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About Face Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,364 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Donna Leon’s novels have won her countless fans, heaps of critical acclaim, and a place among the top ranks of international crime writers. Through the warmhearted, perceptive, and principled Commissario Guido Brunetti, Leon’s bestselling books have explored Venice in all its aspects: history, tourism, high culture, food, family, but also violent crime and political corruption.
In About Face, Leon returns to one of her signature subjects: the environment, which has reached a crisis in Italy. Incinerators across the south of Italy are at full capacity, burning who-knows-what and releasing unacceptable levels of dangerous air pollutants, while in Naples, enormous garbage piles grow in the streets. In Venice, with the polluted waters of the canals and a major chemical complex across the lagoon, the issue is never far from the fore.
Environmental concerns become significant in Brunetti’s work when an investigator from the Carabiniere, looking into the illegal hauling of garbage, asks for a favor. But the investigator is not the only one with a special request. His father-in-law needs help and a mysterious woman comes into the picture. Brunetti soon finds himself in the middle of an investigation into murder and corruption more dangerous than anything he’s seen before.
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"The latest Brunetti novel has restored Donna Leon to me. I had decided to bypass her books because of the America bashing and Paola's acerbic voice but she has redeemed herself here. Home life is important but work is the primary focus here and it is not a comfortable topic and cannot have an easy fix. Brunetti's in-laws play an integral part in the story rather than the token roles they frequently have and a new female character is added. Venice in winter is as bleak as many of the options open to Brunetti, a well done book!"
— Barbara (4 out of 5 stars)
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“The details of home-cooked meals and family arguments, alongside a never-ending flow of crime, add a depth to Leon’s stories and are what makes her characters so believable and, in turn, her books so readable.”
— Independent (London) -
“Despite the strong projection of his voice, Colacci can still shift his tone with his vocal characters to convey two people talking in confidence. His interpretation of Leon’s book proves an excellent example of how a narrator can improve the actual story.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review), audio review -
“With her eighteenth stellar entry in the Commissario Guido Brunetti series, Leon continues to live up to the increasingly high standards set by each novel.”
— Library Journal -
“Brunetti tackles environmental malfeasance as he does all the other kinds of rampant governmental corruption he encounters, recognizing that full-frontal assaults are never won by individuals against institutions. Instead, he chips away at the edges of the monolith, carving shreds of hope from seeming hopelessness. No wonder we find him such a comforting presence.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
About Face Listener Reviews
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H.P. Mulder, 2/9/2023
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" Another Brunetti novel, very interesting but in this one I wasn't sure they solved the original crime in the book and had to go back several times. Honestly it make take one more before I know for sure. And I love this character and how she continues to develop this very real person - and his family. "
— Cindy, 2/17/2014 -
" I am a big fan of Comissario Brunetti and I enjoyed reading this book but the ending was so stupid it ruined the whole thing for me. Stop reading if you don't want to know the end... The woman who was the central character was a victim of medical malpractice and had to have extensive facial reconstruction, but she would rather people think that she had had way too many facelifts than let them know about the medical issue. That is totally unbelieveable to me. Then when her husband lets slip about the malpractice, she would rather submit to blackmail and commit adultery than tell her husband he blew it. To solve her problems, she kills the blackmailer and Brunetti feels sorry for her. No way! "
— Tamara, 2/3/2014 -
" the story isn't Donna Leon's best but any visit with Guido, Paola, and Patta etc. can't be all bad. Any woman would see the flaw in the setup by page 20 but who cares. I'm always starved for real Italian food at the end of one of these mysteries. "
— Kay, 1/21/2014 -
" A cute, cozy mystery. Not too mysterious though, but very pleasant reading (or listening). If I were going to Venice, I'd read a bunch of Leon's books before I left to get in the mood. "
— Maria, 1/3/2014 -
" Poor. If you want to read a good Italian detective read The Inspector Zen stories by Michael Dibden. "
— Sean, 12/30/2013 -
" My brother turned me on to this author while I was at his house in Turkey. The author is an American woman but her series takes place in Venice Italy. She is an incredible writer and does a fabulous job describing the thoughts and actions of her characters. These are short mystery stories but it is the relationships that make it so interesting. I will definitely read more and try to start from the beginning of the series. "
— Ami, 12/13/2013 -
" This is an odd story and I wonder if it doesn't have basis in life. I am just not convinced that this story really gelled. Leon may be doing some character development for future that split her focus. It is always enjoyable to visit this world and her characters though. "
— Jennifer, 11/22/2013 -
" The latest Commisario Guido Brunetti mystery was a very good read. "
— Mrsgaskell, 11/16/2013 -
" I've read many of Leon's mysteries. Some of her characters are very well read, and I enjoy their sharing about the authors they are nurtured by. Commissario Brunetti reads Cicero, his wife Paola, Henry James! The plot of this novel seemed darker than usual. "
— Roberta, 11/5/2013 -
" I always enjoy this author. I like the character of Brunetti, a family man, who is coping with the corruption endemic in Italian society, yet manages to keep his integrity. This one didn't disappoint, and I came away somehow feeling that justice had been done, but also slightly unsettled. "
— Jan, 9/19/2013 -
" Donna Leon writes an easy and fast book. Her deadline must have been looming! "
— Kay, 9/11/2013 -
" she hasn't written a bad book yet. in fact, Brunetti keeps getting better and better. "
— Sharron, 8/5/2013 -
" This is a fine book, I was just not in the mood to finish it. Maybe another time. "
— Randi, 7/31/2013 -
" Wow---one of my favorite authors and one of the best in an already great series! "
— Margbar11, 6/30/2013 -
" I just couldn't get into this. Maybe I've read too many Leon books too closely together. It took over 100 pages for a dead body to appear. I didn't care about the characters and it all seemed too familiar and the same as the previous 17 novels. Time for a change methinks "
— Stephen, 6/27/2013 -
" Donna Leon is so great at capturing Italy today through her characters and the setting...usually in the streets of Venice. "
— Susan, 12/24/2012 -
" Bought this intentionally for the novel setting which is Venice. Problem was the beautiful parts of Venice are never mentioned, but rather the seedy underbelly of criminal Venice. Not my cup of tea - or should I say cappacinno? "
— Jack, 12/2/2012 -
" Perhaps they are a bit similar but I can forgive this for the evocation of Italian ups and downs "
— Ros, 9/30/2012 -
" I have enjoyed most of the Brunetti books, and I think this one was one of the better ones. I can't say too much without including spoilers. There is a little less of the family interaction with the children in this book, but the mystery itself is intriguing. "
— Terri, 9/14/2012 -
" Another Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery...reassuringly formulaic, but you have to love the backdrop, Venice. "
— Felicity, 7/22/2012 -
" Hard to stick with this one. Not one of my favorites. "
— Lucy, 7/7/2012 -
" I enjoyed this Guido Brunetti book as much as I have enjoyed the others. I cannot get enough of them. "
— Cathy, 7/2/2012 -
" I have gobbled up at least 8 of these deliciously written mysteries. There's nothing like them in the mystery genre. Written with heart, not some need to terrify or shock the reader. "
— Jan, 6/28/2012 -
" Okay Finally I read one of Donna Leon's mystery books, after much prodding ( Jefferson, Melina) I have to say just okay...and not really enough Italian background to make up for the less than gripping story telling. "
— James, 5/22/2012 -
" 3.5, though this is not one of the best. I'm still very fond of Guido Brunetti and Paola and their lives and what they eat and all things Italian. "
— Lynn, 5/15/2012 -
" Well written. I enjoy the language, the insertion of Italian, the plot line and getting to know the "warmhearted, perceptive, and principled Venetian Commissario Guido Brunetti and his wife Paola, a literature professor who cooks three meals a day for her family. I understand there is a cookbook "
— Mary, 11/20/2011 -
" This is a fine book, I was just not in the mood to finish it. Maybe another time. "
— Randi, 4/4/2011 -
" Blackmail. Pollution. Mafia. Corporate assumptions/ gossip. Love. Murder.My favorite so far. "
— Jeanne, 3/7/2011 -
" Always a twist in her books "
— Marianne, 1/14/2011 -
" I have gobbled up at least 8 of these deliciously written mysteries. There's nothing like them in the mystery genre. Written with heart, not some need to terrify or shock the reader. "
— Jan, 12/29/2010 -
" One of my favorites of this series! "
— Sharon, 12/9/2010 -
" I love her books and love the trips to Venice. I just couldn't get into this one though. "
— Donna, 12/3/2010 -
" The latest Commisario Guido Brunetti mystery was a very good read. "
— Mrsgaskell, 11/13/2010 -
" One of a long list of books I've read by Donna Leon. This book intertwines two stories of murder, gambling and influence. Set in the backdrop of a casino in Venice (Marghera)and taking us to Tuscany. Intrigue involving illegal transport of toxic waste, the mafia and bad dentistry. "
— Suzanne, 10/12/2010 -
" Bought this intentionally for the novel setting which is Venice. Problem was the beautiful parts of Venice are never mentioned, but rather the seedy underbelly of criminal Venice. Not my cup of tea - or should I say cappacinno? "
— Jack, 10/4/2010
About Donna Leon
Donna Leon is the author of the much-loved, New York Times bestselling series of mystery novels set in Italy featuring Commissario Brunetti. She was named one of the London Times' 50 Greatest Crime Writers. The Brunetti Mysteries have won numerous awards around the world, including the CWA Silver Dagger for Fiction, and hsbr been translated into thirty-five languages.
About David Colacci
David Colacci is an actor and director who has directed and performed in prominent theaters nationwide. His credits include roles from Shakespeare to Albee, as well as extensive work on new plays. As a narrator, he has won numerous Earphones Awards, earned Audie Award nominations, and been included in Best Audio of the Year lists by such publications as Publishers Weekly, AudioFile magazine, and Library Journal. He was a resident actor and director with the Cleveland Play House for eight years and has been artistic director of the Hope Summer Rep Theater since 1992.