Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti novels are an absolute treasure and perhaps my favorite mystery series. Her characters are extremely relatable, and each entry seems to deal with a different ethical or moral issue. In GIVE UNTO OTHERS, we have a number of them, varying from charity to loyalty to trust. In the end, all of these feelings will be tested, some in a very personal way for Brunetti.

One day, Elisabetta Foscarini, an old friend of Brunetti’s mother, shows up at the Questura seeking his assistance. Her son-in-law, Enrico Fenzo, is an accountant, and she is alarmed over his concern that their family might be involved in some very shady financial dealings --- specifically a charity established by Elisabetta’s husband that might not be completely legitimate.

"Of course, Brunetti and his team will wrap up everything but not without some big surprises and revelations that were never meant to see the light of day."

Brunetti promises Elisabetta that he will use his own time to look into the matter. Of course, we all know this will involve his colleagues Claudia Griffoni, Lorenzo Vianello and Signorina Elettra Zorzi. The team will split up to tackle different parts of the story, from people to financial and building records, and then reconvene before producing answers to Elisabetta’s concerns.

When reading a Brunetti novel, you expect to get more than just the story with which to immerse yourself. There are the sights, sounds and foods of Venice and the surrounding area. There is also Brunetti’s family: his wife Paola, an academic, and their two college-age children. One night at dinner, Chiara asks for her father’s help with an assignment --- they are to choose their favorite Greek play and scene. For Brunetti, it’s “Oresteia” and Clytemnestra’s first speech. When she asks why, he says, “Because she is so much stronger than I am.”

For Brunetti’s part of the investigation, he utilizes his mother-in-law, the Contessa, as she knows some of the people involved with the charity in question. Their conversation is quite eye-opening as to the legality of that venture. Meanwhile, he is alerted to an attack on the veterinary hospital where Elisabetta’s daughter, Dottoressa, works. Much damage has been done, and some animals are harmed. It is clear that this is a warning against Brunetti looking into the situation that was brought to his attention.

Of course, Brunetti and his team will wrap up everything but not without some big surprises and revelations that were never meant to see the light of day. It also will make him question the very definition of loyalty. He sums it up best to Paola when he says, “I’m not sure I’m clever, my dear, but I am always faithful to the side I fight for.”