by Donna Leon
Part of Commissario Brunetti, book 20
First published 2011
Costanza Altavilla has always been the helpful neighbor who collects Anna Maria Giusti's mail when she's away. This time, she discovers Anna Maria dead in her apartment with cuts on her neck and shoulders. Did the elderly woman simply fall, or did someone assist her death? Vice-Questore Giuseppe Patta wants to dismiss the case as an accident and close the file. Commissario Brunetti trusts his instincts instead. He digs deeper than what can be proven in court. Using unconventional methods, Brunetti becomes an advocate for the elderly and vulnerable. The investigation leads him to truths that exist beyond legal evidence. This twentieth case in the Brunetti series showcases Leon's most sensitive exploration of her protagonist's character.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, crime, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, unconventional-methods
260 pages · Hardcover · Atlantic Monthly Press