• Transient Desires

  • Commissario Brunetti Mysteries, Book 30
  • By: Donna Leon
  • Narrated by: David Colacci
  • Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (415 ratings)

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Transient Desires  By  cover art

Transient Desires

By: Donna Leon
Narrated by: David Colacci
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Publisher's summary

In his many years as a commissario, Guido Brunetti has seen all manner of crime and known intuitively how to navigate the various pathways in his native city, Venice, to discover the person responsible. Now, in the 30th novel in Donna Leon's masterful series, he faces a heinous crime committed outside his jurisdiction. He is drawn in innocently enough: Two young American women have been badly injured in a boating accident, joyriding in the Laguna with two young Italians. However, Brunetti's curiosity is aroused by the behavior of the young men, who abandoned the victims after taking them to the hospital. If the injuries were the result of an accident, why did they want to avoid association with it?

As Brunetti and his colleague, Claudia Griffoni, investigate the incident, they discover that one of the young men works for a man rumored to be involved in more sinister nighttime activities in the Laguna. To get to the bottom of what proves to be a gut-wrenching case, Brunetti needs to enlist the help of both the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Costiera. Determining how much trust he and Griffoni can put in these unfamiliar colleagues adds to the difficulty of solving a peculiarly horrible crime whose perpetrators are technologically brilliant and ruthlessly organized.

Donna Leon's 30th Brunetti novel is as powerful as any she has written, testing Brunetti to his limits, forcing him to listen very carefully for the truth.

©2021 Donna Leon (P)2021 Recorded Books

What listeners say about Transient Desires

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Not for the soft-hearted reader (spoiler alert!)

Another great Brunetti adventure. So intriguing. But it deals with, in my opinion, a heart-breaking topic: human trafficking. Knowing this will not ruin the story for you. But, if you are particularly sensitive, happenings in the book may upset you.

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The Long Arm of the Law

This was an excellent crime drama, skillfully read by David Baldachi, as usual. A suspenseful ending.

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Good Brunetti book but ended too fast

Was really enjoying this until the denouement. Something happened, and then "the end". Should have put Brunetti back at home with his family afterwards, talking it through. Felt like the author gave up at the end. Recommend anyway.

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4 people found this helpful

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Read first enjoyed listening to David Colacci


Donna Leon always a pleasure This novel has an excellent plot. Characters varied and interesting

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The best

Donna Leon out did herself with Transient Desires. In my opinion, this is her best work to date. This series never gets stale; it just keeps getting better.

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Best Brunetti mystery in a while

Slow & thoughtful. Beautiful descriptions of conversations. Like you are there. Characterization is superb. This was my favorite from the last few years.

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Another intriguing Story

Kudos to Donna Leon for another interesting Brunetti story … Full of Venetian intrigue … the naval connections were fascinating

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Another great experience!

Nicely paced reading of a sensitive handling of a difficult contemporary issue, as always with Ms Leon.

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Love it!

Book 30? Really! What an awesome series!

Another great book and David Colacci’s narration is delightful. It starts out immediately with two American students being left at the door of the hospital, injured and unconscious. Guido and Claudia jump into the investigation but it turns into something very sinister and disturbing.

As usual, Venice is a star of the book. Leon’s descriptions are very lavish and detailed! After 30 books I feel a deep understanding of the geography of the city and its environs without, sadly, ever being there physically. The crime Guido is working on often takes a backseat to the beauty that is Venice.

But this single story develops into a multi-layered one that takes until the final paragraph to finish. Abruptly.

And I can’t wait for #31! Thank you, Donna Leon.

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Best ever

Love seeing the progression of Guido and family. The story was very relevant of what is going on in the world—human trafficking.

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1 person found this helpful