Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Very possibly the weakest entry in the entire series. Halfway through the book before there is a murder, and even when it finally does happen, it's more of an afterthought. This is a book about glass making and pollution. Actually way more than you could ever possibly want to know about glass making and pollution. As much as I love Guido & Company, I'm going to need a little break befre I had back to Venice.
dark
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
It could have been a solid 4. It's a fine story, written pretty well and with some interesting themes and parallels. HOWEVER, we must all reflect on the fact that, apparently, the author refuses to let her books be translated into Italian because she fears being recognized whenever she travels to Venice. What are you even on about right now?!
Donna Leon, if you're reading this, hi hello, BUT GIRL! WHAT? Who are you? How can you even live with a head as big as that?
Donna Leon, if you're reading this, hi hello, BUT GIRL! WHAT? Who are you? How can you even live with a head as big as that?
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Donna Leon's Comassario Brunetti is a solid, likeable character, and her mysteries are interesting. They tend always to have a thread about corruption in politics and government in Italy. My favorites are more atmospheric than this one turned out to be, and I found the ending somewhat unsatisfying for its looseness. Still, if you like mysteries, especially involving political intrigue, you should try this series.
mysterious
relaxing
slow-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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
informative
relaxing
slow-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
I was bored other than Venice part of the story
I didn't knew this author and was a surprise to notice she had several books published in Portugal of the series Commissario Brunetti in which this books corresponds to the 15th volume. All I can say is that I expected more of someone who is compared to Agatha Christie.
We follow the commissario and his assistant while trying to confirm whether there's any intention behind Giovanni de Cal's threats, who owns a glass factory in Venice, against his son-in-law Marco Ribetti, friend of Brunetti's assistant. In between, they get to know the glass making world, if the factories pollute or not the lagoon of Venice, and they stumble upon a death that might or not be murder and which deviates from what the description on the back of this book gave the impression of.
To begin with, it has very little mystery. I wondered if the author wanted to write a murder mystery or a book preaching about ecology. I do worry about pollution and do what is within my reach to prevent it but I didn't like the preacher tone, especially when I was looking for a murder mystery! Up until the middle of the book we seem lost within it, not really knowing what are the characters looking for and what's the purpose of it all. Then you come across the said death and the rest of the book becomes predictable.
The characters have little depth, even when it comes to the protagonist, yet we learn that he doesn't work overtime, because he likes to be with his family, and has an existential doubt... he never seems to know how should he address people (“Should I call him Docttore?” Should I address him as an equal, by you?”). The reference to Dante's Inferno had left me curious but we see little of it and it seems to lead the story nowhere.
Frankly, despite my rating, I think the most correct would be a 2,5 and I don't recommend it. It might be good for those who want to read about Venice and the glass making industry, which were the positive points for me, otherwise it's one of those books you can skip
We follow the commissario and his assistant while trying to confirm whether there's any intention behind Giovanni de Cal's threats, who owns a glass factory in Venice, against his son-in-law Marco Ribetti, friend of Brunetti's assistant. In between, they get to know the glass making world, if the factories pollute or not the lagoon of Venice, and they stumble upon a death that might or not be murder and which deviates from what the description on the back of this book gave the impression of.
To begin with, it has very little mystery. I wondered if the author wanted to write a murder mystery or a book preaching about ecology. I do worry about pollution and do what is within my reach to prevent it but I didn't like the preacher tone, especially when I was looking for a murder mystery! Up until the middle of the book we seem lost within it, not really knowing what are the characters looking for and what's the purpose of it all. Then you come across the said death and the rest of the book becomes predictable.
The characters have little depth, even when it comes to the protagonist, yet we learn that he doesn't work overtime, because he likes to be with his family, and has an existential doubt... he never seems to know how should he address people (“Should I call him Docttore?” Should I address him as an equal, by you?”). The reference to Dante's Inferno had left me curious but we see little of it and it seems to lead the story nowhere.
Frankly, despite my rating, I think the most correct would be a 2,5 and I don't recommend it. It might be good for those who want to read about Venice and the glass making industry, which were the positive points for me, otherwise it's one of those books you can skip