Commissario Guido Brunetti has been thoughtfully investigating crimes and pondering Greek philosophy for more than three decades now. In Give Unto Others, the 31st novel in the iconic Venetian mystery series from Donna Leon (Trace Elements), the case strikes close to home. Brunetti is approached by Elisabetta Foscarini, a childhood neighbor whom he has seen occasionally over the years, as one inevitably does in a small, pedestrian-friendly city like Venice. Elisabetta fears that something might be wrong in her daughter's marriage, and she would like Brunetti unofficially to investigate her son-in-law, a freelance accountant who works with several businesses in Venice.
Brunetti involves a few of his preferred police coworkers in a discreet, off-the-books series of inquiries into the lives of Elisabetta's daughter and son-in-law. Suddenly, the situation is far from casual: Brunetti realizes that, if it's discovered they were doing favors for him, his friends may see their careers jeopardized--all because of Brunetti's loyalty to childhood memories.
Give Unto Others is a perfect mystery read. The pacing is gentle and methodical, and characters are thoughtful. Brunetti and his fellow police officers frequently reflect on the effects of the pandemia on their beloved city. Give Unto Others is sure to resonate with readers who have experienced far too much real-life uncertainty in recent years. And with no crossover to earlier cases, this installment in the series could be the perfect way for new readers to be introduced to Brunetti's introspective, ethical investigations. --Jessica Howard, bookseller at Bookmans, Flagstaff, Ariz.