A review by maya_b
Trace Elements by Donna Leon

3.5

(This could have been 5 stars, but I just really disliked the last three pages)
I have never read books from Donna Leon before (and probably never will again, my roommate just gave me this book they found on the street, so I read it), so I didn't think this book was out of fresh ideas or anything, and I quite enjoyed it. I liked the writing, I liked the case, I really enjoyed reading about the characters, and just everything seemed very much thought-through in my opinion. I just had a lot of fun with the book.
But sadly the end didn't make me that happy. I liked how everything came together in a conclusion of the mystery, and how everything solved, that was nice, but I didn't like what was happening with it then.

Maybe it's because I missed something, but why would he decide? Why would he have to? Can't he just try to arrest both criminals? Especially after he knew what was going on and already had all the clues he needed to get the rest? Also I felt really disappointed that after the book established recording conversations so early, it didn't come back there at the end. I was so expecting there to be a record of everything, but no, it felt like Brunetti was just giving up for no reason, there, apart from the book wanting him to!

So, sadly a very disappointing ending, but the rest was pretty great.