A Refiner's Fire

The Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries, Book 33

De: Donna Leon

Narrado por: David Colacci

In the thirty-third installment of Donna Leon’s magnificent series, Commissario Guido Brunetti confronts a present-day Venetian menace and the ghosts of a heroism that never was

Around one a.m. on an early spring morning, two teenage gangs are arrested after clashing violently in one of Venice’s squares. Commissario Claudia Griffoni, on duty that night, perhaps ill-advisedly walks the last of the boys home because his father, Dario Monforte, failed to pick him up at the Questura. Coincidentally, Guido Brunetti is asked by a wealthy friend of Vice-Questore Patta to vet Monforte for a job, triggering Brunetti’s memory that twenty years earlier Monforte had been publicly celebrated as the hero of a devastating bombing of the Italian military compound in Iraq. Yet Monforte had never been awarded a medal either by the Carabinieri, his service branch, or by the Italian government.

That seeming contradiction, and the brutal attack on one of Brunetti’s colleagues, Enzo Bocchese, by a possible gang member, concentrate Brunetti’s attentions.

Surprisingly empowered by Patta, supported by Signorina Elettra’s extraordinary research abilities and by his wife Paola’s empathy, Brunetti, with Griffoni, gradually discovers the sordid hypocrisy surrounding Monforte’s past, culminating in a fiery meeting of two gangs and a final opportunity for redemption.

A Refiner’s Fire is Donna Leon at her very best: an elegant, sophisticated storyteller whose indelible characters become richer with each book, and who constantly explores the ambiguity between moral and legal justice.

©2024 Donna Leon and Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich (P)2024 Recorded Books

One of the best of a wonderful series

The book was gripping and had a great storyline. I love all of Donna Leon's books, and this was one of my favorites.

Another great Guido brunetti story

The narration on this audiobook is excellent, adding to guidos character and appeal The cast of characters around him continues to be interesting. Good plot

Not up to usual standards

As a longtime Donna Leon fan, I felt that the book was missing about one third of its story. It ended leaving the main plot questions unanswered. There were few of the details that I have always loved about life in Venice, family and food. Don’t want to give away the plot, but I felt that there could have been much more to come.

As always, wonderful character development

As I said above, the character development was wonderful. However, there is no mystery here. It was evident very early what the theme would be, and there was no intricacy related to a mystery. I found this extremely disappointing. The book is worthwhile read because the characters are so compelling, but I do miss the mystery

Donna Leon: Always a Winner

"A Refiner’s Fire is Donna Leon at her very best: an elegant, sophisticated storyteller whose indelible characters become richer with each book, and who constantly explores the ambiguity between moral and legal justice."

Performance as good as ever, but story disappointing.

I’m a longtime and loyal fan of Donna Leon’s Brunetti series and will remain so. But this was not among her best. Familiar but a bit boring.

One of Donna Leon’s Best!

Loved the story and definitely the narration.

What was disappointing in the story was Guido’s sullenness to take his colleague seriously after being threatened by the son of a neighbor. That’s not what friends, even ‘work friends’, would’ve done.
I expected him to have been killed. But perhaps that would’ve weighed too heavily on Guido moving forward.

In any event, I have loved the series and this book! I can’t wait look for #34!!

Not up to Leon’s standard

This story is a far cry from the intelligent complex stories that we are used to getting from Donna Leon. I’m a huge fan of Brunetti, which is the only reason I finished the book. The plot was mediocre and the story just plodded along. I suppose even the best authors should be excused for the occasional stinker.

Disappointing -

Not up to her usual standard. Weak and uninteresting plot, missing much of the usual and enjoyable descriptions of Venice as a background character. Guido, always a delight, seemed less engaged and not as strongly drawn in this one. Maybe Ms. Leon is tiring of the series, seemed like not much effort went into this one. David Colacci’s narration always great.

Even the 33rd book is a winner

I always enjoy being back in Venice with Guido and his team and his family. Venice is such a major character in these books. The team of Donna Leon with her amazing writing and story and David Colacci and his narration made this a great summer read/listen.