What do you do when the place where you live does not officially exist? Brunetti and his family are faced with this problem, only to have the problem slip into the silent cracks of bureaucracy while life goes on. The death of the bureaucrat who brought the news and the increasing influx of drugs into Venice keep Brunetti busy trying to play the unofficial games that enable him to keep his sanity in the irrationality of his official job of keeping the peace and safety of Venice. Again, the corruption is discouraging and demoralizing, and beginning to feel familiar to my own experiences with people more interested in serving their own interests than in serving the people who pay our salaries.

Adding this to the Mystery VBB curated by Bookstogive.

Withdrawing from the VBB since no one has selected it after several rounds. I will find some other way to share it.

This book is one of many I am releasing in celebration of my birthday.

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Excellent - felt that I was part of the Brunetti family as he solved this case. Really brought me into the wonderful culture of Venice.