Scan barcode
boothby738's review against another edition
3.0
Had read book #1 some time ago. Enjoyed this quite a bit. Was a little disappointed in how quickly and cleanly the story ended, but will certainly read more about the commissario.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
4.0
I love how this author tackles tough issues, yet keeps her characters interesting and follows family life as well.
phamnewan's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
kellerko's review against another edition
3.0
While these books are well written with strong characters, my favorite thing ( particularly during this pandemic) is how they immediately bring me back to Venice. Family troubles all around in this one, plus the darned Americans.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
A body is found in a canal in Venice and Guido Brunetti tries to find out what really happened even though his superior officers seem to want everything glossed over.
artemiscat's review against another edition
4.0
Tempted to give this whole series a full 5 stars. Mystery novels are rarely to my liking, but something about Brunetti and the Venice he inhabits has me hooked.
minn3h's review against another edition
4.0
The mystery suffers for the ambition Leon exhibits in taking on corruption, the military industrial complex, the casual application of American power, etc.
ms_dzt's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this Brunetti mystery after almost a year without the Commissario. While all the books follow a formula the presence of the US base in Vicenza added an element of art imitating life considering Leon's husband (?) is based there. Or was based there.
d_audy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
After writing Death at La Fenice as a probable one-shot, Donna Leon seamlessly transitions to a series with this second, already more sophisticated entry. She again skillfully avoids giving her readers the "tourist tour" of Venice while still bringing the city to life in colourful touches of daily life and culture, showing the city of the Venetians. Here in this second novel the secondary characters start taking more volume and definition, while Guido himself returns with all that made him loveable in the first novel. The plot is expertly woven, and this time around adds interesting layers of social, economical and political questions, touching on environmental and public health issues, the behaviour of the US government abroad, corruption and the complex web of interrelationships between those holding the reins of power. It makes for a fascinating tale with a very suitably ambiguous yet very satisfying ending.