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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The advance review copy I received prior to Aunt Poldi’s American debut contained an introductory blurb from Nancy Simpson-Brice of Book Vault, “Move over, Alexander McCall Smith...Mario Giordano is in the room!” I love serial novels and mysteries and McCall Smith is my all-time favorite,so my expectations were high. Aunt Poldi is a 60 year old German divorced retiree who moves to Sicily to enjoy a sea view as she drinks herself to death. She is slightly overweight, always wears a wig, smokes, drinks, and keeps a photo album of hot male police officers that she encounters on her travels. When a handyman she has hired to do some work on her newly restored villa disappears, Poldi begins an investigation.
The novel is narrated by Poldi’s nephew, a struggling writer. This was the where the story begin to strain credulity for me. The nephew describes her thoughts (often quite witty),what she sees, and even her romantic trysts. Granted, my nephews don’t occasionally board in my attic, but I can’t imagine them knowing such details about my day to day life. The mystery itself was an adequate one, the sort that you might find in a cozy series with a few too many coincidences to be believable but you enjoy anyway because you love the characters and it offers a wonderful escape. It was a rather small part of the novel. Much space was devoted to character development for almost every character, however minor their role may be and creating atmosphere. Aunt Poldi and the Sicilian Lions was originally written in German, and I would guess that much of its charm was lost in translation. I felt like there was subtle humor and cultural references I might have appreciated more if I were more familiar with German and Sicilian cultures.
I don’t anticipate that I will seek out the second installment of Auntie Poldie’s adventures, but if you want to, I believe it is already out in the UK. The German covers are my favorite!
Some of my series recommendations:
Cozy series, not necessarily mysteries: Everything by Alexander McCall Smith, Miss Julia by Ann B Ross, An Irish Country Doctor series by Patrick Taylor, and Needlework Mysteries by Monica Ferris
Set in Italy: Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon and Inspector Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri
I’d love to find more -feel free to comment!
The novel is narrated by Poldi’s nephew, a struggling writer. This was the where the story begin to strain credulity for me. The nephew describes her thoughts (often quite witty),what she sees, and even her romantic trysts. Granted, my nephews don’t occasionally board in my attic, but I can’t imagine them knowing such details about my day to day life. The mystery itself was an adequate one, the sort that you might find in a cozy series with a few too many coincidences to be believable but you enjoy anyway because you love the characters and it offers a wonderful escape. It was a rather small part of the novel. Much space was devoted to character development for almost every character, however minor their role may be and creating atmosphere. Aunt Poldi and the Sicilian Lions was originally written in German, and I would guess that much of its charm was lost in translation. I felt like there was subtle humor and cultural references I might have appreciated more if I were more familiar with German and Sicilian cultures.
I don’t anticipate that I will seek out the second installment of Auntie Poldie’s adventures, but if you want to, I believe it is already out in the UK. The German covers are my favorite!
Some of my series recommendations:
Cozy series, not necessarily mysteries: Everything by Alexander McCall Smith, Miss Julia by Ann B Ross, An Irish Country Doctor series by Patrick Taylor, and Needlework Mysteries by Monica Ferris
Set in Italy: Commisario Brunetti by Donna Leon and Inspector Montalbano by Andrea Camilleri
I’d love to find more -feel free to comment!
well framed, really funny, good culture Euro/Sicily, good mystery. Enjoyable read
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun read while on vacation on the east coast of Sicily, where the book also takes place. Takes some time to get to the murder mystery part of the story. Written from the nephews perspective but also aunt Poldi's, not sure if i really liked that. Curious to read the next book, you could read it as a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Murder
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cute and silly. Lots of alcoholism. I love the cultural tapestry
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Alcohol
medium-paced