Wednesday, May 05, 2021

Uniform Justice



Uniform Justice is the 12th book in the Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery series by Donna Leon. I'm enjoying this series, filling in as I get books in the series for birthday and Christmas presents. Though I guess it would be helpful to read these in order, it's not strictly speaking necessary with this series. I enjoy the characters, that their relationships are fully formed but not distracting from the plot, the food descriptions, the intriguing plots, and the atmosphere. It feels like you're in Venice.

from the back of the book:
In Uniform Justice, a Publishers Weekly Book of the Year, a young cadet in Venice's elite military academy has been found hanged, a presumed suicide. Commissario Guido Brunetti's sorrow for the boy, so close in age to his own son, is rivaled only by his contempt for a community that is more concerned with protecting the reputation of the school, and its privileged students, than with finding the truth. The young man's father is a doctor and former politician. He is a man of impeccable integrity, all too rare in Italian politics. Yet, although clearly devastated and convinced that the death of his son could not have been a suicide, he inexplicably avoids talking to the police. As Brunetti pursues his inquiry, he is faced with a wall of silence. Is the military protecting its own? And what is preventing the other witnesses from talking? Or has Brunetti uncovered a conspiracy far more sinister than that of a single death?
Grove Atlantic says,
Uniform Justice is a riveting, pitch-perfect murder mystery—the work of a truly masterful storyteller. Conjuring contemporary Venice in exquisite and alluring detail, Donna Leon offers what has been widely hailed as the finest installment yet of the Commissario Guido Brunetti series.
Kirkus Reviews closes with this:
A powerful indictment of an Italian society in which “scandal had the same shelf life as fresh fish: by the third day, both were worthless; one because it had begun to stink, the other because it no longer did.”
Reviewing the Evidence says, "The author has produced her usual impeccable work." Publishers Weekly concludes, "This is an outstanding book, deserving of the widest audience possible, a chance for American readers to again experience a master practitioner's art."

16 comments:

  1. ...a nice concept.

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    1. yes, if only we could get it. With mercy, yes, but uniform justice.

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  2. I'm so glad I started this series. Thanks for posting about them on your blog Nita.

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  3. I am so happy to hear you are enjoying the books. Sounds like and interesting story. Have a very nice day.

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    1. This is a good series. I always look forward to the next one.

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  4. Always a great series, I love the books and the films! Valerie

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    1. Someday I hope to find the films on a service we subscribe to. No luck so far.

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  5. I've read seven of these and ready for the eighth. I agree -- at least so far, there is nothing in this series that I've discovered where reading in order is essential. I still like to, but apart from Brunetti's children getting a little older (emphasis on the "little" older), not much has changed time-wise. I'm glad you are also a fan and I love reading about what is to come!

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    1. I found later ones used and just jumped in. I'm filling in now, asking for them as gifts. The kids getting older is about the only difference I've seen, too.

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  6. I always love reading about this series. I wonder where Valerie gets them on film.

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    1. They're available on DVD. Also, I see they're on a subscription channel we don't get: MHz Choice https://watch.mhzchoice.com/donna-leon-s-brunetti-mysteries You can get that channel as a premium channel through Amazon Prime, but it's $9 a month extra https://www.amazon.com/Donna-Leons-Commissario-Brunetti-Mysteries/dp/B00NIIWRD4

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  7. One day I'd love to get to these chronologically. They sound awsome! :)

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    1. They are good! I think when I finish the series and re-read them I'll read them in order.

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  8. Love book series where you get to know and enjoy the characters 😁. Thanks for sharing! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. That the characters are people I've come to know and like is wonderful :)

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