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bhnmt61's review against another edition
4.0
Guido Brunetti, a police supervisor in Venice, Italy, is called to the scene when a body is found floating in a canal. He turns out to be an American from the military base nearby, and within a few days, another American is dead. It’s a murder mystery, of course, but an unusual one because the murders aren’t really ever solved. There is a sort of raw justice dealt at the end, but we never actually find out who killed the two Americans.
So, as a novel about a good man confronted with government corruption and corporate greed, it’s great, five stars- and the ending is probably more realistic than it would have been if we found out every little detail. But as a murder mystery and police procedural, not so much- I was really curious about who planted the drugs, and who actually murdered the victims.
Brunetti, his family, his co-workers, and the city of Venice are all warmly and richly described- even though this is only the second book, I’m already attached to the characters.
Good entry to the series, but I suspect if I continue reading them this will not end up being one of my favorites.
So, as a novel about a good man confronted with government corruption and corporate greed, it’s great, five stars- and the ending is probably more realistic than it would have been if we found out every little detail. But as a murder mystery and police procedural, not so much- I was really curious about who planted the drugs, and who actually murdered the victims.
Brunetti, his family, his co-workers, and the city of Venice are all warmly and richly described- even though this is only the second book, I’m already attached to the characters.
Good entry to the series, but I suspect if I continue reading them this will not end up being one of my favorites.
outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
All the crap about Americans eventually settles down to background noise and then some Green politics (like, he literally reads a pamphlet from the Green party) rushes into to fill the vacuum... and I loved that. The particular kind of environmental crime Brunetti is investigating is unfortunately still very much a current affair... it rolls along to a very satisfying ending that leaves us feeling that some kind of justice was done, even if it's all still very unjust. Leon leaves the question of whether we should despair or not wide open.
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this one. I don't know why it's taken me so long to move from book one to book two, but I intend to start book three right away--preferably today.
juliash's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
gmamartha's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Description of Venice carries the stories woven together.
markopdx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
atang's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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? Yes
3.75
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
In this second Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery, Leon crafts a plot that includes a conspiracy involving the American military, Italian business interests and the Mafia.
A dead man is found floating in the canal. He is without identification but has three U.S. coins in his pocket. He also has an expertly placed stab wound in his side; someone knew what he was doing when he stabbed the victim between the ribs and directly into the heart. As it turns out he is not a tourist but a Public Health Inspector from the American Army post in nearby Vicenza. The reaction of his superior officer on identifying the body raises Brunetti’s suspicions. Doctor Peters seemed frightened when she saw the nature of the deadly wound, and Brunetti is certain she is withholding information. When his own superior officer seems content to call it a mugging, and the Americans quickly lose interest in any further investigation, Brunetti is even more convinced that something big is behind this.
Leon is a good writer and she has created a wonderful character in Brunetti. In his profession he’s learned to keep secrets and control his emotions, yet he is a loving family man. I love the way he interacts with his wife, Paola; although his interaction with his children is severely limited. Conspiracy-based storylines are not my favorite, however, so that detracted from my enjoyment of this book. On the other hand, I really enjoy the little details of Italian life that Leon includes – especially the food!
In this second Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery, Leon crafts a plot that includes a conspiracy involving the American military, Italian business interests and the Mafia.
A dead man is found floating in the canal. He is without identification but has three U.S. coins in his pocket. He also has an expertly placed stab wound in his side; someone knew what he was doing when he stabbed the victim between the ribs and directly into the heart. As it turns out he is not a tourist but a Public Health Inspector from the American Army post in nearby Vicenza. The reaction of his superior officer on identifying the body raises Brunetti’s suspicions. Doctor Peters seemed frightened when she saw the nature of the deadly wound, and Brunetti is certain she is withholding information. When his own superior officer seems content to call it a mugging, and the Americans quickly lose interest in any further investigation, Brunetti is even more convinced that something big is behind this.
Leon is a good writer and she has created a wonderful character in Brunetti. In his profession he’s learned to keep secrets and control his emotions, yet he is a loving family man. I love the way he interacts with his wife, Paola; although his interaction with his children is severely limited. Conspiracy-based storylines are not my favorite, however, so that detracted from my enjoyment of this book. On the other hand, I really enjoy the little details of Italian life that Leon includes – especially the food!
sjyudelson's review against another edition
mysterious
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? No
4.0
rainynook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I listened to the Audible version, and thought the reader was skilled & good at doing all the needed accents. This is the second in the series, and I also read the first one. This one got better reviews than the first one, but I did not find it more compelling. It's a good story, but I'm getting the feel for author Donna Leon's "slow burn" throughout rather than shocking details and page-turning suspense. I enjoyed getting to "know" the seamier side of Venice (and at an American military base in Vincenza, which is also featured in the novel).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Murder, Physical abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Medical content, and Drug use