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rainynook's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was recommended to me by a physician friend who's read the whole series. I wanted a book that included Venice, which this does, and having just recently visited the stunning & opulent La Fenice Opera House, & marveled at its beauty, of course I could not resist this mystery. I listened to the audiobook version, expertly read by David Colacci. His Italian accented characters were really good, and the others were well done. I liked it, but it went on a bit too long. I guessed correctly about the murderer, but did not see the ending coming. A bit too slow-paced for me, but enjoyable.
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Infertility, Lesbophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Physical abuse and Suicide
mtnest's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Murder, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia
christinecc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very serviceable mystery, with a well-realized Venetian setting and a main detective who already feels fleshed out by chapter 4.
I wish the mystery had been a bit more interesting, and the investigation more or less consists of conversations with people remembering 40-year-old gossip or avoiding the detective's questions. That can be fun but I do like a bit more legwork, or maybe some more vivid depictions of the backstage opera scene would have been nice. (Edmund Crispin's "Swan Song" did this superbly in a very different setting).
Recommended if you want to try a new detective series and feel like traveling along Venice's canals. I can't speak to how accurate the depiction of the city is, but it was fun, and as with all mystery series, I'm sure the books get better with every installment.
I wish the mystery had been a bit more interesting, and the investigation more or less consists of conversations with people remembering 40-year-old gossip or avoiding the detective's questions. That can be fun but I do like a bit more legwork, or maybe some more vivid depictions of the backstage opera scene would have been nice. (Edmund Crispin's "Swan Song" did this superbly in a very different setting).
Recommended if you want to try a new detective series and feel like traveling along Venice's canals. I can't speak to how accurate the depiction of the city is, but it was fun, and as with all mystery series, I'm sure the books get better with every installment.
Minor: Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape
noomzoom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Abortion, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
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