blogcritics.org – Howard Dratch
A transvestite whore is dead in Venice. He/she was dressed, made-up and wearing red high heels. Commissario Brunetti of the Venetian police is sent to investigate in this formula mystery/police procedural by Donna Leon that proved a good enough read to demand a review.
It is the earliest of the mystery series set in Venice, Italy revolving around the good investigator, Brunetti that I have read. I say “I have read” because this is number 14 in the series. Ms. Leon is prolific. More to the point is that she is keeping the characters fresh and the mysteries interesting.
A group of four of her books came in the coveted CARE package from my father-in-law. His tastes run to weighty biographies and stories of adventurers (Into Thin Air and Endurance). I was, therefore, more tempted to try a formula mystery he had enjoyed. Our tastes are not always alike.