Reviews

A Long Finish by Michael Dibdin

outcolder's review against another edition

5.0

The best one so far. I laughed out loud a few times, but then was so grossed out at the end of it that I threw the book out of my hands as if it were a severed body part. Warning: might make you want to buy Italian wine.

krobart's review against another edition

2.0

Aurelio Zen seems dreamy and unfocused in this mystery about who killed a noted winemaker. The truth may lie in the events of World War II. I felt a bit as if Dibdin was trifling with me while I read this novel, but I couldn't put my finger on why.

See my complete review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/a-long-finish/

elizafiedler's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.75

judenoseinabook's review against another edition

funny 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? Yes

3.0

This is the 5th Zen novel I have read but I was a bit disappointed with it. The last one, Cosi Fan Tutti seemed a change of direction to farce and this one seems to follow that pattern to a large extent. Zen seems to be almost a bystander in this story and his role is to bully suspects  and subvert the rules to get results, which may or may not be accurate.  However I did find it readable, just not as good as the 1st 3 in the series.

alexandra_alexandridou's review against another edition

4.0

Haven't read many crime books, I got this one as a gift. It's an easy to read book that keeps you awake and at some points you don't want to stop reading. I liked the way the author describes the characters and makes you remember them. The end was really good!

radella_hardwick's review

2.0

In this book, Zen is more a distraction than the protagonist. He has become the corrupt cop who is only interested in completing the task his illicit task-master has set and his own affairs.

It's Dibdin who reveals the true killer, through showing his perspective, and he does it early enough that we know Zen is getting the wrong result.

If I were Zen's provincial antagonist, I'd milk his mistake for all it's worth. And, if I were his Roman overlords, I'd reconsider his shining reputation.

mickymac's review against another edition

4.0

gloomy imperfect detectibde sloves case through cunning and luck. Michael Dibdin's Zen is a complex and carefully constructed person to entetain and examine Italian character

mrsmand0's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Was a great find! Couldn't put it down and now I need to find the other books in the series and read them too!