A Noble Radiance by Donna LeonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A Noble Radiance, the 7th novel and an interesting addition to Donna Leon’s amazing and thought provoking Guido Brunetti Series.
Guido Brunetti, the intelligent and intellectual Venetian Commissario is called in to investigate the findings of a decomposed male body found in a shallow grave by workmen in a home just outside Venice. The body is identified as Roberto Lorenzoni, the son of Count Lorenzoni, a member of the Venetian aristocratic society, who had been abducted two years earlier and had never been found or any ransom being paid.
Brunetti suspects that the family had something to do with the disappearance of Roberto and the more he learns about the Lorenzoni’s family secrets and dubious businesses ventures and as he untangles the clues that are brought to light, the more he realizes that the kidnapping was just the tip of the iceberg in the investigation.
As Brunetti observes the pain and loss of the Lorenzoni family, he reflects on what his wife and children and family mean to him….
"Brunetti's thoughts went from Paola's happiness to his own, and he surprised himself by realizing that it had never before occurred to him to wonder whether he was happy or not. In love with his wife, proud of his children, capable of doing his job well, why would he worry about happiness, and what more than these things could happiness be comprised of?
Brunetti’s relationship with his father-in-law, Count Orazio Falier, is changing and Brunetti begins to see another side of him that he had never seen before.
Politics, corruption and the different sides of justice in Italy, where the law is manipulated and used by the powerful and rich society for their own gains.
Signorina Elletra is someone that I grow to like more and more as I get to know her. There’s something about her….mysterious, smart…yes, a hacker…..funny and kind hearted and understanding. When Brunetti tells her about the pain of Roberto’s mother on hearing about his body being discovered…..
‘The poor mother,’ Elettra said and then added, ‘I wonder if she’s religious.’
‘Why?’
‘It helps people when terrible things happen, when people die.’
‘Are you?’ Brunetti asked.
‘Per carità,’ she said, pushing the idea back towards him with raised hands. ‘The last time I was in church was for my confirmation. It would have upset my parents if I hadn’t done it, which was pretty much the same for all my friends. But since then I’ve had nothing to do with it.’
‘Then why did you say that it helps people?’
‘Because it’s true,’ she said simply. ‘The fact that I don’t believe in it doesn’t prevent it from helping other people. I’d be a fool to deny that.’
This is a sad and emotional and very touching story.
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