The Girl of His Dreams

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Colacci

On a rainy morning, not long after the funeral of his mother, Commissario Brunetti and Ispettore Vianello respond to a 911 call reporting a body floating near the steps in one of Venice's side canals. Reaching down to pull it out, Brunetti's wrist is caught by the silkiness of golden hair, and he sees a small foot - together he and Vianello lift a dead girl from the water. But, inconceivably, no one has reported a missing child, nor the theft of the gold jewelry that she carries.

So Brunetti is drawn into a search not only for the cause of her death but also for her identity, her family, and for the secrets that people will keep in order to protect their children - be they innocent or guilty. The investigation takes Brunetti from the canals and palazzos of Venice to a Gypsy encampment on the mainland, through quicksands of connections and relationships both known and concealed, as he struggles with both institutional prejudice and entrenched criminality to try to unravel the fate of the dead child.

Death in Venice: investigate more of Guido Brunetti's cases.©2008 Donna Leon and Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

A excellent read

Donna Leon has delivered up another entertaining and sensitive novel. Her characters tell stories with sincerity and honesty. Always a pleasure. Thank you

Great book, not a good match with the narrator

I've read a lot of Donna Leon but this is the first one I've listened to. For me, the narrator completely missed the characterization of Brunetti and missed on the Italian accent. I found it distracting. Great story, not so great a listen.

Lacking Pizzaz!

I was hoping for a mystery that would bring the romance and mystery of Venice to life. Instead the book was slow and could have been in any city. It was all right, but I wouldn't highly recommend it.

Where is Justice?

Romas outside society’s norms, loose a young family member. Children on rooftops forgotten by justice. High ranking families deserving punishment require proof, but who would dare accuse them.
This one is maddening, but a good story worth sharing the feelings Guido must endure.

Like an evening with old friends.

The "mystery" here is not "the point". For Donna Leon fans its as wonderful as always.

So Italian

Donna Leon has a clear understanding of the Italian people. Her characters so often remind me of people I knew from living there for four and a half years. And David Colacci is the prefect narrator.

Slow Started Really Pulls You In

Though slow to start, if you give this novel a chance, you will be drawn in very deeply. The characterizations are strong, the characters fascinating in an intellectually satisfying sense. These are not cardboard people walking around a famous city. They are warm, wry and wonderful. If you like psychological mysteries and can live without action in every paragraph, you will love this. Haunting and memorable. My first Brunetti mystery, not my last.

Too slow for me

I kept waiting for the meat of the story but I just took too long to get gripping. Just not my cup of tea.

Not her best, but generally good

I was very disappointed with the ending of what is otherwise a decent book.
The ending ws extremely weak.
And there were parts of the book that were undeveloped and unresolved.
Great narration.
As always the characters are great. Brunetti, Vianello, and Elettra are always stars!
And then there is Pasta.

Disappointed

This is the 5th book I’ve read in the series and repeatedly there has been no legal action on the part of the police. Leon’s books seem to be directed at the uselessness of the Italian police. Witnesses, evidence or out right confessions have no weight when it comes to winning cases. The detective is portrayed as slow and subservient to the point of embarrassment.