Doctored Evidence

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Colacci

Internationally acclaimed author Donna Leon has earned lavish accolades for her elegant Venetian mysteries featuring the irresistibly charming Commissario Brunetti. Now she presents her most beguiling and thrilling mystery yet.

Against the atmospheric backdrop of the city of Venice, Brunetti finds himself fighting a lone battle to prove the innocence of a Romanian housekeeper accused of brutally murdering her miserly employer. With the odds stacked against her from the onset of the investigation when she fled from police, her guilt seems a fait accompli...until a neighbor comes forward to protest the innocence of the accused.

Stealthily working his way through the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, death nipping at his heels, Brunetti will have to defy his superiors to vindicate the housekeeper and stop her employer's real killer before he murders again.

Death in Venice: investigate more of Guido Brunetti's cases.©2004 Donna Leon and Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich (P)2004 BBC Audiobooks America

Critic reviews

"Fans of Leon will not be disappointed....She has crafted yet another expert mystery." ( Baltimore Sun)

Unusual

Venice, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, false-information, family-dynamics, friendship*****

Set in a time shortly after the beginning use of the euro, this unusual mystery uses the Seven Deadly Sins as part of the investigative process. I always find it easy to slip into a Brunetti mystery after an absence and out of any order. The shifty characters become clear and the well-meaning rule benders (my kind of people) romp through the serious and the snarky. Unusual in it's beginning, diligence, and denouement. Of course I loved it!
I admit that I really enjoy listening to narrator David Colacci, especially his Italian (or is it Venetian) pronunciations.

Another wonderful Leon.

This author is my favorite mystery writer. I feel like I know his detective his wife and kids. They don't get any better than this. The plot in this book is excellent, great characters, lots of questions to answer, all tied up by the end. Don't miss this one (or any other by Donna Leon.)

First I heard on Audible in a great series.

The first in this series that I read was "Death at la Fenice" and I was captivated. I have only been in Venice a few times but wish I'd spent more time. It's too bad that Audible doesn't have the earliest so you could hear it all in order but it's an easy series to jump into. Fascinating detail about hidden corners and famous places in Venice, a wonderful policeman as the main character who has a truly Italian family life, a talented narrator who gets the pronunciation right, if you like art, history, travel, mystery and good writing the series is terriffic.

Enjoyable Brunetti mystery

What made the experience of listening to Doctored Evidence the most enjoyable?

It's always a pleasure spending time with Detective Brunetti, his family and colleagues. I enjoy the leisurely pace of the Brunetti mysteries, which are centered on human relationships and the Venetian setting, rather than being taut blood-soaked thrillers.

What other book might you compare Doctored Evidence to and why?

In terms of pacing and evocation of time and place, the Brunetti series might be comparable to the Thomas Pitt series by Anne Perry. However, the Brunetti series has a lovely contemporary Mediterranean tone, as opposed to the starchy Victorian concerns of the Pitt series.

What about David Colacci’s performance did you like?

Colacci brings consistency to the Brunetti characters from book to book, as well as warmth and humor. He is able to portray the female characters' voices in a way that works; often a challenge for male narrators.

Unique location

Cops seem to be the same in Venice, Italy as they are in many parts of the states. They get stuck on one suspect and ignore the clues and the truth. Crime detection is complicated in Europe but prejudice against outsiders is the same.

Yea!!!

I’m am so glad that David Colacci is reading again. Only a lapse of one book reading so far changed the character of Guido Bernetti enough that I was not going to listen to more. So glad to listen to the intricate, interesting story each book offers.

Highly enjoyable

The setting, the protagonist and his relationships with his family and colleagues, the exceptional language, and the interesting mystery makes this book a highly enjoyable experience.

Best one yet

Loved the story and the good ending. Other ending have not been very satisfying as the bad guy seems to get away with it. But not this bad guy! Highly recommended

Vicarious Venetian Visit

The author & narrator eloquently transport their listeners to Venice - for only one credit! It's a mystery immersed in Venetian culture - definitely delightful - not at all stodgy. In addition to the story of intrigue, there is humor & family life. The characters are such that you feel that you know (& enjoy) them.The narrator is awesome, obviously fluent in Italian.The language is melodic and is meant to be heard, not read. The story unfolds at a mellow pace - but what else would expect in Venice?

Scattered

A decent story with many suspects but that had the detective scattered all over the place, which kind of the story plot but distracting and narrator kept slipping into English or other characters voices.