Comments (19)

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Aug 27, 2023NummerSechs rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A very interesting book. Even though what happened and by who is pretty obvious from early in the book, the way the characters get to the revelation and the background of the crime are fascinatingly uncovered by the author. There are…
Aug 22, 2023PetraL rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
It's unique to read a mystery set in Venice. The main character, Commissario Guido Brunetti, is likeable and the book captures the essence of Venice well. A good read-alike is Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series.
Aug 05, 2023fred98115 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
First Commissioner Brunetti of Venice mystery. A conductor is found dead after Act Two of Traviata. Murder? Suicide? Solid writing and plot and characters.
Apr 14, 2023JCLLizW rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
For a book published in 1992, the number of gay/bisexual characters and the way they are written is surprisingly progressive. Unfortunately, our Commissario Brunetti is too similar to Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache - beside whom Brunetti…
Oct 12, 2022susanatdotcom rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Read more of these.
Aug 06, 2022patcarstensen rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
There's less food than in later books in the series. It's always interesting in reading older mysteries (this one is now 30 years old) to see how our everyday technology has changed.
Sep 27, 2021
#1 in series
May 06, 2021AMB_4 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I'm a big Camilleri/Montalbano reader and was looking for something similar. Brunetti is it, but in Venice. Love it!
Apr 09, 2020
JOANNE'S MYSTERY PICKS This is the first book in the Commisario Guido Brunetti series, set in Venice. Leon paints a picture of its beauty and its age as her characters walk the streets, climb the many stairs to their apartments, or…
Mar 02, 2019
Great read!
Sep 27, 2017Dave99_0 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
"Death At La Fenice" is the first book in the Commissario Brunetti series. The reader can already see evidence of the Donna Leon writing style: the emphasis on family, relationships, Venetian culture and Italian culture. IMHO, I would…
Apr 13, 2017nofasternan rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Streptomycin, among related antibiotics, is known to cause hearing loss, as a side effect.
Jul 20, 2016mgackle rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A satisfying whodunnit, the novel exudes a wonderful sense of place, taking readers into the streets of Venice and providing a glimpse inside the opera scene, with all its scandals. I look forward to reading more of Commissario Brunetti!
Oct 05, 2014sharon711 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I was actually able to predict the outcome of this story well before the end. However, the sordid reason behind the tale was a surprise. This series was recommended to me and has quite the following. Although I liked the story, I found it…
Aug 17, 2014DorisWaggoner rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I've read several as I could find them from the middle of this wonderful series, and decided to go back to the beginning, which is this book. Leon already has a back story for Commisario Brunetti of the Venetian police, his family,…
shannon40
Aug 13, 2012shannon40 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This first novel in the Guido Brunetti series shows that Donna Leon had a good grasp of her characters and setting right from the beginning.
Aug 09, 2011baylife rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
As always the casual acceptance of endemic corruption serves as a background to the frustrations of the hero of the story. Another crime to solve for the charming Brunetti with all the fascinating political, geographical, family and…
Aug 07, 2010pokano rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
If you read only one Guido Brunetti mystery, this should be the one. Donna Leon's best.
Dec 09, 2009lisangus rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
I love this series -- this is the first of them, which I hadn't read before. I think her touch got much beter in the later books.