Transient Desires

Commissario Brunetti Mysteries, Book 30

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Colacci

In his many years as a commissario, Guido Brunetti has seen all manner of crime and known intuitively how to navigate the various pathways in his native city, Venice, to discover the person responsible. Now, in the 30th novel in Donna Leon's masterful series, he faces a heinous crime committed outside his jurisdiction. He is drawn in innocently enough: Two young American women have been badly injured in a boating accident, joyriding in the Laguna with two young Italians. However, Brunetti's curiosity is aroused by the behavior of the young men, who abandoned the victims after taking them to the hospital. If the injuries were the result of an accident, why did they want to avoid association with it?

As Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, investigate the incident, they discover that one of the young men works for a man rumored to be involved in more sinister nighttime activities in the Laguna. To get to the bottom of what proves to be a gut-wrenching case, Brunetti needs to enlist the help of both the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Costiera. Determining how much trust he and Griffoni can put in these unfamiliar colleagues adds to the difficulty of solving a peculiarly horrible crime whose perpetrators are technologically brilliant and ruthlessly organized.

Donna Leon's 30th Brunetti novel is as powerful as any she has written, testing Brunetti to his limits, forcing him to listen very carefully for the truth.

©2021 Donna Leon (P)2021 Recorded Books

Not for the soft-hearted reader (spoiler alert!)

Another great Brunetti adventure. So intriguing. But it deals with, in my opinion, a heart-breaking topic: human trafficking. Knowing this will not ruin the story for you. But, if you are particularly sensitive, happenings in the book may upset you.

Good Brunetti book but ended too fast

Was really enjoying this until the denouement. Something happened, and then "the end". Should have put Brunetti back at home with his family afterwards, talking it through. Felt like the author gave up at the end. Recommend anyway.

Read first enjoyed listening to David Colacci

Donna Leon always a pleasure This novel has an excellent plot. Characters varied and interesting

The Long Arm of the Law

This was an excellent crime drama, skillfully read by David Baldachi, as usual. A suspenseful ending.

Character development was incredible!

I totally enjoyed the plot and the character development. The story weaved in and out of sub Plots involving the other characters period. This book really built attention as it took an original accident and developed a very good crime story with great detective work. An excellent read, and I greatly recommend it.