Scan barcode
kritiker's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
3.5
molaviola's review against another edition
3.0
Nicht der Beste Brunetti-Krimi, aber immer noch unterhaltsam.
diannel_04's review against another edition
4.0
Thirteen books in and still really enjoying this series. Looking forward to the next one.
mightymaggie's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite, but you learn a little more about Signorina Elettra.
ashbcgc's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
rothieee's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pennyriley's review against another edition
4.0
Another enjoyable entry in the Brunetti series. There’s a bit less family in this one and Brunetti has more to do with Scarpa, who has seemingly closed a case on very little evidence. As Brunetti works his way to the truth he clashes with Scarpa on more than one occasion. Elettra plays her usual role as hacker to the stars (detectives). I realise that her role is ironic in that she uses the same kinds of tactics as the criminals do, and Leon is pointing out the absurdity of the ‘justice’ system, but I do feel that it’s a weakness of the series that Brunetti would not be able to function without her.
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't visited Venice and the Brunetti family for a while, so let's hop a vaporetto and check out what the good Commissario Brunetti is up to.
Well, it seems he's up to the same old thing - fighting the good fight (usually a losing fight) against the endemic corruption in Venetian and Italian society. This is the thirteenth in Donna Leon's popular series and it was published in 2004, so we are slowly getting closer to the current day.
The case that is drawing Brunetti's attention this time around is the brutal murder of an old woman in her apartment. The murder had happened a few weeks before and had been quickly "solved" by the odious Lieutenant Scarpa. It was determined that the woman's Romanian carer had killed her and then she herself had been killed when struck by a train while fleeing police. Brunetti's fatuous superior, Patta, is, of course, delighted with the quick result.
Then a neighbor who has been out of the country contacts the police to provide an alibi for the Romanian. She knows that she could not possibly have killed her employer. Scarpa is not happy and doesn't want to hear it, so he passes her off to Brunetti. Brunetti listens to her story and believes her. He decides to investigate but will have to do it on the sly since Patta considers the case closed.
He soon learns that the woman was universally despised and there are any number of people who might have wanted to kill her. As he and Vianello and Signorina Elettra dig into the background and finances of the victim, searching for a possible motive, they find several bank accounts with a substantial sum of money. Money is always a good motive, but Brunetti suspects something more personal and keeps digging.
While he digs, of course, he still goes home for lunch and dinner each day, prepared by his gourmet cook wife, Paola, and enjoys his meals with her and their son and daughter, now teenagers. The family's interactions around the dinner table are always some of the best moments of these books. His conversations with his wife keep him grounded and give him and the reader a lot to think about - in this case, it's the Seven Deadly Sins!
Maybe the deadliest sin of all is pride and the fear of being shamed. It's the cause of much misery in the world.
The play on words behind the title of the book becomes clear near the end and brings a smile. Clever plotting and a quick and undemanding read.
Well, it seems he's up to the same old thing - fighting the good fight (usually a losing fight) against the endemic corruption in Venetian and Italian society. This is the thirteenth in Donna Leon's popular series and it was published in 2004, so we are slowly getting closer to the current day.
The case that is drawing Brunetti's attention this time around is the brutal murder of an old woman in her apartment. The murder had happened a few weeks before and had been quickly "solved" by the odious Lieutenant Scarpa. It was determined that the woman's Romanian carer had killed her and then she herself had been killed when struck by a train while fleeing police. Brunetti's fatuous superior, Patta, is, of course, delighted with the quick result.
Then a neighbor who has been out of the country contacts the police to provide an alibi for the Romanian. She knows that she could not possibly have killed her employer. Scarpa is not happy and doesn't want to hear it, so he passes her off to Brunetti. Brunetti listens to her story and believes her. He decides to investigate but will have to do it on the sly since Patta considers the case closed.
He soon learns that the woman was universally despised and there are any number of people who might have wanted to kill her. As he and Vianello and Signorina Elettra dig into the background and finances of the victim, searching for a possible motive, they find several bank accounts with a substantial sum of money. Money is always a good motive, but Brunetti suspects something more personal and keeps digging.
While he digs, of course, he still goes home for lunch and dinner each day, prepared by his gourmet cook wife, Paola, and enjoys his meals with her and their son and daughter, now teenagers. The family's interactions around the dinner table are always some of the best moments of these books. His conversations with his wife keep him grounded and give him and the reader a lot to think about - in this case, it's the Seven Deadly Sins!
Maybe the deadliest sin of all is pride and the fear of being shamed. It's the cause of much misery in the world.
The play on words behind the title of the book becomes clear near the end and brings a smile. Clever plotting and a quick and undemanding read.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
3.0
A bit of a slow burn, but just as readable and interesting as more dramatic Brunetti books.
snowdrowsey's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this story, but what I found unusual was the bad temper of Brunneti's rising to the surface more and more. The character has exhibited some anger in the past, but what was displayed in this story seemed to be a harbinger or bad omen for the future. Again the plot was good, but the character's anger appearing almost worked as a distraction to the story.