A Sea of Troubles

A Sea of Troubles (2001) Donna Leon

I have no idea how I read this story out of order. The first time, I read it later, because of the order at which Penguin published this series.

This time, however, there was no reason, except that the books ended up out of order. And when I started reading Willful Behavior I knew I was missing something, but the next book on the shelf came after this, so I shrugged and kept reading.

Silly me.

There is a double murder out on the island of Pellestrina–a father and son are killed and their fishing boat is set on fire. But the tight knit community refuses to work with the police, even though almost the entire community hated the older man.

Then, over Brunetti’s objections, Signora Elettra goes out to Pellestrina to stay with her cousin, thinking she can use her connections to learn about the murdered men.

It does not go well.

This is actually a very important book in the series, because we see Signora Elettra learn that she is not invincible, and it marks an important point in the relationship between Brunetti, Vianello, and Signora Elettra.

It’s also a fascinating look at tight knit communities, and how they will often stick together, even when it isn’t in their best interest to do so.

There’s one character, a woman who was presented both as an object of some ridicule, as well as compassion.

Her smile, which exposed perfect teeth and permitted the appearance of only two small wrinkles at the corners of her mouth, gave Brunetti a suggestion of what she might have been had she not decided to devote her middle years to the reacquisition of her earlier ones.

And of course, there is Brunetti.

Incapable by both nature and inclination of worshiping at the altar of the bitch goddess, Success, Brunetti had more modest desires. He was a man of short views, interested in the here, the now, the concrete. He left larger goals and desires to others, contenting himself with smaller ones: a happy family, a decent life, the attempt to do his job as well as he could. It seemed to him little enough to ask of life, and he settled for those hopes.

So this is a good book–I just wish I’d remembered to read it in order.
Rating: 8/10

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