Customer Reviews

Quietly in Their Sleep

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This is a renaming of the Brunetti series " Death of Faith"; not a new work by Ms Leon

As a long-time fan of Donna Leon's books, I'm not sure why the publishers had to rename the book... Just realize that if you've already read "Death of Faith" that this is the same thing!

I think the minimum Amazon can do is to make their customer aware of the fact that a book was previously published under another name. This would stop buyers from being mislead into buyin the same book again.

I do like Donna Leon's Venetian mysteries, but really, really wish Amazon would warn prospective buyers when a book has been previously published under a different title - as happened here. "Quietly in their Sleep" had been first published in Great Britain under the title "The Death of Faith", which I have and had read. Still, it is good read, and if you haven't read "The Death of Faith", I recommend it to those who njoy the mysteries of Commissario Guido Brunetti.

This is another terrific Donna Leon book (also published in the UK as "Death of Faith") in the Guido Brunetti

series. Author Leon takes a serious swing at religious extremists and profiteers using the Church. Inspector Brunetti gives voice to much of the wit and cynicism that is abundant in Italian culture and society, and it's always a great ride for the reader. Leon takes as much time with the lives of her characters--particularly Brunetti, his academic wife and their children--as she does with her mystery plots. This does no damage to the latter and makes for a more rounded and satisfying story. Of particular enjoyment in "Quietly in Their Sleep" is a vignette that entails Brunetti's discovery of another, very agreeable side of his aristocratic mother-in-law. The humanity on display here is an important part of this book's success. Italian comfort food in mystery form.

First, to all the reviewers who complained that this book has been retitled from "Death of Faith": It's common for European books to have 'Also Published As' (APA) for the United States - in fact, three other Donna Leon books have APAs. For some authors like Agata Christie, almost every book has an APA. I agree that Amazon should show the APA, but why rely on them? Do your homework before you buy or read a book. For mysteries, a good site to consult is [...], which lists the titles (with APAs) for thousands of authors.

As to "Quietly in Their Sleep", I don't think that it's as good as the previous five books in the series (which I'm reading in order). I agree with some of the other reviewers who complained that too much of the book is anti-Catholic. Also, I must have missed something - which of the five elderly patients was killed?

However, I'll continue to read the Guido Brunetti series. There's eleven more after this one (including a Silver Dagger Award winner "Friends in High Places"). I enjoy the characters, especially the incredible Signorina Elletra, who can find out anything about anyone. And the setting, Venice, is a welcome change from the typical mystery setting of the US or Britain.

This is not one of Donna Leon's better books. Though it features the usually charming Guido Brunetti, there is no real mystery, only a polemic on the deceit of the Catholic Church in Italy. It is all too unrelievedly single-minded--the only variation struck is an obsession with Brunetti's expanding midriff and his reluctance to entertain the idea of working out. The ending strains belief. Not recommended--but don't give up on Ms. Leon, a wonderful writer.

Donna Leon has written some superb murder mysteries featuring Detective Guido Brunetti and his colleagues. This is not one of them. Unfortunately, the plot is poorly developed - indeed it is almost nonexistent. Worse still, the book contains a long and confusing rant against the Catholic Church in Italy, the Pope, and, of all things, Opus Dei, for all sorts of vague crimes. Normally Ms. Leon adds interesting characters to the story in addition to the regulars. Here she does not. All of the bit players are one dimensional - and in the case of the clergy uniformly deceitful, evil and sneaky. Here, the criticism of the Catholic Church is clunky, obvious and boring.

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.

This book was originally issued as The Death of Faith, 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.

Ponderous novel about how the Catholic Church murders old people in their Casae di Cura to get possession of their money etc. etc. What it lacks in credible plot, it makes up for in spite as the novel is a vehicle for Ms. Leon's strident anti-Catholic and anti-religious views. All older members of the faith are domineering hypocrites, all priests are homosexual, Brunetti's charming daughter gets As from all her teachers except her stupid and narrow minded Religion teacher and who knows where all that money goes that Mother Teresa collects. Brunetti for some light reading picks up in turn the writings of the Christian Father Tertullian and Saint Benedict before delivering another rant. Apart from the antagonism and malice, you have to endure the tedious domestic discussions of the sainted Brunetti with his sainted and atheistic university lecturer wife. I read somewhere that this author is a professor in a university in Venice! By the way, if any of her students chance to read this, they might explain to her that it was the Persian King Xerxes who had the sea whipped for not obeying him. King Canute of England also had his arguments with the sea, but it wasn't any Irish king, Donna. While I have read a half dozen of Donna Leon's book, I was sickened by this and won't be buying any more of them.