A Sea of Troubles

Donna Leon has achieved what most series writers cannot. In Commissario Guido Brunetti, she has created a real protagonist, an old friend that you visit with each succeeding book. Sea of Troubles is more physical than her previous books, and while hardly "action packed", the book explores Brunetti's feelings more deeply. Twi brutal murders in Pelestrina take the story away from Venice and into the closed community of fishermen. Outsiders are not welcome nor trusted, and among those most to be avoided are the police. Leon does a wonderful job with her secondary and tertiary characters, crafting memorable people with only a few sentences. As always Brunetti's superior, Vice Questore Patta comes across as a preening fool, and Sergeant Vianello, Brunetti's muscle and sometime conscience, also plays true to form. As always, the city of Venice, and in this case Pelestrina, are important to the book. Like Boston is to Lehane, so to is Venice to Leon. Palpable, sometimes oppressive, old cities with a social hierarchy to be reckoned with. Leon, while not yet crafting a stunning book worthy of 5 stars, (this is the 9th), has written a literate and satisfying series. Ironically, I firs saw copies of her book in Venice, on the bookshelf in the Peggy Guggenheim museum. A wonderful introduction...and very Venetian.

A Sea of Troubles takes place on the island of Pellestrina, one of the 2 barrier islands that enclose the lagoon of Venice. Two fishermen are murdered and their boat blown up, and none of the residents will give any information to the police. Signorina Elettra Zorzi has a cousin on the island and visits every summer, so she volunteers, against Brunetti's wishes, to go to the island to see if she can find out anything. The investigation reveals that clamming in the Venice lagoon is lucrative, and that clammers incur the hatred of other fisherman, because they dredge the bottom leaving nothing behind. And we learn also about the poisons pumped into the lagoon, and the clam beds, by the refineries and factories at Marghera. This is one of the weaker of the Brunetti series. Leon tried to fill out the character of Elettra by taking her outside the office environment, but it just didn't work well. For those of us who have read all the other books in the series, this one was interesting and not at all bad. For someone just starting the series, I would put this one low on the priority list.

A Sea of Troubles is a pleasant change in the Guido Brunetti series. Although Venice is surrounded (and almost inundated by) the sea, there's often little sense of that element in the earlier stories except in recounting the need to take a boat or vaporetto to get somewhere. In this book, we learn about fishing and its challenges (for fisherman and those who eat their catch) as Donna Leon takes us southwest of Venice to the long, thin island of Pellestrina. The opening of the book contains an excellent map of Venice and its lagoon that covers an area of about 40 by 25 kilometers. Stick a book mark into where that map is: You'll be referring to the map often. A fire breaks out on a fishing boat docked on Pellestrina. Soon, the whole harbor is filled with fishermen seeking to save their boats. After things settle down, someone notices that two fishermen are missing. Before long, the various police bureaucracies are vying to get rid of the case. Commissario Guido Brunetti is the lucky winner and finds himself up against a town that doesn't talk to outsiders . . . and certainly not to Venetian policemen. While seeking to learn more about what happened, Signorina Elletra Zorzi decides she would like to play undercover detective by spending a few days with her cousin on Pellestrina. Who knows? Perhaps someone will tell her something. Guido is very opposed but knows he cannot sway Signorina Elletra. However, he can try to protect her. Even Paolo begins to notice that Guido is obsessed. Could it be that his feelings for Signorina Elletra are more than what they seem? As usual, back channels begin to provide the information that reveals who had the motive for crime. With that knowledge, Brunetti knows that he's got a dangerous task ahead. I cannot remember reading another book by Donna Leon that is as well steeped in local geography and conditions as A Sea of Troubles is. It makes for a compelling story. I also liked the way Ms. Leon changed the focus of an investigation to put Signorina Elletra into a role other than as computer hacker and lover of flowers and fine clothes. The plot also successfully triangulates the themes of private and public corruption that abound in this series with family ties and personal friendships. In that context, Ms. Leon asks a very fundamental question that will intrigue you: How well do we know anyone else? Have a great trip to Pellestrina! And be careful where you get your clams.

Leon's detective, Commissario Brunetti is a cultured Venetian, much given to pondering the mysteries of life, and engaging with his equally urbane literature professor wife. Each book in the series, as well as providing a well-plotted mystery, advances the relationships between the recurring cast. Particularly attractive is the rather enigmatic Signorina Elettra, for whom Brunetti holds an (always gentlemanly) candle! I found this story really interesting, set as it is on one of the outer islands of Venice, away from the usual tourist haunts.

Donna Leon simply is a mesmerizing writer. No other author--and some do comeclose--approaches her today in terms of suspense, characterization, plotdevelopment, and social significance. In "Sea of Troubles," she continues herexceptional level of excellence. I could hardly wait for this edition (it's not availablefor some incredible reason in the States!)to arrive.Guido Brunetti has his hands full, once more. Two men (a father and his son) arefound murdered in a sunken fishing boat in the waters off Pelligrina. However, thevillagers close ranks and are in no hurry to cooperate with the police. Enjoining theservices of Signorina Ellatra, Brunetti begins a painful, plodding investigation. With this type of story, Leon is quite good--and she never lets up on theenvironmental issues ("Don't eat the shellfish!").Her murderers don't come as surprises in the final pages, as Leon doesn't use thisdevice; instead, she depends upon the brilliant thinking of Brunetti and his team tobring the guilty, whom we know early enough, to bear. This is not to say that "Seaof Troubles" doesn't contain great suspense--it does. And Leon, who clearly is inlove with Venice, captains this book in the best of traditions. Lucky she has Guido Brunetti and his staff and family as crew members. Don't miss this one! ([email protected])