Death and Judgment Audiobook By Donna Leon cover art

Death and Judgment

A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery

Preview

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Death and Judgment

By: Donna Leon
Narrated by: David Colacci
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

A truck crashes and spills its dangerous cargo on a treacherous road in the Italian Dolomite mountains. Meanwhile, in Santa Lucia, a prominent international lawyer is found dead aboard an intercity train.

Suspecting a connection between the two tragedies, Commissario Guido Brunetti digs deep for an answer, stumbling upon a seedy Venetian bar that holds the key to a crime network that reaches far beyond the laguna. But it will take another violent death in Venice before Brunetti and his colleagues begin to understand what is really going on.

Death in Venice: investigate more of Guido Brunetti's cases.©1995 Donna Leon (P)2009 BBC Audio
International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Fiction Italy Transportation Scary International Thrillers
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"Leon isn't well known is this country, but she should be. She's a superbly gifted writer whose stories are complex and filled with charm, humor, and intelligence." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Death and Judgment

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    476
  • 4 Stars
    317
  • 3 Stars
    88
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    10
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    530
  • 4 Stars
    156
  • 3 Stars
    40
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    403
  • 4 Stars
    238
  • 3 Stars
    75
  • 2 Stars
    18
  • 1 Stars
    10

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story but so depressing!

The widespread corruption in leadership in Venice/Italy seems reflective of what is going on in the world in general today. The commissioner is so honorable but it seems the odds against him are insurmountable. This one was particularly sad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best of the First 4 Brunetti Mysteries

Suggest reading this series in order because each book further develops the main/central/ongoing characters and sometimes refers to events in previous novels, which adds to the enjoyment of those wanting to read the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not as Venice-oriented as the other Brunetti books

Donna Leon's Venetian police procedurals have long been on my favorites list and I would read anything that stars Guido Brunetti.

This edition is a bit of a change as much of the story does not occur in Venice - as many would guess from the introductory road accident. It also visits some very unpleasant issues - something which does not become clear until late in the book. Unlike most in this series, the squeamish index shoots to the top in one scene - be forewarned if violent sex bothers you (not graphic but violent).

But it does feature my favorite cast of characters and give a glimpse into the everyday life of a Venetian family (Venetian, mind you, not Italian).

David Colacci is a fabulous narrator for this series - he IS Guido Brunetti to my ears.

I would not recommend this as a first read in the series - but if you are already addicted, this should keep you satisfied.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Modern true fiction

Believable sordid clever enjoyable. I listened to it a year ago then again. Well done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous, interesting and evocative

This is a very well-narrated book in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series. The characters come to life in the capable narration of David Colacci. The characters of the prostitutes and the few policemen who try to help them are well portrayed. Of particular interest is the loving and lovely interactions between the policeman and his young daughter, who is so much like him that she unintentionally puts herself in harm's way. A tour-de-force, with a cynical ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Slow moving story

This us my first outing with a Donna Leon mystery. I found the story, in the first half of this Audible selection, to just plod along. There was a slight twist at the end but not enough to say it was a good story. The narration by Dabid Colacci was a caricature of every Italian you've seen on American TV. Think Father Guido Sarducci. Very disappointed since this Audible presentation was recommended to me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Into another world

What I love about this whole series is the way it colors a culture with native nuances and viewpoint while at the same time weaving a wonderful murder mystery tale.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific stuff

Met all my expectations. Love this series. Donna Leon has mastery of her craft. And we are fortunate to be in on it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

No satisfaction

I like the narration but this story is not just depressing and horrifying but unending. No satisfactory conclusions. This is the way it is, nothing can be done about it and you the reader must be a masochist to continue with the series. Yuck! Good thing it was included with the membership.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spoiler Alert!

I struggled with whether or not to write a review of this book. It’s very engaging and a gripping story. I titled the review “spoiler alert” because I am revealing that it does not have a happy ending. There is no resolution at the end. At least, it is not a satisfying resolution. I respect the author for doing things this way because the book deals with real life problems that exist in our world today that cannot be solved. Therefore, it would have ruined the entire concept of Commissario Brunetti if he had been able to solve them in this one volume. It would have thrown this book into the realm of fantasy. Though the characters and the actions in this story are fictional, the subject matter is frighteningly real. If your enjoyment of a murder mystery hinges upon having a happy resolution, then skip this volume. Brunetti does not win this time around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!