The Golden Egg

A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, Book 22

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Over the years, the best-selling Commissario Guido Brunetti series has conquered the hearts of mystery lovers all over the world. Brunetti is both a perceptive investigator and a principled family man, and through him, Leon has explored Venice in all its aspects: its history, beauty, food, and social life, but also its crime and corruption.

In The Golden Egg, as the first leaves of autumn begin to fall, Vice Questore Patta asks Brunetti to look into a minor violation committed by the mayor’s future daughter-in-law. Brunetti has no interest in helping his boss amass political favors, but he has little choice but to comply. Then Brunetti’s wife, Paola, comes to him with a request of her own.

The mentally handicapped man who worked at their dry cleaners has just died of a sleeping pill overdose, and Paola loathes the idea that he lived and died without anyone noticing him, or helping him. To please his wife, Brunetti investigates the death, and is surprised to find nothing on the man: no birth certificate, no passport, no driver’s license, no credit cards. As far as the Italian government is concerned, he never existed. And yet, there is the body.

As secrets unravel, Brunetti suspects an aristocratic family might be somehow connected to the death. But why would anyone want this sweet, simple-minded man dead?

©Donna Leon and Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich (P)2013 AudioGO

Narration not up to the job

The story was as good as any Donna Leon has written about our favorite Venetian detective. But why, why, why did Audible select someone with a pretentious British accent for this book when it cried out for an Italian one. Only the names are said in an Italian style but are so exaggerated that the names sound like a sarcastic joke.

I have read every book in this series but never listened to one before. I am going back to the written version for so long as this narrator -- who no doubt would be fine for other novels, say Jane Austen -- is reading them. It really detracted from my enjoyment of the story.

Another Great Brunetti Book

Fantastic story, and while I love David Colacci’s narration I thought Rintoul did a great job. Different, but very good.

Neglect and Deceit

Even people who are not too smart can be evil. This story reaches unbridled crusty. Read this and the other books in this series. Even book has a social justice theme.

Poor Narration

Where does The Golden Egg rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In comparison to other Donna Leon audiobooks the narration in this edition falls flat. It takes the joy out of the book.

What didn’t you like about David Rintoul’s performance?

See above.

Different Narrator Same Characters and Great Story

I did not find the British accent of David Rintoul districting. He did an outstanding reading of a most unusual story.

Great story

As always, Leon is very creative with her story lines. I didn't mind the narration, very British and not very Italian, but pleasant.

A British Brunetti

I didn't fully appreciate how much I have come to equate David Collaci with Brunetti until listening to the new narrator for this addition to the series. It just didn't seem "right." The story is interesting, includes some fun twists, and the various musings are as enjoyable as ever.

One of the best

Wow. I love this series and the books just get better and better. I miss David Collaci. But was ok with this narrator fairly quickly. A really thought provoking story with one of the most evil bad people ever.

Family complications

David Rintoul brings Commissario Brunetti to life with the sound and inflections of his voice. I very much appreciate that because Brunetti is a favorite of mine and I am enjoying the first sound of him in this very interesting novel.

A Bad Choice for Narrator!

What did you like best about The Golden Egg? What did you like least?

Guido Brunnetti is a great character and after so many books in the series, the switch in narrator was an unwelcome surprise. I couldn't even get through the book--and that's never happened with one of Leon's books before.

If you’ve listened to books by Donna Leon before, how does this one compare?

I just couldn't get past the narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His pompous British accent is a major flaw.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

it's possible