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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Read for RS book group Aug 2017. Quick, whodunit read.
This series was recommended to me as a way to prepare for a trip to Venice, my first visit—and it did not disappoint. I felt like I was walking through the city and floating through its canals with the narrator. I made notes of a couple of places I want to see. Additionally, it’s a cleverly crafted mystery, with complex and intriguing characters. Leon has a gift for dialogue. As it’s #1 in a series, I’m eager to read the rest—though I just looked it up and there are 28 (gulp)!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Rape
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Really enjoyed the setting of this book especially! I'm planning a trip that includes Venice and this was a fun one to read in anticipation of visiting. I liked the Commissario, but the rest of the cast of characters was harder to get to know given how many people there were. It was definitely dated (written in the early 90s) - the references to homosexuality as something one could be blackmailed over are thankfully antiquated.
Murder mysteries are not my genre of choice, however, I was pleased to read this one on the heels of traveling to Venice, the setting of this first in a series, super popular books.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was recommended to me by a physician friend who's read the whole series. I wanted a book that included Venice, which this does, and having just recently visited the stunning & opulent La Fenice Opera House, & marveled at its beauty, of course I could not resist this mystery. I listened to the audiobook version, expertly read by David Colacci. His Italian accented characters were really good, and the others were well done. I liked it, but it went on a bit too long. I guessed correctly about the murderer, but did not see the ending coming. A bit too slow-paced for me, but enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Infertility, Murder, Lesbophobia
Minor: Physical abuse, Suicide