sue_su's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kate01970's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tashabye's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
I enjoy this series but I didn't feel comfortable with how
Spoiler
'transvestite' was handled. I was trying to feel out how the author felt about it and how she was intending to present it but it never felt that it was in a kind way. The book was written in 1994 so it is definitely dated in that respect so I tried to keep that in mind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
vici_loves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.0
jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
In Brunettis drittem Fall wird ein Toter gefunden. In Frauenklamotten. Ein ziemlich heikler Fall, vor allem, als sich herausstellt, um wen es sich bei der übel zugerichteten Leiche handelt...
Viel passiert in Leons Krimis eigentlich nie, deshalb kann man diese Bücher auch gut weglesen und sind wohl bald wieder vergessen. Die Handlung plätschert so vor sich hin und Brunetti erzählt uns, was er heute zu Abend isst.
Spannung ist nur dezent vorhanden und eigentlich wurde ich während des gesamten Buches nicht ein einziges Mal dazu ermutigt, selber zu rätseln, wer der Mörder ist. Dieser wird schlussendlich auf dem Silbertablett serviert und das Buch ist zu Ende.
Ab und zu lese ich ganz gerne Leon. Es ist entspannend und beruhigend, wie ein warmer Tee vor dem Schlafengehen.
Viel passiert in Leons Krimis eigentlich nie, deshalb kann man diese Bücher auch gut weglesen und sind wohl bald wieder vergessen. Die Handlung plätschert so vor sich hin und Brunetti erzählt uns, was er heute zu Abend isst.
Spannung ist nur dezent vorhanden und eigentlich wurde ich während des gesamten Buches nicht ein einziges Mal dazu ermutigt, selber zu rätseln, wer der Mörder ist. Dieser wird schlussendlich auf dem Silbertablett serviert und das Buch ist zu Ende.
Ab und zu lese ich ganz gerne Leon. Es ist entspannend und beruhigend, wie ein warmer Tee vor dem Schlafengehen.
bellisk's review against another edition
2.0
Considering I found this book on the ground in my neighbourhood, I got a fair amount of enjoyment out of it, but in the krimis-I-found-on-the-ground running it still compares badly to the last one I read, [b:Die Tote im Zuger See / Neun Tote im Emmental / Skelette im Hauenstein - Drei Kriminalromane|1928908|Die Tote im Zuger See / Neun Tote im Emmental / Skelette im Hauenstein - Drei Kriminalromane|Max Frei|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1190471851s/1928908.jpg|1931216]. The overall plot held together fairly well but for the first half of the novel, it felt as though the milieu of the victims (cross-dressing sex workers) was included purely as salacious set dressing. There were long scenes of cisgender characters, straight and gay, speculating on the psychology of the sex workers and their customers, which I found tiresome and unnecessary. Although Brunetti was sympathetic and challenged some other characters on their outright bigotry, since he was the viewpoint character, his conventional cisgender/heterosexual perspective was often stressed and I found that somewhat alienating. (Although I started reading this book during the Christmas holidays at my family's house, I soon realised that it was not a sensible match for the environment and put it down again until recently.)
I enjoyed the plot a lot more once the focus moved to the details of unravelling a large-scale crime with potential political implications, and I also liked the narration of Brunetti's daily life and relationships with his family and coworkers. I also very much enjoyed the writing, though how much of that is thanks to Leon and how much due to the translator, Monika Elwenspoek, I'm not sure.
I enjoyed the plot a lot more once the focus moved to the details of unravelling a large-scale crime with potential political implications, and I also liked the narration of Brunetti's daily life and relationships with his family and coworkers. I also very much enjoyed the writing, though how much of that is thanks to Leon and how much due to the translator, Monika Elwenspoek, I'm not sure.
dmturner's review
3.0
A well plotted novel but dated
Immensely readable, and captured my attention in spite of the blather about “transvestism.” It would be five stars if not for that. Shame. Venice as always with these books is one of the main characters.
Immensely readable, and captured my attention in spite of the blather about “transvestism.” It would be five stars if not for that. Shame. Venice as always with these books is one of the main characters.
_wellshit's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
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
3.5
rodica_b's review
4.0
Very solid, I enjoyed it more than the second installment, partially because the story was better built, partially because there was some comeuppance, some justice the police was able to serve in the end, unlike in the previous book.
If I should compare these books to my two old time favorite detective writers, Christie and Simenon, Leon’s books seem to me closer to Simenon’s setting. She presents slices of Venetian society, both the flashy and the seedy sides. There is a whiff of sadness in some aspects of the story, resignation and loneliness. Christie’s stories often seem to take place in a historical bubble of middle and upper class Britain between wars, where things are fun and proper, maids and butlers are well trained and . Leon, on the other hand, is anchored in her present day - illegal immigrants, LGBT-Q rights, inequality, systemic corruption. There is no preachiness in her books, which I love. And there is no info dumping either, which I love too. She assumes that the reader will be cultured enough to understand her references (from Caravaggio and Savonarola, to recent Italian corruption scandals) or do a bit of research, if needed. She doesn’t write either overtly intellectual settings, not too dumbed-down.
Leon’s stories are character-driven. Brunetti, Paola, their children, Patta, Vianello, Elettra - they are all very convincing, very alive characters, even though no heavy character description and background history were thrown on us. Leon builds them bit by bit, with light touches that add up. You want to read more about them, about their growth and doubts.
If I should compare these books to my two old time favorite detective writers, Christie and Simenon, Leon’s books seem to me closer to Simenon’s setting. She presents slices of Venetian society, both the flashy and the seedy sides. There is a whiff of sadness in some aspects of the story, resignation and loneliness. Christie’s stories often seem to take place in a historical bubble of middle and upper class Britain between wars, where things are fun and proper, maids and butlers are well trained and . Leon, on the other hand, is anchored in her present day - illegal immigrants, LGBT-Q rights, inequality, systemic corruption. There is no preachiness in her books, which I love. And there is no info dumping either, which I love too. She assumes that the reader will be cultured enough to understand her references (from Caravaggio and Savonarola, to recent Italian corruption scandals) or do a bit of research, if needed. She doesn’t write either overtly intellectual settings, not too dumbed-down.
Leon’s stories are character-driven. Brunetti, Paola, their children, Patta, Vianello, Elettra - they are all very convincing, very alive characters, even though no heavy character description and background history were thrown on us. Leon builds them bit by bit, with light touches that add up. You want to read more about them, about their growth and doubts.