Falling in Love

Falling in Love (2015) Donna Leon

And now, I have read and re-read all the published Donna Leon, Commisario Brunetti books.

We return once again to the Opera and Flavia Petrelli. La Fenice is putting on Tosca, and Flavia has the lead role. Brunetti and Paola meet her after the opening night, and invite her to dinner–at Paola’s parents–on Sunday. It is there that Brunetti notices that Flavia is on edge, and she eventually admits that she has an unknown admirer who is frightening her.

There is far less mystery here, and more interplay and conflict between the characters–Signorina Elettra is finally actively in opposition to Lieutenant Scarpa–but I was totally okay with that. I like this series because of the characters–the mysteries are almost secondary.

As usual, Patta is Patta, but he is far less horrible here than he was initially, and in fact Brunetti actually thinks some positive things about him.

Colleagues of his in other cities and provinces continually told him of the sort of men and women they worked for, hinting – though never daring to say it outright – that some of them had given their allegiance to an institution other than the State, something that could not be said of the Vice-Questore.
Patta had given his, Brunetti had discovered over the years, to his family. Without reservation, without reflection or restraint: Brunetti liked him for it. Patta was vain and lazy, selfish and at times foolish, but these were not active failings. There was a great deal of bluster in the man, but there was no deep malice: that was left to Lieutenant Scarpa.

There was also a very interesting passage:

‘Isn’t it interesting,’ (Paola) said in the voice she used for speculation, ‘that longing is so often expressed in physical terms: hunger, thirst, physical safety?’
‘What should we long for instead?’ Brunetti asked. ‘Universal peace?’
‘That’s not what I’m saying,’ Paola insisted. ‘I find it interesting that longing is usually expressed in physical terms rather than in spiritual or intellectual ones.’
‘It’s more immediate,’ Chiara said. ‘You suffer from physical need: water, food, sleep. You feel it.’
‘You suffer more from the lack of freedom or peace of mind, I’d say,’ Brunetti offered.
Raffi continued with his cake, as if he found it far more interesting than this sort of speculation.
‘But physical pain hurts,’ Chiara insisted. ‘Nobody dies of a broken heart.’
Paola placed a hand on her own anguished heart. She reached across the table and grabbed at Brunetti’s hand. ‘Guido, we’ve raised a savage.’

I’ve noted in the past that physical pain tends not to bother me much (when I broke my ankle, I told the ER nurse I only rated my pain about a 4 or so) but I have found myself prostrated by mental and emotional pain. So I’d say that I could not disagree more with Chiara’s statement.

Was this one of the better mysteries? No, it honestly wasn’t. Did I enjoy it thoroughly? Yes, I honestly did.

If you’re looking for a complex mystery, or have never read the Commissario Brunetti seires, don’t start here. But if you’re looking to spend time with characters, and already know Brunetti and Paola and Signorina Elettra, then it’s a pleasant time spent.
Rating: 7.5/10

Published by Atlantic Monthly Press

• Browse the archives:
  
• A Red-Rose Chain » »
• « « By its Cover