Dressed for Death

May 30, 1994
The third in Leon's richly evocative mysteries set in Venice and starring police Commissario Guido Brunetti reveals several flaws in Brunetti's character--some endearing, some disquieting, all intriguing. A man's body is found near a place popular with prostitutes. His legs and chest are shaved; his shoes are red, high-heeled and brand new. But what initially looks like the violent death of a transvestite whore may be a different sort of murder ineptly disguised: the victim is middle-aged, his body has been inexpertly shaved and his face is battered beyond recognition. In a tougher story than the previous Death at La Fenice, the Commissario's sensitivity is challenged by his dealings with demimonde creatures to whom he has not previously given much thought. A coincidence directs him, perhaps too easily, toward a villain who is soon covering tracks with more killing; lawyers, laundered money--and sodomy--also figure in the case's resolution. While struggling with his prejudices, Brunetti must hide his glee as the wife of his hated superior makes a highly visible departure into the arms of a famed pornographer. Venice takes on a deep noir tint in Leon's latest well-crafted work.

Commissario Brunetti is a likable and thoroughly modern Venetian detective, and David Colacci enhances Brunetti's world. Colacci makes us feel the crushing heat of the Venetian summer and employs a slight but authentic-sounding Italian accent for the dialogue. Brunetti is hoping to head for the mountains on a family holiday when the body of a man, beaten beyond recognition, is found dressed in red shoes and a dress. The victim is not a transvestite but the president of a bank, so Brunetti must unravel a web of corporate welfare fraud and sex scandals. Colacci adeptly varies his voice to distinguish multiple characters, including Brunetti's brilliant wife, Paola; daughter, Chiara; assistant, Vianello; and a number of Venetian transvestites. A.B. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine


This is your basic police procedural set in Venice. It features a likeable, methodical detective, Guido Brunetti, who sacrifices his vacation in the mountains to track down a scam and the murderer of a banker disguised as a transvestite. Anna Fields reads the story in a hard-edged, gravelly voice, which fits the plot even if it doesn't please the ear. Donna Leon writes like a female Ed McBain, only the detectives cruise canals and not the mean streets of New York. This is an often slow-paced story, but the plot is plausible and well-conceived. Most listeners will stay with it. D.L.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine