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swashington's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
This was darker than Leon's previous Brunetti mysteries and there was a decidedly different ending. I can't wait to read the next title in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Rape, Sexual assault, Death, Gore, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Murder, and Slavery
forestsapphicc1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Vendetta ist bisher das einzige Commissario Brunetti Buch, das mir wirklich Schwierigkeiten bereitet hat. Nicht wegen der Schreibweise sondern wegen des Inhaltes.
Brunettis vierter Fall ist ein grässlicher Spiegel der Realität, der Korruption von Regierungsmitgliedern und der unmenschlichkeit reicher Männern.
Brunettis vierter Fall ist ein grässlicher Spiegel der Realität, der Korruption von Regierungsmitgliedern und der unmenschlichkeit reicher Männern.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Trafficking
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Addiction, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia
carolinesunshine's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Gut wrenching, but very gripping murder investigation. This particular Brunetti book is not for the faint of heart - trigger warning: rape and sexual abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Rape, Trafficking, and Suicide
d_ae's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Quite a rushed ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Trafficking and Rape
awebofstories's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I'm back with Guido Brunetti after DNF'ing the 3rd book in the series. I can't yet say that this is a series you don't need to read in order, but you can skip the 3rd book and be just fine in the 4th!
Donna Leon did some interesting things with this book that I felt had mixed results. The first is that she opens with the scene of a truck accident, which is clearly more than just a case of cargo moving. While this will definitely hook you in, it doesn't quite hook into the story as much as I would hope. It also robs the narrative of the mystery of "what is going on," as you will know from the first scene what the underlying situation is. The ending didn't quite work either. While I always knew what was happening, I didn't know who the culprit was until Leon let all the pieces fall into place. But, then, it seems like she wanted the ending to be slightly open, but to me, it just felt rushed, as if she had written herself into a corner.
However, beyond that, this was a pretty strong mystery. The clues are meted out at a good pace, and while we know what is going on, it doesn't seem crazy that Guido doesn't know what is happening. I also really enjoyed the fact that Leon pulled Paola and Chiara more into this story. So far, they've been in the background, but they have their own roles here. On a less generous note, I was also pleased that Raffi was elsewhere for this book as I have yet to warm to Guido's son.
As always, Leon brings Venice and its environs to life. I love all the little geographical details she includes. She also brings the secondary and even tertiary characters to life and keeps them interesting for the reader. As this book was written in the 1990s, there are a few moments where there is a bit of "time shock," such as when Guido wishes he had one of those "portable phones." These bits are not flaws in the book but rather entertaining reminders of the past.
I'm glad to be back with this series, and I look forward to continuing on as it comes closer to the present day.
Donna Leon did some interesting things with this book that I felt had mixed results. The first is that she opens with the scene of a truck accident, which is clearly more than just a case of cargo moving. While this will definitely hook you in, it doesn't quite hook into the story as much as I would hope. It also robs the narrative of the mystery of "what is going on," as you will know from the first scene what the underlying situation is. The ending didn't quite work either. While I always knew what was happening, I didn't know who the culprit was until Leon let all the pieces fall into place. But, then, it seems like she wanted the ending to be slightly open, but to me, it just felt rushed, as if she had written herself into a corner.
However, beyond that, this was a pretty strong mystery. The clues are meted out at a good pace, and while we know what is going on, it doesn't seem crazy that Guido doesn't know what is happening. I also really enjoyed the fact that Leon pulled Paola and Chiara more into this story. So far, they've been in the background, but they have their own roles here. On a less generous note, I was also pleased that Raffi was elsewhere for this book as I have yet to warm to Guido's son.
As always, Leon brings Venice and its environs to life. I love all the little geographical details she includes. She also brings the secondary and even tertiary characters to life and keeps them interesting for the reader. As this book was written in the 1990s, there are a few moments where there is a bit of "time shock," such as when Guido wishes he had one of those "portable phones." These bits are not flaws in the book but rather entertaining reminders of the past.
I'm glad to be back with this series, and I look forward to continuing on as it comes closer to the present day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
Moderate: Trafficking
hardcoverhearts's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
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