The Girl of His Dreams

By: Donna Leon

Narrated by: David Colacci

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

On a rainy morning, not long after the funeral of his mother, Commissario Brunetti and Ispettore Vianello respond to a 911 call reporting a body floating near the steps in one of Venice's side canals. Reaching down to pull it out, Brunetti's wrist is caught by the silkiness of golden hair, and he sees a small foot - together he and Vianello lift a dead girl from the water. But, inconceivably, no one has reported a missing child, nor the theft of the gold jewelry that she carries.

So Brunetti is drawn into a search not only for the cause of her death but also for her identity, her family, and for the secrets that people will keep in order to protect their children - be they innocent or guilty. The investigation takes Brunetti from the canals and palazzos of Venice to a Gypsy encampment on the mainland, through quicksands of connections and relationships both known and concealed, as he struggles with both institutional prejudice and entrenched criminality to try to unravel the fate of the dead child.

Death in Venice: investigate more of Guido Brunetti's cases.

©2008 Donna Leon and Diogenes Verlag AG Zurich (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

A excellent read

Donna Leon has delivered up another entertaining and sensitive novel. Her characters tell stories with sincerity and honesty. Always a pleasure. Thank you

Great book, not a good match with the narrator

I've read a lot of Donna Leon but this is the first one I've listened to. For me, the narrator completely missed the characterization of Brunetti and missed on the Italian accent. I found it distracting. Great story, not so great a listen.

Where is Justice?

Romas outside society’s norms, loose a young family member. Children on rooftops forgotten by justice. High ranking families deserving punishment require proof, but who would dare accuse them.
This one is maddening, but a good story worth sharing the feelings Guido must endure.

Like an evening with old friends.

The "mystery" here is not "the point". For Donna Leon fans its as wonderful as always.

So Italian

Donna Leon has a clear understanding of the Italian people. Her characters so often remind me of people I knew from living there for four and a half years. And David Colacci is the prefect narrator.

Lacking Pizzaz!

I was hoping for a mystery that would bring the romance and mystery of Venice to life. Instead the book was slow and could have been in any city. It was all right, but I wouldn't highly recommend it.

Really good story, quite tragic though.

Especially good story with the tragic death of a child, made more tragic by the lack of justice for an unsympathetic, yet not undeserving, surviving family group.

A Mystery-Novel

The world and life of Commissario Brunetti are the reasons to listen, the main course served by Donna Leon, so to speak. The mystery itself usually wraps up as dessert. There are no tricks or special powers for this police detective, just a strong sense of justice and a desire to end each day knowing he has done his best for those who may have only himself to advocate for them.

Good read

I want justice for the little girl! Great addition to the series. It did leave me with questions.

The crime seems a minor character in the story.

I enjoy the characters and Venice back drop but story line is lacking suspense. Also the crimes going unpunished seems to be a reoccurring theme.