Unto Us a Son Is Given

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Colacci

"Your situation is always ambiguous, isn't it, Guido?", his father-in-law, Count Orazio Falier, observes of Donna Leon's soulful detective, Guido Brunetti, at the beginning of her superb 28th Brunetti novel, Unto Us a Son Is Given. "The world we live in makes that necessary", Brunetti presciently replies.

Count Falier was urging his Venetian son-in-law to investigate, and preferably intervene in, the seemingly innocent plan of the Count's best friend, the elderly Gonzalo Rodriguez de Tejada, to adopt a much younger man as his son. Under arcane Italian inheritance laws this man would then be heir to Gonzalo's entire fortune, a prospect Gonzalo's friends find appalling. For his part, Brunetti wonders why the old man, a close family friend, can't be allowed his pleasure in peace.

And yet, what seems innocent on the Venetian surface can cause tsunamis beneath. Gonzalo unexpectedly, and literally, drops dead on the street, and his good friend Berta Dodson, just arrived in Venice for the memorial service, is strangled in her hotel room - having earlier sent Gonzalo an email saying "We are the only ones who know you cannot do this", referring to the adoption. Now with an urgent case to solve, Brunetti reluctantly untangles the long-hidden mystery in Gonzalo's life that ultimately led to murder - a resolution that brings him way more pain than satisfaction.

Once again, Donna Leon brilliantly plumbs the twists and turns of the human condition, reuniting us with some of crime fiction's most memorable and enduring characters.

©2019 Donna Leon (P)2019 Recorded Books

Another Great Donna Leon book!

I love these characters, plots and reading performances! So enjoyable; deep and thoughtful, yet entertaining.

Good story, predictable ending

The central characters were believable and the Venice setting made for an interesting backdrop to the story. There is a “mystery” but it was so predictable that I believe the author intended for the novel to be more about the central character (a detective), than about the “mystery.” I was a little disappointed, but this was my first time reading this author. The central character and the setting were interesting enough that I would listen to another in the series.

Venice- a look into life in the ancient city.

I love all of Donna Leon’s books and I especially enjoy the audio preformed by David Colacci. I don’t know Italian so when it’s read to me I do not stress over the Italian words.

Another Reason to Revel in Donna Leon’s Creativity

A compelling exploration of human motivation and choices that provoke our own revelations. May there be many more.

Surprised

I didn’t like this at first. As I listened the story grew and I became fascinated. Story was excellent and the narrator was equally so. A++

one of Donna Leone's best to date

you can see how well Donna Leon's work has matured. great character development, and a really good twist the story. I really enjoy how she brings Venice to life with characters so real, u feel as if you live the culture with them

Unto Us a Son Is Given

I binged this book when I was working and it was so fun to listen to!

Keeps you guessing until the end!

Another masterpiece by Donna Leon. Very well written, thought out and funny at times! Loved it!

Great story but very abrupt ending

loved this story, really well done and interesting but abrupt ending. read it and see.

Very interesting situation

It did take a while to get into it but it was an interesting story of a legal and personal situation.David Colacci does his usual fabulous narration. I thought it was great.