agents seem to be determined to still the suspicions. This time the trail yields helpful clues.

Back in the family, Brunetti and his wife, Paola, discuss their differing views about religious instruction as their daughter, Chiara, becomes disillusioned with a class she's taking.

One of the pleasures of this story is to see a further development of Brunetti as a loyal person who wants to do the right thing.

One of the disappointing things about the book is that Ms. Leon seems to have an ax to grind that extends beyond her story.

First, do be aware that THIS BOOK IS THE SAME AS, "QUIETLY IN THEIR SLEEP".
This is the one where the young nursing sister has seen five elderly people
die at her convent-where by the way Brunetti's mother had stayed before her
death(but not one of the suspicious ones). She can't figure out why but
knows something is wrong so goes to Brunetti to help her. At first he cannot
find anything either that is suspicious but gradually comes upon something
quite deadly.

Donna Leon takes the mystery genre beyond the standard "who-done-it" and that what makes her novels so enjoyable. The endings of all of the Brunetti novels I have read (most of them) are rather dark and unresolved. She has a very cynical (realistic?) view of the way the Italian world works - or doesn't work. Corruption is rampant and Commissario Brunetti struggles to maintain a commitment to justice amidst the corruption. He also has a wonderful relationship with Pauola, his wife, that is so nice. Donna Leon really makes you want to meet the characters. I think she's wonderful and hope she never stops writing.

While in the UK last year, I took the advice of a bookseller and discovered a fabulous mystery writer: Donna Leon, a best selling writer in the UK who is little published in the USA. Her mysteries are wonderfully plotted and her prose impecable! Venice, its people and traditions come vividly alive, adding to the books' appeal. This audio is a prime example of the author's mastery of her craft. My only question: why hasn't she been more widely published in the United States?

First, let me say that I thoroughly enjoy many of Donna Leon's Venetian mysteries. She has a sharp eye for detail and an equally sharp wit that humanizes many of her characters, especially the endearing Inspector Brunetti. Her plots are interesting, but it's the humanity of her characters and the wonderfully described atmosphere of everyday life in Venice itself that keeps one reading. While she does tend to preach at her readers, usually through Brunetti's insufferably perfect wife, Paola, she usually keeps it to a bearable degree.

Not in this sledgehammer of a book. It's as though in this single novel, Leon distills all her weaknesses as a writer. From beginning to end, we are served with stereotypical, cookie-cutter characters where anyone Catholic or religious is one-dimensionally venal and evil, and secular characters (obviously meant to be the good guys here) sneer unattractively at religion and at those who practice it. Virtually everyone comes off as self-righteously pompous, even the usually lovable Brunetti.

The wildly implausible plot is nearly forgotten in this diatribe; clearly, Leon sees it as less important that Getting Her Point Across. Brunetti does virtually no detecting, relying instead on the godlike abilities of his boss's secretary to get any piece of information he might need.

I found myself skimming the last quarter of the book just to get it overwith, something I would never have done with a Brunetti mystery before. We can only hope Leon either got the vitriol out of her system with this book, or that she improves enough as a writer to incorporate it with more skill and grace in the future.

[NOTE: This review was written for the recent version of this book, entitled "Quietly in Their Sleep."]

this book did not live up to the high expectations I have for her books. It never quite jelled and to me, is the least interesting one by her that I have read thusfar. It seemed disconnected throughout the entire book . I kept waiting for it to improve - but it did not; I hope the next one will be up there with her usual star quality. It was hard to force myself to keep reading this one.

This is basically as good a Donna Leon book as any and well worth reading, but I'm surprised so few readers complain about the arrogant anti-catholic bigotry that keeps popping up (apart from this book another example is The Girl of His Dreams). I'm not a catholic or a religious person otherwise, but I find this pretty disgusting. She must have a very deep-seated grudge. Try substituting catholics for Jews, black people, feminists or gays: I'm sure most would (rightly) think such prejudices and generalisations very stupid. She wouldn't dare to abuse the Islamic faith this way, would she? No wonder the books haven't been translated into Italian.

This book did not please me. It is a poor example of the murder mystery genre. While the story was well set up, and unfolded in an interesting way, the ending was all botched. The "mystery" of several deaths was not solved, and the killer had no rational motive.