Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries Season 1 Episode 8 Acqua Alta

Commissario Guido Brunetti returns in season 1 episode 8 of Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries entitled "Acqua Alta". The episode begins with Guido and his wife Paola discussing the flooding in Venice due to the high tide, known as Acqua Alta. They watch the water slowly creeping up on the city and decide to take a walk through the flooded streets of Venice.

As they walk, they come across a body of a young man lying in a doorway. Guido immediately calls for help and begins to investigate the death. The victim, Davide Cavanella, was a talented glassblower and had been recently released from prison. The police discover that Davide was involved with a group of men who were stealing artifacts from churches in Venice to sell on the black market. This group had also been suspected of killing a man in Rome, but was never caught.

Guido begins to delve deeper into Davide's life and soon discovers that he was involved with a woman named Chiara, who lived in the same building as Davide. It is revealed that Davide had been following Chiara's ex-husband to gather information about him. Guido suspects that Chiara's ex-husband may have had something to do with Davide's death.

Meanwhile, canal boats are being looted by a gang of thieves as the police try to navigate through the flooded city. Guido's colleague, Inspector Vianello, is assigned to investigate these thefts, but is also pulled into the investigation of Davide's murder. As Guido and Vianello dig deeper, they discover that the case is more complex than they initially thought.

In addition to the thefts and murder, Guido must also navigate the political landscape of Venice. He is constantly at odds with his superior, Vice-Questore Patta, who is more concerned with public relations and maintaining appearances than finding the truth. Guido must maneuver carefully to solve the case while also appeasing his boss.

As the investigation progresses, Guido and Vianello encounter a network of corruption and greed that reaches high into the government of Venice. They must navigate through the twists and turns of the case and confront the powerful people involved in order to reveal the truth.

"Acqua Alta" is a thrilling episode that showcases the beauty and danger of Venice during the high tide. The mystery is expertly crafted, with multiple threads that are woven together seamlessly. The characters are well-developed and layered, with their flaws and strengths on full display. The episode also touches on themes of greed, corruption, and the impact of tourism on a city's culture and heritage. Overall, this is a must-watch episode for fans of Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries.