Tangled Web UK Review February 2007
Suffer the Little Children by
Donna Leon
hbk out April 07
Published by Heinemann
at £15.99
Another Donna Leon is always a pleasure to be savoured, as her Venetian
adventures of Commissario Guido Brunetti have become almost a cult, an
Italian version of Simenon's Maigret
Apart from the actual stories, it is warming sensation to again meet
Brunetti and his erudite wife and children, as well as his familiar
assistants, especially the delectable Signorina Elletra, for whom one
always suspects he has a hidden weakness.
This story revolves around the illegal sale of babies, purchased by
couples desperate to have one, when one of their own is medically denied
them. They usually come from immigrant mothers and Brunetti stumbles
into a situation where the Carabinieri, the rival police force in Italy, beat
up a doctor who has acquired his beloved son illegally.
If Donna Leon is to believed – and she should know – Italy's main
industry seems to be corruption and not only is there a baby scam going
on, but the pharmacists of Venice and some of the hospital consultants
have a nice little racket running via the NHS computer, where they claim
fees for fictitious consultations. Brunetti comes across this also, due to
diligence of his lieutenant Vianello and the two illegal practices come
together tragically at the end.
The charm of the series is very dependent on the deep and sensitive
characterisation of all the players – morals and philosophy are gently
explored without being obtrusive, even though you get the feeling that Ms
Leon is quietly grinding a few axes. As always, the reader gets a blow-
by-blow account of Guido's home life, down to the wine and the cuisine
that his marvellous wife always produces for him.
After so many morbid, depressing 'psychological' novels about mutilated
serial killings, Donna Leon's books are an intelligent relief, without
swinging so far as the 'cosies'.
(
Bernard Knight
ex Home Office Pathologist and author of the highly acclaimed Crowner John series)
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