jackie_marion's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kate01970's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
vela_the_great's review against another edition
3.0
I would say . It's little boring and slow. But the detailing of Venice and it's food offering is beautifully told.
nuska's review against another edition
3.0
Un nuevo e interesante caso del Comissario Brunetti. Este vez se verá implicada su vida personal y la mafia. Crítica al turismo sexual, a los voluntarios de las ONG que únicamente se preocupan por aparecer en la foto, a las empresas farmacéuticas que no controlan adónde van sus productos caducados, a la sociedad, gobierno y política italiana que consiente actos mafiosos siempre que se justifiquen con la evasión de impuestos... una dentellada canina y mordaz. Pero sumamente entretenida. Me sigue encantado la relación entre Brunetti y su mujer.
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers below:
As usual Donna Leon weaves larger issues into the fabric of Commissario Brunetti's police procedural mystery.
Brunett's wife Paola is arrested for throwing rocks into the front window of a travel agency because she wants to bring attention that these travel agencies are in fact arranging child sex tours to Asia for Italians. A few weeks into this incident the owner (Mitri) of the travel agency is murdered.
Paola is not a suspect since she was with Brunetti during the murder but she is dismayed that her actions might have brought attention to Mitri to get him killed.
Brunetti instead looks at the mode/method of murder which has been found in 3 similar cases in Italy. He tracks the murderer down who happens to work at the factory of Mitri's brother in law. He discovers that the factory has been selling expired medicine and placebos to NGO's which have been shipping them off to poorer countries. But in the end, he finds that the murder is due to money, a dispute between Mitri and his BIL.
As usual Donna Leon weaves larger issues into the fabric of Commissario Brunetti's police procedural mystery.
Brunett's wife Paola is arrested for throwing rocks into the front window of a travel agency because she wants to bring attention that these travel agencies are in fact arranging child sex tours to Asia for Italians. A few weeks into this incident the owner (Mitri) of the travel agency is murdered.
Paola is not a suspect since she was with Brunetti during the murder but she is dismayed that her actions might have brought attention to Mitri to get him killed.
Brunetti instead looks at the mode/method of murder which has been found in 3 similar cases in Italy. He tracks the murderer down who happens to work at the factory of Mitri's brother in law. He discovers that the factory has been selling expired medicine and placebos to NGO's which have been shipping them off to poorer countries. But in the end, he finds that the murder is due to money, a dispute between Mitri and his BIL.
richardpierce's review against another edition
5.0
The conflict between duty and love, between love and the law, is laid bare here, and it's a painful conflict. Brunetti has become a weary soul in this book, weary of his powerlessness against the mafia, against corruption, against his superior, against the machinations of lawyers and rich people. But truth and justice still shine a light.
glitteryvoid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0