About this title: There is little violent crime in Venice, a serenely beautiful floating city of mystery and magic, history and decay. But the evil that does occasionally rear its head is the jurisdiction of Guido Brunetti, the suave, urbane vice-commissario of police and a genius at detection. Now all of his admirable abilities must come into play in the deadly ...
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Description: Very Good. 006074068X Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light curve to the spine / light reading creases to the covers. read more
Description: Good. 006074068X This book is in Good Used Condition. The Book shows some signs of wear. There may be some markings inside the book. The pages have started to Yellow. 100% Money Back Guarantee! ! ! read more
Edition: Later Printing
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Dark Alley, New York
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780060740689ISBN:006074068X
Description: Near Fine; Has been gently read. 006074068X. When renowned opera conductor Helmut Wellauer is found dead in his dressing room, the victim of cyanide poisoning, Guido Brunetti, the Vice Commissario of the Venice Police, must sift through several suspects to find a killer.; Trade PB; 0.8 x 7.9 x 5.1 Inches; 288 pages. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Dark Alley
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780060740689ISBN:006074068X
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Cover shows wear at corners with light crease at front, spine uncreased; a few pages have rippling to bottom corner; pages appear unmarked. Commissario Guido Brunnetti Mystery, 1. read more
Description: Fine. 006074068X Ships next business day. NEW/UNREAD! ! ! Text is Clean and Unmarked! --Be Sure to Compare Seller Feedback and Ratings before Purchasing--Has a small black ink mark on bottom/exterior edge of pages. May have light shelf wear to cover from storage, if any. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date Published: 2004-08-01
ISBN-13:9780060740689ISBN:006074068X
Description: Like New. Like new softcover in excellent condition, no writing, non-smoking home, clean text, binding tight, Christian business. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780060740689ISBN:006074068X
Description: Fine. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 288 p. Audience: General/trade. Perfect condition; from a private collection. read more
Description: Very Good. 006074068X Mass Market Paperback, Condition: Very Good; this book is in very good condition with light curve to the spine / light reading creases to the covers. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780060740689ISBN:006074068X
Description: New. No dust jacket as issued. Book is in brand new condition-no flaws to note. SHIPS V FAST! ! Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 288 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Dark Alley
Date Published: 2004
ISBN-13:9780060740689ISBN:006074068X
Description: Good. Cover has edge wear and bumped corners. Crease on front cover along spine edge. Pages have no marks, bends or tears. Binding tight but with one crease. Not a remainder. read more
"Hmm. I liked the setting (or more specifically, the way the setting conjured up my own fond memories of Venice) more than the actual story. The main characters seem promising, but in terms of the first mystery itself, the plot to me wasn't compelling: the motives of the suspects seemed implausible, and the resolution unsatisfying on several levels. I heard the author on City Arts & Lectures, and really wanted to love this series. So far, no love. But I'll still probably check the next in the series out of the library. Someday."
"This is the first book in a series of novels written about a police detective in contemporary Venice named Guido Brunetti. La Fenice is the name of an opera house in the historic city. A world famed conductor dies of cyanide poisoning between the 2nd and 3rd act of a performance of La Traviata. Suspects abound. The much younger wife of the conductor; the renowned soprano; her American born assistant; various characters from the conductor's somewhat mysterious past. I enjoyed becoming acquainted with Commissario Brunetti, his wife Paolo and his 3 children. Brunetti is an intelligent, wise, compassionate protagonist. In this introduction to the series he finds himself in something of a compromising position for a policeman as he unravels the mystery of this death. I like the main character and the setting for these novels and will likely be reading more in this series."
"I recently heard an interview of Donna Leon on NPR last Sunday night. She was surrounded by adoring fans who asked her interesting questions about contemporary Venice. Her answers were equally interesting. She has lived all over the world, and currently resides in Venice. She cherishes her anonymity there and though she is an American, she considers Venice her home. I was captivated by her great passion for opera, international cuisine, and crime throughout her interview. I was eager to see how these passions played out in her novels. I had never read a crime/mystery novel before. Death at La Fenice is the first in a series of mysteries in which the protagonist, Commissiario Guido Brunetti, is always the center of the solution to a crime. While it's what most would consider a "throw-away" novel, I found that I couldn't put the book down because it was immediately addicting; I really enjoyed it. I can't promise that her stories are for everyone. But if you wish to travel in your imagination to Venice, hear the music, taste the wine, and be swept up into a marvelous Venetian mystery, then begin your journey with Donna Leon at La Fenice."
"A colleague in my department recommended this book to me, part of a series about a Venetian detective. I was skeptical at best, since I'm not a big crime fiction fan, but this book grabbed me and wouldn't let go. Another obsessive read, though I fear my friend will keep supplying me with others in the series, and I'll binge for weeks on end.
The story is not particularly suspenseful, it develops slowly and calmly, through interviews with suspects and witnesses, then moves in a more historical direction as Brunetti tries to recreate the mysterious past of the victim. I liked the fact that there were no easy plot twists, or unbelievable turns of events that made the case fit together. The ending is a real surprise, and is disturbing and disorienting. I also liked the vignettes of everyday Venetian life, which are nicely observed and fun for someone who has spent lots of time in the city."
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