Dressed for Death (Commissario Brunetti Book 3)

In 1992, at the age of 50, a professor of English literature named Donna Leon published Death at La Fenice. The novel won a major literary award and set her off on writing a series of sequels, now numbering 25. Set in Venice, where Leon has been living for the past 25 years, these skillful police procedurals feature Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Italian police. Though translated into many languages from Leon’s native English, Italian is not among them. That’s as Leon herself requested. Since the series reflects poorly both on the Italian police and officialdom generally, and on the Catholic Church, that’s no surprise. Leon might be tarred and feathered if her novels appeared in Venice bookstores.Corruption in VeniceThe very best crime fiction is not just entertaining but teaches us something about the time or location where the action takes place. Leon’s Commissario Brunetti series does both. Though she is careful to present a balanced view of life in Venice and of the characters in her novels, Brunetti is forced to dance around so many examples of nepotism and venality that it’s clear corruption is endemic. In Dressed for Death, the third novel in the series, the examples of profiteering and favoritism are abundant, especially within the Venice police and an institution linked to the Catholic Church.An engaging plotDressed for Death begins with the discovery in a field of a man’s dead body dressed in drag. Even before any other facts are established, the press publishes lurid accounts of a transvestite prostitute murdered by one of his johns. It’s no surprise to learn as Brunetti pursues his investigation that none of this is true. In fact, as we might expect, the murdered man turns out to be a pivotal figure in a major scandal, which Brunetti uncovers, one unsavory layer after another.

I truly enjoy this series. I'm writing this review primarily to point out that some of her early books were published with different titles. If you are reading them in order as I am doing, you should visit fantasticfiction.com to match the titles, or else you may find yourself reading a story twice. It's too bad neither Amazon descriptions or Goodreads make note of the different titles, although Goodreads does copy my rating of this book to both titles. This book was also published as The Anonymous Venetian.

I've become quite the fan of Commissario Guido Brunetti, his family and his coworkers, so much so that I'm working my through the entire Donna Leon series. She paints such a wonderful, realistic picture of Venice, Italy that, even though it exposes it's underbelly, it still remains a place for me to see on my bucket list. Having previously seen several foreign-language movie version of Ms. Leon's Brunetti books, it's conveniently given me visual references on the characters and locale. The odd thing is that the tv movies were in German with English subtitles but the characters did look Italian enough to be believable. Go figure.The earlier books are somewhat dated (Brunetti doesn't have a cell phone) but charmingly so. Crime is still crime, however, so the anachronisms are not too distracting. I highly recommend this series, especially for police procedural fans.

I have read several of Donna Leon's inspector Brunetti stories, and I find this one of her best. The city struggling under a heat wave, the family gone on holiday and inspector Brunetti tied up in an investigation... a difficult one. And then, when everything seems to end into a dead end street, a miracle happens. And another one. Brunetti is a very much alive character. Someone you just could meet in the street. Excellent book.

As usual, she gets to the "ugly underbelly" of Venus/ Italy. People of power who steal. Depravity! (Maybe or maybe not, depending on the reader.) How is it that the author hasn't been put into concrete boots and dropped into a canal?! This time she doesn't go after the government, just people the want to be hip deep in money and don't care who suffers. (It's late, I am tired, and I have written enough to close this out.) Still have a few of her books to read. Good night!

A murder victim is initially identified as a transvestite whore. As Brunetti investigates he begins to wonder if things aren't what they seem.The investigation focuses on possible misuse of a charitable organization and calls on Brunetti to act the tough cop more then in past stories. Leon kept this reader guessing maintaining a good level of suspense while still sharing a visit to Venice with the reader.

I'm reading this series out of order, so it was nice to discover that this is where Signorina Elettra is introduced. She is one of my favorite characters (ever), and it was a treat to see that she's always been awesome. The mystery is more of a slow-burner, with the same quirky cast of suspects. This series is almost as enjoyable as a good spaghetti dinner.

In general I love Donna Leon's Brunetti mysteries. Why? Let me count the ways:1. Brunetti, his family, secretary Electra, his closest professional allies, and his narcissistic boss become ever more interesting with each book.2. Brunetti has a sensitivity to the misfortunes that befall his victims while remaining a strong force for justice.3. There are fascinating descriptions of the intricacies of Venetian and oft times more wide-spread Italian corruption (helps me to remember that no place is perfect).4. Many references to English literature and the classics.5. The "feel" that Ms. Leon gives the reader for the history and place of Venice.6. The books do not need to be read in order!This particular book has a mystery that some "normal" detectives might have dropped given what appears to be the explanation. However, Brunetti uncovers the truth behind the crime and emerges the better for it.

A well written mystery, third in the Brunetti series. This is a US published novel of The Anonymous Venetian; which is available more cheaply on Amazon than Dressed for Death. I shall be more careful in future and check the publisher in the product description.

In common with your most critical review, I agree it is almost a con not to indicate to the purchaser it is a reprint of 'An Anonymous Venetian'. That review was written in 2005, and people like me are still being caught.

What a dismal waste of time. This is "The Anonymous Venetian", which I bought on its publication in 2005 and enjoyed. Why do Pengiun publish (and Amazon sell) an old book, under a new Dressed for Death (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)  title with no warning to prospective buyers? Well done on being both stupid and unethical at the same time. Dressed for Death (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries)

Thought I had read all her books, so this was a pleasant surprise, one of her best.

xyzzy