Suffer the Little Children (Commissario Brunetti, #16) by Donna Leon

Suffer the Little Children (Commissario Brunetti, #16) Reviews

• 
  Liz

  It’s been way too long since I’ve been in the company of Guido Brunetti, his family and co-workers. I’d forgotten how enjoyable their company was.
  Guido has been awoken in the middle of the night about a group of carabinieri busting into a doctor’s house, assaulting him and taking his 18 month old son. The doctor is accused of having “adopted” the child illegally.
  While Guido investigates, the women in his life are up in arms. How could a child have been taken from his family and placed in an orphanage?
  The trademark Leon humor is here. She’s no fan of politics or government bureaucracy. I liked that this isn’t the typical murder mystery. There are two investigations - the child trafficking and another that involves possible money making scam involving pharmacists.
  This isn’t a fast paced, high action story. Like a good meal, it’s meant to be savored. The story’s ending was heartbreaking.
  I listened to this and I adore David Colucci as the narrator.
  
• 
  Alex is The Romance Fox

  Suffer the Little Children, the 16th book in the series and we are taken back to the sights, smells, sounds and the life warm-hearted, insightful, and honorable Commissario Brunetti's beautiful and secretive city, Venice.
  
  A story of the murky underworld of illegal adoption, where babies are bought for money by the rich and titled and the evil that permeates everyone involved.
  
  The opening scene in this story is unforgettable and the book ends with the most unexpected twist.
  
  A slow but compelling and rather sad story.
• 
  Kim

  
  It's been a very long time since I've read a novel by Donna Leon. For a while there I read every novel in the Brunetti series when it was released. At some stage I missed one, and suddenly Leon had written five more books without me noticing. So it was good to re-acquaint myself with the series and realise that Leon can still give me reading pleasure.
  
  Brunetti is a refreshingly uncomplicated detective. He's not a recovering alcoholic or drug addict, he doesn't suffer from the effects of psychological trauma and his personal relationships don't interfere with his ability to investigate crime. Instead, he's happily married to the lovely Paola, he has a generally good relationship with his children, he gets along well with his work colleagues and manages his stupid and unpleasant boss with aplomb. He's also interesting, well-read, and has a taste (which I share) for good food.
  
  Leon writes novels which are less standard police procedurals and more reflections on human nature, discussions of ethical dilemmas, commentaries on corruption and inefficiency in the Italian bureacracy and political system and love letters to Leon's adopted home, Venice. She writes lucid prose and creates interesting and memorable characters. As with all crime fiction, readers of her novels benefit from an ability to suspend disbelief and accept a certain level of implausibility in the narrative. In this novel Leon has Brunetti - and other characters for that matter - do things which are not very believable, but as a seasoned reader of crime fiction I could glide over that particular issue without too much difficulty. All in all, it was great to be back in Venice with Guido Brunetti, walking through the city with him and wishing I was sharing his delicious meals. Closer to 3-1/2 stars than 4 stars, but still a most enjoyable read.
• 
  Paul Secor

  When I listen to music, much of what I listen to carries a lot of weight - Cecil Taylor, Dvorak String Quartets, Son House, Lester Young, and Joseph Spence have visited my ears fairly recently. But there are times when I need a break, and that's when, say, music like Jesse Hill. early John Cale, or Sonny Burgess can hit the spot.
  Recently, I was in the library, perusing the mystery section, looking for some good lighter fare, and Suffer the Little Children beckoned to me. It seemed like an intriguing choice, with subject matter I know little about - Venice, real Italian food - but it turned out to be a bit of a dud.
  To begin, it's not a mystery; It's a police procedural. That's not a deal breaker for me, but it turned out to be a mediocre police procedural, with only the occasional interactions and banter between Guido and Paola, husband and wife, as saving graces.
  Donna Leon has written many books, so she evidently has a large audience. I don't plan to read another Commissario Brunetti novel, so I don't include myself in that audience.
• 
  Emily

  This Brunetti installment has almost everything: descriptions of hospital attendants drinking grappa! a new history for Brunetti to read! discussions on the state of Italian government! a far-right fascist as part of the plot! contemporary racism in Italian society! What it does not have: a cohesive mystery. Never change, Donna Leon.
  
  In theory, Brunetti and the Venetian police tangle with the Carabiniere over an adoption scandal, while Vianello investigates pharmaceutical fraud in digital medical records. The cases intersect in some surprising ways, and there is no real resolution - after all of the discussion about the child vanishing into the foster care system, Marcolini never gets him back. That's realistic, but it felt cruel to end the book on the revelation that his wife had instigated the boy's removal, and then not have any catharsis afterwards. Again, probably realistic, but not satisfying as a reader. Mostly, this book is enjoyable because all of the Brunetti elements are turned up to 11, including:
  
  - Signorina Elettra crying because the paving stones (masegni) have been torn up and shipped to Asia to make a profit ("I am crying because I am Venetian")
  - Vianello competing with Signorina Elettra for the most hacker cred, and successfully pronouncing the "h" in "hacker"
  - Several instances of switching from Veneziano to Italian
  - Long descriptions of the spiked coffees that Brunetti orders at all hours of the morning
  - Endless (legitimately endless) jokes about the Carabiniere captain's boots, which make him look like an old-timey cavalry officer
  - Beautiful descriptions of dinners and "pick-up lunches" that include Brunetti complaining while drinking multiple glasses of wine
  
  What a beautiful return to Leon. I am excited to read the next.
• 
  Jeanette

  This was my favorite Brunetti series so far, I have read about half of them. Mostly, out of order, btw.
  
  But this one has excellent interplay with the Italian laws re child placements and adoptions etc. Lots of good snooping to ferret out the reality. Elettra has to do some acting and undercover too. I love when she (just a secretary?) gets into the mix.
  
  Donna Leon really knows Venice and can write a good mystery for locale ambiance, character development and continuity, physical description. And not for plotting as a core pivot or any speed in action. That's not what this series progression is about.
  
  This has been added after I read nearly 20 of the books for this series. If you'd want to pick 4 or 5 best from the last 10 when the characters have become more defined and are now at their most nuanced to the communications between them (all the prime players and the relatives) and the hierarchy that exists, I would pick this particular #16 and also Beastly Things as two of those 4 or 5. They are, IMHO, absolutely the cream of the crop and representative of the best of the series.
• 
  Sara

  4.5 stars really. Beautifully plotted, incredibly sad.
  There are some slow moments midway but the interweaving of the characters is marvelous.
  
  Upon re-reading- 5 stars. A bit of slowness is forgivable and the depth of feeling the father feels for his small adopted son is unforgettable. As is the revulsion we feel for his father-in-law, leader of the far right Lega Doge party, and our sympathy for Brunetti as he feigns agreement to get information. But I am getting too close to a spoiler here. This one is a must-read.
• 
  adictalectora

  Otro libro de la saga Brunetti, el tema vuelve a tener como eje la denuncia social al sistema social y político italiano. Una toma de conciencia a las adopciones ilegales, a las ventas de personas, al fraude farmacéutico y médico.
  Y lo que más me gusta esos paseos por los barrios de Venecia, las comidas y bebidas locales. Muy entretenido.
• 
  Bradley King-Spooner

  This was a first for me in many regards. My first Donna Leon book (by extension my first Brunetti), my first foray into the mystery genre, my first police protagonist, my first story set in the realworld, and so on. Ergo, I expect the following to smack a little of the kind of delight only to be found in naivety and ignorance, so take it with a pinch of salt (or a few sachets, whatever suits your taste).
  I'll get this out of the way first; this is an intelligent read. The option of jumping a few lines, even if by accident, carries the inevitable snare of dooming oneself to turn back, pages - sometimes even chapters - later, scanning for what was missed. The narrative is dense, adhering well to Vonnegut's Fourth Rule, yet at the same time feels no urge to take the reader by the hand and guide their every footstep; instead trusting that, like Commissario Brunetti, you will figure it out by yourself. While this may seem like high expectations, given the man's profession, his accessibility as a character allows one to quite easily walk in his shoes, and see the world through his eyes.
  The plot itself, without giving spoilers, is an autonomous machine. It spends the entire book gathering bits and pieces of itself, and then only later begins to weld them together, with the final rivet going in at the final line of the final chapter. There is no added drama, no embellishment, no mention of any of the characters celebrating or congratulating each other (an echo of the realworld, I would hazard); all of this is in the subtext. Leon does not insult the reader's intellect by spoon-feeding how the characters feel, as you the reader are doing all the feeling for them.
  I recommend this book to anyone with a reasonable IQ and two working hands, but I myself will be taking a break from this genre for the present. As I've made clear above, this is not the fault of Leon, but after finishing this story set in what I presume is a faithful depiction of Venice, I find myself craving something a little more ... escapist. Still, for those who have had their fill of such things, if only for the moment, go out there, and pick this up. Like any good story, it takes its time, and is all the more satisfying in its conclusion for it.
• 
  Lori

  Brunetti investigates the invasion of a pediatrician's home by another branch of law enforcement. The doctor, who acquired a baby illegally, faces multiple charges, most of which are suddenly dropped. Brunetti's investigation, however, connects with his colleague Inspector Vianello's investigation into pharmacy fraud. I missed the normal interaction between Brunetti and his family members in this installment. Their presence in a few scenes leaves the reader hungering for more. I also noted fewer descriptions of meals--both at home and in restaurants. Leon always includes social justice issues in her plots, but her outcomes tend to show how the system works rather than achieving the result true justice demands. (3.5 stars)
• 
  Belinda Vlasbaard

  4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
  Commissaris Brunetti raakt betrokken bij kinderhandel wanneer de carabinieri een inval doen in het huis van een gerespecteerde kinderarts en zijn vrouw. Dit zet een hele reeks aan gebeurtenissen in gang die vreemd genoeg niet leiden tot strafbare feiten, maar die wel schrijnende misstanden blootleggen.
  Kinderspel is wederom een geweldig goed geschreven whodunnit van Donna Leon. 'Verslavende serie' staat achterop het boek en dat klopt helemaal!
  Geweldig ook dat ze onderwerpen als corruptie gewoon opvoerde in het verhaal. Ze neemt wederom geen blad voor de mond.
• 
  writer...

  Pleased this library audio came available via overdrive as David Colacci's narration makes the story take on a life of its own. Truly enjoyable hours spent today in Venice as Guido
  Brunetti pursues solutions and unravels political knots surrounding adoptions...
• 
  Denise Mullins

  From the shocking opening scene to the surprise conclusion, this is a police procedural that will entertain with an engrossing story exploring the pain or parental bonds, misguided morality, and issues regarding the privacy of medical records. My first encounter with Commissario Brunetti revealed him to be an intelligent, compassionate, and introspective investigator who understands the need to balance the light and dark elements of existence. While he may stop to enjoy a delicious lunch or indulge a bottle of wine over dinner, this doesn't mean he won't also spend a sleepless night mulling over the complexities of a case.
  To her credit, although author Donna Leon portrays Brunetti as such a noble figure, she also does not shirk from exposing his mistakes(regardless of how well-intentioned) that culminate in tragedy.
  Moreover, she provides Brunetti with a team that are equally skilled in their own right and who don't mind taking the initiative. This is further complemented with Brunetti's appreciation of their talents, somewhat of a rarity in many detective series. It also merits mentioning the civil antagonism Leon emphasizes between the regular Italian police and the Carabinieri, a branch of the police that this reader was previously ignorant of. Curiously, it also seems that the reputations of the Italian Press and social grapevine are both well founded as they repeatedly figure as sources of intel for Brunetti and his team.
  Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read not only for a masterfully developed plot, but for the indelible images it imparted on its final page.
  
• 
  Diane

  I read this book because it was a selection for my book club, many of whom had visited Venice or other parts of Italy during the past year.
  
  I know there are a multitude of Donna Leon fans who will vehemently disagree with this review. However, this book did not deliver on the potential for the story's premise. I felt let down at the end of the book - not because of the ending but because the book seemed shallow, the characters lapse into stereotypes. If I'd not read at least one earlier book with these characters while they were still being developed, I would have been lost.
  
  That said, there are some great discussion questions raised in this book. (Stop reading here if you have not read the book.) The children are taken from loving parents and put in orphanages - is that moral? What is the right thing to do that prevents the lawbreakers from benefitting but doesn't punish the children? A pharmacist uses personal information from medical records to stop what he considers immoral behavior - telling secrets to fiances, spouses, mothers. The question: If you know a secret about someone, where is the line at which it's OK to share that secret because of its impact on someone else?
  
  
  
• 
  Pamela

  Another in the Commisario Brunetti series. I still love the characters in this series. Brunetti, his wife Paola and his children, the men of the precinct especially Inspector Vianello and, of course, the lovely Signorina Elettra. She delightfully plays Brunetti's emotional mistress as they pretend to be a couple who desperately want a baby in an attempt to infiltrate a baby buying scheme.
  
  Unfortunately, this was not one of Leon's best. The plot starts out very well but then wanders and never seems to fully develop. Even the food, which is usually a highlight, isn't all that interesting and the usual meanderings of Commissario Brunetti around Venice weren't all that interesting. It rained most of the time and everybody was depressed by the case and the weather. The characters had to carry the whole load which they do. I like these books because everyone in them is just so normal. They love their city and each other. They like their jobs but they grumble and gripe just like real people. They aren't driven by rage or vengeance-seeking. So, a less than perfect book won't lessen my pleasure in this series as a whole.
• 
  Jim Angstadt

  Suffer the Little Children (Commissario Brunetti #16)
  Donna Leon
  
  This has a different feel, compared to most other Commissario Brunetti novels. There is no 'bad guy' that Brunetti has to find and capture. Here we have a variety of small-time, mean-spirited, self-centered individuals who do not seem to care who suffers, including children and loving, devoted parents.
  
• 
  Bett

  I tagged this one as one of my favorites among Donna Leon's Brunetti series, as much for his inner voice as he works and walks around his city as for the solving of the crime (more, really). She hasn't disappointed me yet.
• 
  May

  I continue to enjoy Donna Leon’s series with Commissario Brunetti. However, I do find the mysteries featuring children, such as this one, harder to enjoy.
• 
  Pamela Mclaren

  An excellent story from Donn Leon. In this 16th story about Commissario Brunetti, the good police officer investigates the suspected assault of a respected pediatrician.But as he investigates further what he finds is a twisted type of evil where men make decisions that they have no business making and by doing so, ruin the lives of others. You will find it hard to put this book down and the ending is a true twist totally unexpected.
• 
  Tricia

  I thought it was ok. The story started as a tale about children for sale but ends up a lot more complicated than that. The story moves around a lot and incorporates a lot of different elements so you do need to stay on your toes.
• 
  Abi

  Ok!! Weird book, not bad, but not good. Some parts were very interesting. Other than that.... just ok
• 
  S.G.Radonsky

  2007; #16 Adopted infant 'stolen' in the middle of the night from pediatrician father & very wealthy mother. Hmm mother doesn't seem as upset at the loss of little boy as father. Brunetti and Lorenzo Vianello with Signorina Elettra Zozzi's computer help delve into case and find stories of infertility, desperation & violence. All this including moneymaking scam between pharmacists and doctors. Do they ever find infant? I really enjoyed this book/story
• 
  Judie

  Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti Venice-centered mysteries are always a delight. Low key, witty, and descriptive with interesting, realistic characters and a glimpse at the frustrating ways of trying to solve crimes while working around the restrictive regulations and the political hack who heads the department.
  In SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN, a pediatrician and his wife were asleep when a masked trio burst into their apartment. The doctor managed to pound one of the assailants on his nose but the doctor himself ended up in the hospital with a head injury, unable to speak. The attackers took away his eighteen-month-old son.
  It turned out the attackers were Carabinieri, members of an official national military police force. The kidnapping was part of a multi-city raid targeting families that had adopted their children through a private source, lying about the parentage of the babies. The children were placed in orphanages, which really upset Brunetti..
  Brunetti and his partner, Inspector Vianello, set out to find out how the doctor was targeted and how the entire adoption program worked. They uncovered a ring that involved pharmacists, doctors and pregnant women willing to sell their babies.
  Once again, wealth and position do have advantages in the culture.
  There is an interesting section about finding the truth on the internet and changes in birth rates.
  It’s wonderful being able to read a novel that doesn’t include unnecessary violence, foul language, or sex scenes. Unfortunately, the chapters are unnecessarily short.
  
• 
  Pamela

  Donna Leon’s Venetian mysteries are generally more about the societal issues of modern Italy than they are about the mystery itself, and this is no exception. Here she sensitively and skilfully deals with the tricky issue of infertility, and desperate people who buy children from poor immigrants to satisfy their craving for a baby of their own. This plot is linked to Brunetti’s investigation of a possible scam involving pharmacists in the city.
  
  Leon writes with perception and skill, and her descriptions of Venice are one of the delights of this series. There are the usual features of the books - a clash between Brunetti and his scheming boss Patta, the warm relationship between Brunetti and Vianello, and a stunning performance by Signorina Elettra. We also have the usual glimpses of Brunetti’s home life and their delicious meals.
  
  This was a rather tame mystery but wrapped up in some hefty issues of morality and corruption, and a very good addition to this excellent series.
• 
  Kate

  It is nice to read a mystery where the detective is smart, imperfect, lives a family life, and has friends, co-workers, and bosses who are all deep individual characters. The philosophical musings are even interesting. This disturbing mystery starts with a Carabinieri raid on a pediatrician's house - and issues of fatherhood, Italian politics, fraud, sexism, morality, and more swirl around the truth revealed, not by the detecting actions of the detective so much as the inadvertent information he gives a suspect.
  
  While this is well written and appeals beyond a genre audience, I think I will read these only occasionally. Not graphic or gratuitous, this novel nonetheless offers a realistically dark portrayal of humanity, and needs to be taken in measured doses.
• 
  Dianne Landry

  What I love about these books is that Guido Doesn't always get the bad guy, just like in real life. Continuing to love this series.
• 
  Barbara Nutting

  Read 2013
• 
  Alison S

  This was the perfect book to read right now as it transported me to Venice, one of my favourite places.