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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Antisemitism, Abortion, Murder, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
I think that I'm going to be a fan of this series. This books has elements of other mystery series that I enjoy, including a homicide investigator whom, other than his job, seems like a good man who is trying to do what is right and be a good husband and father. The investigation was a slow unfolding of characters' stories mixed with more fun banter. I loved imagining the Venice setting while reading this book.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Fun audio with John. Most police procedural but with some twists
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
A nice entertaining book. A few things missed for it to be a five star, but it was still very enjoyable.
Let's start with the bad points because I'll be over with them quick. Most of this book was written from the detective POV, which was all right. However, in the beginning, it featured some other POVs, and I didn't really like the shift. Another problem is with that thing called 'tell vs show'. There were some cases of telling that could have been showing. For example, the author says
Now, what I liked. I liked the mystery. I like the way she describe random actions people do while talking and other similar things. It made the prose so vivid and gave a sense of real to the events. I like the way she manage to reflect the spirit of Italian people (which, I think, was the actual purpose of this book), the differences between north and south, the corruption in the country, its life. I liked seeing Venice not through the eyes of the tourists, who only see gold and glitter, glory, but through the eyes of an inhabitant who faces the day to day struggles of the city. I like the portrayal of the police force. I like the ironic tone this book often took when presenting various attitudes of the population to various things. I also like the aspects that had to do with the crime in itself, the discovery of the victim's dark past and the poetic justice (if I can call it that). A quick and easy read for those time when you're only looking for entertainment.
Let's start with the bad points because I'll be over with them quick. Most of this book was written from the detective POV, which was all right. However, in the beginning, it featured some other POVs, and I didn't really like the shift. Another problem is with that thing called 'tell vs show'. There were some cases of telling that could have been showing. For example, the author says
Because it was Venice, the police came in by boat, when she could have shown us this instead. Especially since, from other instances, I understood she was very good at showing.
Now, what I liked. I liked the mystery. I like the way she describe random actions people do while talking and other similar things. It made the prose so vivid and gave a sense of real to the events. I like the way she manage to reflect the spirit of Italian people (which, I think, was the actual purpose of this book), the differences between north and south, the corruption in the country, its life. I liked seeing Venice not through the eyes of the tourists, who only see gold and glitter, glory, but through the eyes of an inhabitant who faces the day to day struggles of the city. I like the portrayal of the police force. I like the ironic tone this book often took when presenting various attitudes of the population to various things. I also like the aspects that had to do with the crime in itself, the discovery of the victim's dark past and the poetic justice (if I can call it that). A quick and easy read for those time when you're only looking for entertainment.