The Archaeology of Writing

I'm a Donna Leon fan, believing she's at the top of her game and one of the finest suspense writers of my time. I begin each novel with slight hesitation, hoping she's not tiring of Inspector Brunetti and his family, or his work in the floating city.

This latest manuscript is one of her best. It also is one of the most difficult to read for reasons I won't share in depth (no spoilers from me!) here, but having to do with the ideally near-sacred maternal bond. Her storyline, always complex, is REALLY interwoven in The Golden Egg, but believeably so. The realistic relationship between Brunetti and his heiress wife, Paola, remains consistent with my experience of a long-married couple. And the back-and-forth bickering of the two children always makes me smile.

I particularly appreciate her treatment of Venice. I have a love/hate relationship with the city, particularly with a rising tide, but do not know an author who depicts it more accurately, or with more nuance. (Of course, she should convey its essence well since she's a long-time resident.)

I heartily recommend The Golden Egg, and will hold my breath as I await her next installment.