Superb!

Another gem from Donna Leon. Like good wine, as it ages it matures. The exposition of Commissario Brunettti’s probing of the events and humanity behind his investigation of his most recent case, lay bare the greed and despair, as well as the good heartedness of people who battle the terrors of living in the 21st century. Honour is due to Donna Leon who battles her own demons as she combines enthralling storytelling with the bleakness of living in an age where the golden histories of recorded history in drama, poetry and prose are confronted and compared with the banality of 21st century existence in its speed towards doom. My only plea is that they last longer.

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Οkay-ish

Beautifullly narrated story, Venice described so vividly that had you ever been there, you're instantly teansported back. The story is written with cinematic precision yet somehow lacks content. My mind oc occasionally wondered off, and i had to retrace my steps only to find I hadn't missed anything mutch.

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1 person found this helpful

Another 5* Donna Leon

Yes loved it. So descriptive, nice pace and gently reminded of story line and characters. Narration was ok but .... a discreet pause after the very last line of the book would have been welcome. Instead and without barely a breath the listener is given 'admin details' !!!

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2 people found this helpful

Not what they used to be

I got to know Brunetti about fifteen years ago and binge read the first half of the series. The story lines were strong, the police work (while clearly never the focus) was convincing and the characters well developed. Vianello, senorina Elletra, Fao, even the nasty Scarpa, all had a real role to play in the unfolding of the plot. I even went to the questora, palazzo and the Brunettis' apartment when visiting Venice and they were perfectly real! I thoroughly recommend these early installments.

Over the last five or so books however, I have become almost as bored with the plots as I suspect Donna Leon has. Instead of getting into the complexities of Brunetti's mind to understand how he solves the crimes, we are subjected to endless musings on irrelevant tangents (I could never work out what the fate of the women of Troy had to do with anything or the relevance of the altercation between Patta's wife and the neighbours' son). I sometimes wonder whether these are not actually pages from Leon's other writings, accidentally included in the manuscript!

Long gone are Vianello's clever wife, tantalising glimpses into Elletra's mysterious private life, Alvise's development into a good policeman. Following their stories pulled me in to the world of Venetian crime with Brunetti's inner world at its center.
I have kept reading and listening to new books in the hope that they might return but sadly, like them, I just no longer care enough. Rather, I will trust that Guido and Paola will retire to the country villa with trunks of Greek tragedies for him and Henry James for her, to grow old contentedly with good wine and perfectly cooked pasta.
Ciao, Guido.

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8 people found this helpful

Fabulous Read

Another great book by Donna Leon and narrated brilliantly. I am addicted to all the books and love Guido Brunetti.

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1 person found this helpful

Not the best Brunelli book

Having read or listened to all this series of Donna Leon books, I would say that this is clearly not her best. At times I was even bored with the philosophising about the state of families and world which felt as if is was there to pad a weak story.

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent on all fronts

I have come late to this writer and her policeman. This, the fourth I have either read or listened to, is completely satisfying. The characters, the plot, the writing itself - all come together beautifully. The narration is excellent.

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A disappointing Donna Leon

The scene setting which was rambling, took much too long, and until Chapter 19. Then the interest was held.

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2 people found this helpful

About friendships

A very interesting novel about the nuances regarding friends and families with the added bonus of Venice .

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1 person found this helpful

What I love about Brunetti

If you enjoy characters with depth in your murder mysteries Brunetti is a good choice. Yet again Donna Leon fills him with simple wisdom. I often imagine Brunetti reading Marcus Aurelius and thinking about how it applies to life around him. Thank you also for making his family such a haven. Wonderful.

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