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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
A murder; the investigation involves building fraud and bureaucratic corruption
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Mild content
Emotional Intensity
Some
The specific texture of Italian bureaucratic corruption — not grand schemes, but the accumulated small frauds that make ordinary life impossible for some while perfectly comfortable for those with connections
What this book is about
A building inspector visits Brunetti's apartment to investigate a missing permit — an absurdity that turns serious when the inspector is found dead shortly after the visit. Brunetti investigates the murder of a man who was only doing his job, and finds that the missing permit and the death are connected to a web of building fraud that has made many people wealthy by making Venice's property values manageable for certain people only. Donna Leon's ninth Brunetti novel is her most focused on Venetian bureaucracy and real estate corruption.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
ninth Brunetti novel by Donna Leon
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