Customer Reviews

Wilful Behaviour

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To me, the best mysteries can be viewed more as novels than as puzzles to be solved. Donna Leon successfully crosses into this high ground of mystery writing with Wilful Behaviour.

In fact, such a successful novel can be read independently of the other books in a series. Wilful Behaviour also meets that test.

Do you like a book with memorable characters? Wilful Behaviour delivers both with characters that you meet in the novel and those who are described by other characters.

Do you like an intricate plot where all the pieces fit together in multiple dimensions? Wilful Behaviour once again is a good book in terms of this quality.

Do you like novels that reflect other novels, rewarding the well-read? Donna Leon delivers here as well.

Although I have always liked this series, Wilful Behaviour breaks out above the clouds in terms of being much better than the earlier offerings in the series.

In the story, Professoressa Paola Brunetti is approached by one of her better students, Claudia Leonardo, about a legal question that the student hopes Professor Brunetti's husband, Commissario Guido Brunetti, can answer. Guido resists providing any information without receiving more details. He meets Claudia and finds that her question relates back to the difficult days of World War II while Italy was part of the Axis powers. Not knowing much about those days, Guido begins to exercise his curiosity and learns about many hidden crimes from those days.

All of this becomes not so academic after Claudia is murdered, and many new questions are presented. In the process of investigating Claudia's murder, Brunetti learns about new levels of deception and depravity that some employ to achieve their selfish ends.

I have read a number of novels that relate to those days in World War II in Italy, and I found this one to be one of the very best.

Enjoy!

All of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti books have a different theme, sometimes two. The first, "Death at La Fenice", besides introducing the series, was about the opera house of that name and the world of classical music. Later books have taken up art theft and the Mafia, illegal immigrants and blood diamonds, and moneylenders and Venetian property. "Wilful Behaviour" is about coming to terms (or not) with Facism and Italy's World War II past.

It does its job as a mystery, and keeps you wondering what the connection is among all the various elements. Like the other books, Italy seems rife with corruption and networks of friends and contacts that are (apparently) unknown here in squeaky clean Sweden. And like the other books in the series, you get to travel around Venice, by foot or water bus. Having just been there, this was fun. Especially endearing was the put-down of the tourist watering hole Harry's Bar (other books have made fun of the industry in mask and plastic gondola souvenirs).

Unlike the other books, this one actually starts with Brunetti's wife Paola, although her presence is perhaps somewhat restricted this time around.

And once again one is amazed at Brunetti's huge home-cooked lunches with the family and forced to ponder what the working hours are in Italy?

First Sentence: The explosion came at breakfast.

A student of Insp. Guido Brunetti's wife, Paola, visits him inquiring whether someone who had been convicted of a crime and is now dead could be officially cleared if shown innocent. Brunetti is not given enough information initially, but the question piques his interest. When the student, Claudia Leonardo, is murdered, the question goes from being a matter of curiosity to an investigation.

Leon is a wonderful writer. Her writing is intelligent, literary and thought provoking with cracking good dialogue. She is merciless toward the tempering of historical information, the corruption of the government and American tourists. She imbues her story with an underlying theme; in this case, honour.

Leon gives us such wonderful characters in Brunetti, about whose childhood we learn more, his wife, Paola, and the strength of their 20-year marriage, and the intriguing Signorina Elettra. One cares about her characters; not only the principals but, in this case, Claudia and her grandmother, because, I believe, of the strength of her central, Brunetti. The city of Venice is almost another character in the story.

The sense of place is so strong and, in spite of its faults, the obvious love Brunetti has for his city. The descriptions of the family meals make me want to join them. Yet, coming back to the theme of honour, Brunetti would have left his city because of a point of honour.

Under all this, is a well-plotted, fascinating, couldn't-tell-where-it-was-going story. I particularly like that the reader learn the information at the same time as Brunetti. When he is lead down the wrong path, so are we; when he begins to suspect, so do we.

I am a true fan of Ms. Leon's writing and am happy that I've many more books ahead of me.

When Professoressa Falier (Guido's wife) is asked for a favor from one of her students, she is perplexed. The student wants to know if someone convicted of a crime (thirty years ago) could have that conviction reversed and have a proclamation of such made by the government to 'restore their good name'. Guido tells Paola that it would depend on the crime committed. He tells her to have the girl come to speak to him.

When the girl comes to him, he finds himself involved in the buying of art at 'fire sale' prices during the war, by 'people' who had to get out of the country. So begins Guido's delving into Italy's participation on both sides during the Second World War. During his research, we find out about how the Conte Falier and his family were involved in the war. We also get commentary about the 'forgetfulness' of the Italian populace when it comes to "the party" that got Italy into all this trouble by it's alliance with German.

Unlike Germany, few if any of the "Fascisti" were tried after the war for 'crimes against humanity' and most were able to stay on with the post-war government and have their prior service with 'that government' included in their pensions. This case deals with one of the few men who were prosecuted after the war, but only for 'extortion' of art and art objects (at ridiculously low price) from those 'people'. In the case of the young woman's grandfather, his 'purchases' had never been found.

In quick succession the young woman is stabbed to death in her apartment and her 'grandmother' dies suspiciously of an heart attack. When Guido goes to visit her, he finds the halls and walls of her small apartment filled with painting and sketches that are worth in the billions of Lira. Brunetti can't believe that the grandmother (the Austrian mistress of her grandfather) died naturally.

Once again Signorina Elettra and her computer and connections comes to the fore and helps the investigation along. In the end, the reason for the murder has nothing to do with the murder but jealousy once again rears its' ugly head.

Congratulations to Vianello who Brunetti finally gets promoted to Isspectore.

Zeb Kantrowitz

This book is a superb novel on its own, and a first-rate installment in a wonderful series. I hope that it gets published here in the U.S.; I found a British edition in a used bookstore and am still marveling at my good luck. What is wonderful about the Leon/Brunetti series is that Donna Leon writes superb novels about Venice and the corruption of Italian society that also have murders and mystery; they're not mere examples of the genre, but are rather the kind of book that you can recommend to a literary snob who claims, "Oh, I never waste my time with mysteries."

I have done it....I have read every book written by Donna Leon. Her Brunetti mysteries set in Venice were like taking a tour of Venice, its politics, its social life, its artistic life and history. I cannot afford to travel to Venice so this is second best to that...to read all of this wonderful writer's books. I have found that there are highly skilled writers now writing in the mystery genre...and Donna Leon is a leader of the pack! Read any of them and you will fall in love...maybe not to the extent of my Venetian Obsession but you certainly will want more!

Donna Leon never disappoints. Not only are her books interesting and her characters intriguing, her descriptions of Venice make me yearn to visit there.

I had read all of Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti books except Willful Behaviour.
I was thrilled when Amazon found me a recenrly reprinted version.
As usual the story was another great mystery about Venice and the unique people who live there.
Now waiting for the next book in May 2010.