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Liked It “Wonderfully evocative of Venice and with a sympathetic main character, the Brunnetti mysteries are always very readable. Donna Leon is an excellent writer with a real understanding of her subject. I always look forward to one of her books.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Wonderfully evocative of Venice and with a sympathetic main character, the Brunnetti mysteries are always very readable. Donna Leon is an excellent writer with a real understanding of her subject. I always look forward to one of her books.”
Ada13 wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Got a sample on Kindle.”
Clasyl wrote this review Wednesday, February 13, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“good”
Dumb Bunny wrote this review Saturday, August 4, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The 11th Commissario Brunetti is a classic whodunit story. It starts out with Paola Brunetti's student Claudia Leonardo asking both Brunettis, if her deceased grandfather, tried and convicted after WWII for art thefts, can have his honour restored to him. She and her step-grandmother feeling that he was innocent. Doesn't sound too funny of a plot line but when Claudia is found stabbed to death, the case suddenly gets complex.
Luthién Arnatuilë wrote this review Sunday, July 31, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Brunetti who loves history like myself, has to question his father-in-law, Count Falier, and his artist friend Lele, about life in Venezia during WWII. He is also forced to talk to a lot of people that still are of the opinion that Mussolini was the best thing that ever happened to Italy and what Italy needs now. When Claudia's step-grandmother from Austria, also dies, it seems like the crime can never be solved. But then something is said that finally makes things fall in to place for both reader and Brunetti. The end is sinister and very sad. A definite page turner. ”
“Book11, in the Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery Series
Toni O wrote this review Thursday, March 17, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This novel was originally published in 2002, I knew I had missed it while I read my way through the series so when it was reprinted in 2010; I seized the opportunity to catch up. Ms. Leon's earlier novels are thoughtful and satisfying in many ways and this one shines, it is a powerful murder investigation that has Brunetti uncovering dark secrets that date back as far as WW11.
Claudia, a student of Paola, Brunetti's wife, asks for help in obtaining a pardon for a crime committed years ago by her now dead grandfather. He is intrigued by this unusual young lady's request but made little of it until she is found stabbed to death in her apartment.
When Brunetti breaks the devastating news to Signora Jacobs, an old Austrian lady and Claudia's only close friend, he discovers an extraordinary art collection in her modest apartment. Brunetti always the investigator is intrigued and soon learns she was once Claudia's grandfather's lover. Could the stunning art collection have come from desperate people selling their prize possessions during the war and be the reason behind the grandfather's imprisonment....
When Signora Jacobs is also found murdered, Brunetti launches an investigation that will uncover shocking secrets. He discovers evidence hidden deep in the closets of Nazi Collaborators that ultimately reveals the exploitation of Italian Jews during the war......
This is an excellent example of a classic detective murder tale, a thought provoking story that highlights and exposes the way of doing business in a corrupt world. The first few chapters set the scenes really well while at the same time setting a sub-story which has Brunetti struggling to help a friend obtain a construction permit without paying the customary bribe. The characters are memorable, the plot is intricate and multi-dimensional, and the narration is fluid, it subtly and slowly draws the readers into a compelling and atmospheric tale that is interspersed with domestic interludes. Ms. Leon loves to show the personal side of Italian life through food and family interaction, an asset to any story when not overdone.
This is one of my favourite novels in this series.
”“KINDLE; Brunetti investigates the murder of one of his wife's students who had come to see him about clearing her grandfather's name; he had been convicted of illegally obtaining art works from Jews and others during WWII and spent the rest of his life in an asylum; slow going but interesting setting - Venice”
Rita B wrote this review Sunday, January 2, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Just love this detective - good story.”
christine b wrote this review Sunday, October 31, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“When Claudia Leonardo, one of his wife's students, asks Commissario Brunetti about the possibility of arranging for a pardon for a crime committed by her grandfather many years ago, he sees little he can do. But when Claudia is found stabbed to death, Brunetti finds himself in the midst of a complex family history involving the the elderly Austrian mistress of Claduia's grandfather, who lives a frugal life surrounded by priceless works of art. A complex mystery focusing on questions of morality and the Italian character, with the city of Venice providing a vivid background. Tenth book in the Brunetti series.”
VVV wrote this review Friday, October 8, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Her books are so atmospheric you feel as if you've spent a week immersing yourself in the glorious food and culture of Venice...but without spending all those euros!”
Lynn L wrote this review Thursday, October 7, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
