Friends in High Places cover art

Friends in High Places

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Friends in High Places

By: Donna Leon
Narrated by: Tim Pigott-Smith
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About this listen

 When Commissario Brunetti is visited by a young bureaucrat concerning the lack of official approval for the building of his apartment years before, his first reaction, like any other Venetian, even a cop, is to think of whom he knows who might bring pressure to bear on the relevant local government department. But when the bureaucrat rings him at work, clearly scared by some information he plans to give Brunetti, and is then found dead after a fall from scaffolding, something is clearly going on that has implications rather greater than the fate of Guido's own apartment.

Brunetti's investigations take him into unfamiliar areas of Venetian life, drug abuse and loan-sharking, while the deaths of two young drug addicts and the arrest, and subsequent release, of a suspected drug-dealer reveal, once again, what a difference it makes in Venice to have friends in high places.

©2000 Donna Leon (P)2000 Random House Audiobooks Crime Fiction Mystery Fiction Crime

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Critic reviews

"Mystery fans who are looking for a change of scenery and international ambience should get to know Guido Brunetti, commissario of the Venice police." (AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant
Classic Leon. WIth another acid commentary on corruption in Venice it is easy to understand why most Italians dislike these books. Good entertainment for the rest of us.

A Good Venetian drama

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I've read/listened to many Donna Leon books and I've never been disappointed. I didn't feel that the basic story lost anything for being abridged, but some of the peripheral details of inspector Brunetti's family relationships and delicious meals prepared by his wife are omitted.

Good as usual

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I enjoyed this short read. Vivid imagery, good story, kept my interest to the end. Im not sure Piggot Smith's so very upper-class accent was the best pick for it though.

Good fun

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The Brunetti books deserve a longer format, great story, enjoyable reader but too short. I will be checking the running time more carefully next time.

Too short

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