Scan barcode
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
I just love these books. The atmosphere is so great, even if the mysteries stretch credulity at times--or at least, not so much the mysteries as their resolutions. Still, reading these is like immersing myself in Venetian culture as Leon portrays it, and I apparently cannot get enough of that.
It also must be said that a big part of what I enjoy about these books are the characters. They feel almost overly large to me at times (and this is particularly the case with the female characters), and yet that still works, probably because Brunetti himself seems so firmly grounded.
It also must be said that a big part of what I enjoy about these books are the characters. They feel almost overly large to me at times (and this is particularly the case with the female characters), and yet that still works, probably because Brunetti himself seems so firmly grounded.
utahmomreads's review against another edition
3.0
The tidal flow combined with the rainy seasonal weather causes the acqua alta in Venice, Italy. The high water covers the sidewalks and flows into the bottom floors of buildings. The Venetians are used to it and don their high boots to walk through the city.
Acqua Alta by Donna Leon takes place in Venice during the flood season. This mystery novel is part of Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series but can stand on it's own. In Acqua Alta he is intrigued by a case involving a former acquaintance and Chinese art expert who has been beaten in her luxurious apartment by apparent burglars. The case becomes more mysterious when a colleague at the museum is murdered.
Leon's style is fluid and the descriptions of a wet, darker Venice are lavish and rich. Brunetti is a likeable detective who also plays the role of family man. He cares about the victims of the crimes and isn't as jaded as some literary detectives.
I rarely read mysteries. I'm not sure why because I really enjoy them. I had a good time with this one.
I won a copy of Acqua Alta from one of my favorite literary blogs : A Reader's Journal.
Acqua Alta by Donna Leon takes place in Venice during the flood season. This mystery novel is part of Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series but can stand on it's own. In Acqua Alta he is intrigued by a case involving a former acquaintance and Chinese art expert who has been beaten in her luxurious apartment by apparent burglars. The case becomes more mysterious when a colleague at the museum is murdered.
Leon's style is fluid and the descriptions of a wet, darker Venice are lavish and rich. Brunetti is a likeable detective who also plays the role of family man. He cares about the victims of the crimes and isn't as jaded as some literary detectives.
I rarely read mysteries. I'm not sure why because I really enjoy them. I had a good time with this one.
I won a copy of Acqua Alta from one of my favorite literary blogs : A Reader's Journal.
cathe_rine's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kvlreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
notizhefte's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Einer der frühen Romane aus der Commissario-Brunetti-Reihe, was bedeutet, daß es noch nicht primär um Kritik an den Verhältnissen geht, sondern eine Beziehungsgeschichte in geschickter Weise mit einem Kriminalfall verbunden wird. Dabei geht es um illegalen Kunsthandel und auch um Kunstraub, das Aufeinanderprallen von nord- und süditalienischer Mentalität, das Familienleben der Brunettis und die Unfähigkeit italienischer Männer unterschiedlicher Milieus, mit lesbischen Frauen angemessen umzugehen.
Eine gut geschriebene und unterhaltsame Lektüre.
Eine gut geschriebene und unterhaltsame Lektüre.
awebofstories's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nuthatch's review against another edition
5.0
I love the characters in this mystery series,the main character being the city of Venice, with all it's problems and beauty. This is the best book I've read in the series so far. Be prepared to stay up late reading it.
veronikar's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual violence
annevoi's review against another edition
3.0
What I most enjoy about the Commissario Brunetti books are the details—of daily life in the streets of Venice, of familial upsets, of the pleasure of a hot toddy in a canal-side bar. As usual, the mystery here was almost beside the point, but it gave the book something to do. My three stars are to the point: I liked this book.