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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.
Content Warnings
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Abortion, Lesbophobia, Murder, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Homophobia
embey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Murder, Pedophilia, and Rape
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