Dressed for Death

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Commissario Guido Brunetti's hopes for a refreshing family holiday in the mountains are once again dashed when a gruesome discovery is made in Marghera--a body so badly beaten the face is completely unrecognizable. Brunetti searches Venice for someone who can identify the corpse but is met with a wall of silence. He then receives a telephone call from a contact who promises some tantalizing information. And before night is out, Brunetti is confronting yet another appalling, and apparently senseless, death.

©1994 Donna Leon (P)2009 BBC Audio

This author is a genius!

Besides crafting intricate murder mysteries, and organically developing a number of characters and their relationships, Donna Leon communicates many truths about society and insights about human nature that raise these books above the level of simply recreational fiction.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Very consumable. Involving without being too sad, scary or overly sordid. Detective is admirable without being Superman, or on the other end of things, neurotic and tortured. Enjoying the series so far.

I'm hooked!

What made the experience of listening to Dressed for Death the most enjoyable?

The vivid depiction of Venice.
David Colacci's narration.
Great characters.
The author's understanding of Italy and the Italian people.
Good story telling that kept my interest till the end.

What about David Colacci’s performance did you like?

His ability to change his voice to create/interpret the various characters in the book. I actually purchased this book (I'm a first time Donna Leon reader) because Colacci was doing the narration. I became of Colacci from reading the John Lescroart, Dismas Hardy series.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, because I wanted to make it last as long as possible. I could have listened in one sitting, but I forced myself to limit my sessions.

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to my next book by Donna Leon, but I want Colacci to be the reader. I sampled a little of Willful Behavior with Steven Crossley doing the read and decided I'd skip this one.

Interesting mystery, great narration

What did you love best about Dressed for Death?

The way the author conveyed the atmosphere of being in Venice in the hot, muggy, non-air conditioned summer. The heat is practically a character itself.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, the plot is good. The solution to the mystery was not readily apparent until revealed by the narrative. The intricacies of politics, corruption, and culture had an effect on the progress of the murder investigation, and I found that additional facet added interest.

What about David Colacci’s performance did you like?

He is so good at voicing the different characters. None of his narration felt out of place or jarring, even when he voiced the females and the villains. The Italian accent he gave his characters helped convey the sense of place.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved by the compassion and respect detective Guido Bernelli displayed toward the murder victim and witnesses, and by his loving relationship with his wife and daughter.

Any additional comments?

This was my first exposure to Donna Leon, whose novels were recommended by a friend. I would purchase another Donna Leon-David Colacci audiobook without hesitation. With her plotting skills and his great narration, I was hooked from beginning to end.

Dressed for Death

I love this book! My grandma introduced me to this book series. I wish they had all of the books in this series, I'm glad they have so many though. The narrator was really good and the book is well written. I can't wait to listen to the next books! It's a great crime / mystery book series. I'm very picky with crime / mystery novels that I read or listen to.

Great Crimi

I love this series. In fact I get so addicted to the story with all the descriptions of life in Venice where I have visited many times I just can't put it down.

Good start, good premise but....

For years I've heard that this series about a police office in Venice is excellent;
I started this, and was impressed with the crime set up...but it never went anywhere.
This is a standard police procedural: offer the reader a crime, a compelling main character,
and how it is solved: the 'who, what, why, where and how..' It never rises above the procedure...
There is little character development, so the reader never really attaches to Brunetti, the main character.
The setting offers great potential, but there's little descriptive narration to intrigue the readers.
The characters often devolve into stereotypes, so there's that.
Even tragic events (the death of a young police woman) are just.. events... no emotional
heartbreak. This was not easy to finish... I may try another one..but this wasn't the book to
make me jump into the next installment.

Outstanding as usual!

The twisting plot really got to me this time.
Ms Leon has such a sense of humor when you least suspect it!
BRAVO!

marvelous duo

Author Donna Leon and narrator David Colacci area a marvelous duo. Leon's books are literary mysteries. They aren't blood and guts and violence (well, there is some) and they aren't page turners. Leon brings you into the Italian culture as she weaves a nice mystery. The narrator is superb.

Venice.. Italy .. Finally

Excellent detective series in a contemporary cozy manner.

WISH the early books were available on Audible. They exist but can not be sold in the USA .