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Commissario Brunetti #1
Mort à la Fenice
« Le lecteur de Donna Leon découvre Venise mieux qu’avec n’importe quel guide touristique. » Le Monde des Livres Fin d’entracte à La Fenice. Les minutes passent, le silence devient pesant. Le directeur du théâtre a du mal à maîtriser sa voix : « Y a-t-il un médecin dans la salle ? » Le maestro a été assassiné en pleine représentation. Aussitôt dépêché sur les lieux, le commissaire Brunetti conclut rapidement à un empoisonnement au cyanure. Dans les coulisses de l’opéra, il découvre l’envers du décor. Née dans le New Jersey, Donna Leon a vécu pendant plus de trente ans à Venise. Traduites dans trente-cinq langues, les enquêtes du commissaire Brunetti ont séduit des millions de lecteurs. Toutes sont disponibles chez Points. Traduit de l’anglais par William Olivier Desmond
336 pages, Pocket Book
First published June 19, 1992
4506 people are currently reading
22769 people want to read
About the author
Donna Leon
107 books2,925 followersDonna Leon (born September 29, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey) is an American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,555 reviews
September 26, 2024
Charming!
Commissario Brunetti, quietly walk the streets of Venice, which helps him clear his head.
Who murdered a famous conductor, is the question that he must answer? And he thinks very hard on it, while he devours copious amounts of food and wine.
The canals and calls of Venice is as much a part of the story as the mystery which he will solve…
Five wonderful stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
Commissario Brunetti, quietly walk the streets of Venice, which helps him clear his head.
Who murdered a famous conductor, is the question that he must answer? And he thinks very hard on it, while he devours copious amounts of food and wine.
The canals and calls of Venice is as much a part of the story as the mystery which he will solve…
Five wonderful stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
July 22, 2022
Guido Brunetti is a police officer in Venice. His title is that of Dottor. He is a high ranking officer. Hi there, my name is Troy McClure. You may remember me from movies such as This Book is Wonderful, and Donna Leon is Completely Fine.
The latest thing I realised before starting this review is that there is a massive clue of the murder in the title of the book itself. That took a lot of nerve. I have never seen a mystery book do that before. There is little stuff like that in the book. Donna Leon trusts her readers. Or perhaps she has no time for the more obtuse among us. Donna Leon seems to know a lot about the higher echelons of Venetian society. Her writing for parties or group activities is beyond reproach.
There was, however, a strange monologue in the party given by one socialite. The conversation between the guests was like from a 19th century novel. That is not because there is a relapse into archaic language, but because of its long tirades and unfunny jokes. Donna Leon cannot write a good joke. I liked Brunetti's in-laws more than his kids. I mean, the kids are less sympathetic to me than the elders.
Italy is the land where men and women are prized for their beauty. There is a scent of scandal and a deepening of tragedy as Brunetti takes on the case of the murdered conductor, Wellhauer. The victim is German. The author comes very close to revealing how handsome Wellhauer was. But she did not at all reveal why such an eligible woman like Paola got tied to Guido Brunetti. There are authors who will never directly reveal how good looking their characters are. That means that less facts are told, and also less facts are shown.
Venice is a very old city, heavy with history, and proud of it. Among all the details of the streets, walls and huge windows, there was one thing that new nations do not have. The wearing down of the stone steps that have been there for centuries. The steps are worn down because so many people have walked this way. This was a powerful image.
The book is sordid in its resolution, but though things go macabre very swiftly in the denouement, the graphic details of the misdeeds are veiled prudishly. Leon knows when to pull back, and when to pull no punches. So there are a lot of elements to underpin when writing a novel of this type and the writer got most of it right. The character of Guido's son, however, did not work for me. He seemed even more despicable than the wrongdoer. This type of treatment would be endearing in a child, not a young man.
As I said before, the author left a few things to the reader. She did not spell out everything. What she did mention more than a couple of times was Guido's totally carefree disposition to accept drinks from everyone. Mostly strangers. This was cultural, but then Italy is both the country of knifing and poisoning, so I was left wondering what was happening with those pegs. The chief of Guido was nicely made up. In more ways than one too. He is a narcissistic, impatient, stupid, selfish, and lazy officer who got his job because he knew the right people. I find it interesting that among all these characters, Leon made this minor one the best looking one in the book. The character, called Patta, is very vivid to me. I pictured a middle aged Brandon Quinn as him.
To wrap things up, I must say I look forward to the rest of the series. That is mostly because the book felt like there was more to tell. That is intriguing. The book showed us all that there are many more people in Venice who might fancy a stab in the dark, though I admit that what I did is just that. I will be on cloud nine if there are fewer and less voluble red herrings in book 2. Once of this treatment is enough. Let's see if Leon knows about that aspect of her writing.
The latest thing I realised before starting this review is that there is a massive clue of the murder in the title of the book itself. That took a lot of nerve. I have never seen a mystery book do that before. There is little stuff like that in the book. Donna Leon trusts her readers. Or perhaps she has no time for the more obtuse among us. Donna Leon seems to know a lot about the higher echelons of Venetian society. Her writing for parties or group activities is beyond reproach.
There was, however, a strange monologue in the party given by one socialite. The conversation between the guests was like from a 19th century novel. That is not because there is a relapse into archaic language, but because of its long tirades and unfunny jokes. Donna Leon cannot write a good joke. I liked Brunetti's in-laws more than his kids. I mean, the kids are less sympathetic to me than the elders.
Italy is the land where men and women are prized for their beauty. There is a scent of scandal and a deepening of tragedy as Brunetti takes on the case of the murdered conductor, Wellhauer. The victim is German. The author comes very close to revealing how handsome Wellhauer was. But she did not at all reveal why such an eligible woman like Paola got tied to Guido Brunetti. There are authors who will never directly reveal how good looking their characters are. That means that less facts are told, and also less facts are shown.
Venice is a very old city, heavy with history, and proud of it. Among all the details of the streets, walls and huge windows, there was one thing that new nations do not have. The wearing down of the stone steps that have been there for centuries. The steps are worn down because so many people have walked this way. This was a powerful image.
The book is sordid in its resolution, but though things go macabre very swiftly in the denouement, the graphic details of the misdeeds are veiled prudishly. Leon knows when to pull back, and when to pull no punches. So there are a lot of elements to underpin when writing a novel of this type and the writer got most of it right. The character of Guido's son, however, did not work for me. He seemed even more despicable than the wrongdoer. This type of treatment would be endearing in a child, not a young man.
As I said before, the author left a few things to the reader. She did not spell out everything. What she did mention more than a couple of times was Guido's totally carefree disposition to accept drinks from everyone. Mostly strangers. This was cultural, but then Italy is both the country of knifing and poisoning, so I was left wondering what was happening with those pegs. The chief of Guido was nicely made up. In more ways than one too. He is a narcissistic, impatient, stupid, selfish, and lazy officer who got his job because he knew the right people. I find it interesting that among all these characters, Leon made this minor one the best looking one in the book. The character, called Patta, is very vivid to me. I pictured a middle aged Brandon Quinn as him.
To wrap things up, I must say I look forward to the rest of the series. That is mostly because the book felt like there was more to tell. That is intriguing. The book showed us all that there are many more people in Venice who might fancy a stab in the dark, though I admit that what I did is just that. I will be on cloud nine if there are fewer and less voluble red herrings in book 2. Once of this treatment is enough. Let's see if Leon knows about that aspect of her writing.
January 31, 2024
Here I go again. I am such a sucker for a new, long, police procedural series. And I was very impressed by Commissario Guido Brunetti.
The story begins with the murder of a famous conductor right in the middle of a performance at the La Fenice Opera House in Venice. Death by poison in a cup of coffee. Who could be responsible? Commissario Brunetti is up to the challenge and begins his investigation.
The book is not fast paced or full of danger. It is a careful, thorough investigation. There is a lot of description of Venice and the apartments people lived in, which I enjoyed very much. I also liked the characters and the way they lived their lives.
Four stars from me for this one and I have great expectations of the second book, Death in a Strange Country
The story begins with the murder of a famous conductor right in the middle of a performance at the La Fenice Opera House in Venice. Death by poison in a cup of coffee. Who could be responsible? Commissario Brunetti is up to the challenge and begins his investigation.
The book is not fast paced or full of danger. It is a careful, thorough investigation. There is a lot of description of Venice and the apartments people lived in, which I enjoyed very much. I also liked the characters and the way they lived their lives.
Four stars from me for this one and I have great expectations of the second book, Death in a Strange Country
May 10, 2008
Let me start by saying that I love Venice and all things Venetian. I love reading anything that has to do with Venice. So the fact that this book takes place in Venice gave it at least one redeeming quality. I've heard from more than one person that Donna Leon was a good author, but after reading this book, I have serious doubts about that and I'm not sure she deserves a second chance. She set up a great plot and had intruiging characters, but then did nothing with them. I got halfway through the book when the detective expresses his frustration at feeling as though he knew nothing more about what had happened, and I felt exactly the same way as the reader. I felt bored. Reading a mystery. I'm not sure that should ever happen. I also wonder if the woman has an editor. There were pages upon pages that I would have cut, things that did nothing for the story, nothing for the plot, nothing for the character development. And I suspected all along who dunnit. But it did take place, as Guido says, "in the most beautiful city in the world," and since Leon lived there, the description is quite accurate and sent me down a fun memory lane.
January 15, 2016
Death at La Fenice is the 1st book in the exciting Guido Brunetti Series by Donna Leon, set in the beautiful, romantic, mysterious and unique city of Venice.
The series features Commissario Guido Brunetti, family man, modest, moral, loyal and philosophical detective extraordinaire.
When famed conductor Helmut Wellauer is found dead in his dressing room between Acts 2 and 3 of the of LA TRAVIATA at the La Fenicia theatre, Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder by cyanide poisoning.
He immediately realizes that there’s a lot more about the victim than what he’s being told by the suspects …….his much younger wife and soprano, Flavia Petrelli and her lesbian lover, Brett Lynch and the people in his life who have been offended by his homophobic views. Brunetti also discovers Wellauer’s past as a Nazi sympathizer.
Narrated from Commissario Brunetti’s POV, we accompany him on his investigation and we experience his thoughts and musings as he works through the clues.
He’s forced to make choices between what the law is and what he believes is right. And that’s where we see the side of Brunetti that makes him such a moral person.
I enjoyed the segments with Brunetti’s family. There’s such love and warmth in their home. And I loved Paola, his wife.
If you enjoy a well-crafted and well-written story with beautiful settings and unforgettable characters, then this is the series for you.
I loved this segment in the book…………..
The series features Commissario Guido Brunetti, family man, modest, moral, loyal and philosophical detective extraordinaire.
When famed conductor Helmut Wellauer is found dead in his dressing room between Acts 2 and 3 of the of LA TRAVIATA at the La Fenicia theatre, Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder by cyanide poisoning.
He immediately realizes that there’s a lot more about the victim than what he’s being told by the suspects …….his much younger wife and soprano, Flavia Petrelli and her lesbian lover, Brett Lynch and the people in his life who have been offended by his homophobic views. Brunetti also discovers Wellauer’s past as a Nazi sympathizer.
Narrated from Commissario Brunetti’s POV, we accompany him on his investigation and we experience his thoughts and musings as he works through the clues.
He’s forced to make choices between what the law is and what he believes is right. And that’s where we see the side of Brunetti that makes him such a moral person.
I enjoyed the segments with Brunetti’s family. There’s such love and warmth in their home. And I loved Paola, his wife.
If you enjoy a well-crafted and well-written story with beautiful settings and unforgettable characters, then this is the series for you.
I loved this segment in the book…………..
“Where does American money come from? Steel. Railways. You know how it is over there. It doesn’t matter if you murder or rob to get it. The trick is in keeping it for a hundred years, and then you’re aristocrats.’ ‘Is that so different from here?’ Brunetti asked. ‘Of course,’ Padovani explained, smiling. ‘Here we have to keep it five hundred years before we’re aristocrats. And there’s another difference. In Italy, you have to be well-dressed. In America, it’s difficult to tell which are the millionaires and which are the servants.”
January 2, 2020
this low-key and humane Venice-set detective yarn surprised me. not so much at the solving of the murder mystery (although I was surprised), but at how it all came together in such an organic way. the emphasis on family, children, little girls... the importance of doing the right thing even if it is not necessarily the legal thing... no spoilers here, but the end really brought things together in a way that made perfect emotional sense. all of the small everyday moments, the details that aren't important to the case but are important to what is being said, what finally happens... the whole point of the book. I love a holistic novel.
characterization is well-done. of special note are how strongly characterized the women are. in particular, two central characters: the physician wife of the deceased - a famous and exceedingly unpleasant opera conductor - and an American archaeologist who is the (lesbian) lover of one of the suspects.
unfortunately what I wanted in the novel, my reason for even reading it, I didn't get: a portrait of that haunted, melancholy atmosphere of Venice after dark, a city I fell in love with recently. I realize it must feel different for a resident than for a tourist like myself; all of the characters are either Venetians or long-term visitors, so the emphasis on the prosaic daylight hours is understandable. I guess if I want to read about the nighttime Venice of my experience (and of my dreams), I should probably investigate some Venice-set romances. or just revisit Jan Morris' excellent Venice. I can't really hold the lack of dreamy atmosphere against this decidedly realistic novel.
characterization is well-done. of special note are how strongly characterized the women are. in particular, two central characters: the physician wife of the deceased - a famous and exceedingly unpleasant opera conductor - and an American archaeologist who is the (lesbian) lover of one of the suspects.
unfortunately what I wanted in the novel, my reason for even reading it, I didn't get: a portrait of that haunted, melancholy atmosphere of Venice after dark, a city I fell in love with recently. I realize it must feel different for a resident than for a tourist like myself; all of the characters are either Venetians or long-term visitors, so the emphasis on the prosaic daylight hours is understandable. I guess if I want to read about the nighttime Venice of my experience (and of my dreams), I should probably investigate some Venice-set romances. or just revisit Jan Morris' excellent Venice. I can't really hold the lack of dreamy atmosphere against this decidedly realistic novel.
December 2, 2019
I finally, finally read this after legions of readers said Donna Leon was perfect for Louise Penny fans who were all caught up with Inspector Gamache. In this first installment of the Commissario Brunetti mysteries, a renowned opera conductor is found dead in his dressing room, a victim of cyanide poisoning. It's significant to the story that this is a particularly painful way to die.
As the investigation unfolds, it's clear the man had a dark past and many enemies, and that the perpetrator wanted to make his victim suffer. But why?
I was hooked on the premise and raced to the ending. Maybe it was the poison, but this felt very Agatha Christie to me, but it does have enough of the personal element to land with Penny, French, and Crombie fans.
Heads up for fans of atmospheric novels: critics call this "the next best thing to being in Venice."
Death at La Fenice is an excellent place to begin with Donna Leon's novels, but there's no need to read this series in order.
As the investigation unfolds, it's clear the man had a dark past and many enemies, and that the perpetrator wanted to make his victim suffer. But why?
I was hooked on the premise and raced to the ending. Maybe it was the poison, but this felt very Agatha Christie to me, but it does have enough of the personal element to land with Penny, French, and Crombie fans.
Heads up for fans of atmospheric novels: critics call this "the next best thing to being in Venice."
Death at La Fenice is an excellent place to begin with Donna Leon's novels, but there's no need to read this series in order.
May 10, 2013
Nažalost, naša publika nije dobro prihvatila ovu autorku i njen serijal knjiga pa je izdavač odustao od daljeg objavljivanja... Šteta... Donu Leon sam imala prilike da upoznam na jednom sajmu i da RTS-u obezbedim kratko "časkanje" s njom... I naravno, ne gubim nadu da će je neko opet objavljivati u Srbiji... Da ne poverujete, krimići, ubistva, i prelepa Venecija i publika to ne prihvata :)
July 29, 2018
If you didn't know, you don't have to know how to write to publish a book. All you need to do is pick a popular location, let's say Venice, populate it with one dimensional characters, every imaginable stereotype about Italy and the world, sentences that couldn't be called writing even if one was trying to be exceptionally kind- and there you go. Don't forget to randomly insert a bunch of Italian words to show your 'deep insight' into Italian culture.
You don't have to know anything about writing a crime novel to write a crime novel either. You pick a protagonist, commissario Brunetti, give everything away in the first chapter and then drag the story on by repeating everything you already said one thousand times. What to say of Brunetti? Commissario Brunetti who is not even one dimensional (more lacking dimension) and the best you can do is keep talking about how we likes his coffee. If you pile on enough insignificant details, perhaps people won't notice you don't have an idea what characterization is or what it should look like. A clue: it's not piling insignificant details one onto another.
Why bother with characterization? All of the motives why people in this world do anything can be explained in two ways:
1. Clearly he/she is Italian
2. Clearly he/she isn't Italian.
Why bother using your head? Why bother explaining things or trying to find sense in them? It's that simple. People do things because they are either Italian or not. That explains everything! Why, Donna Leon, that's so simple it is....incredibly stupid. Or brilliant. That way you can get away with not using your head and still publish a novel. So, the joke is on the readers.
Not only were all the characters in the book one dimensional collection of stereotypes, the description of the society and the setting was a pile of prejudice and stereotype as well. The plot....wait was there a plot? Alright, let me be polite and call it a plot- the 'plot' had so many holes it was....I don't even know where to start. I can feel my brain cells dying in agony as I think of this book.
The 'novel' opens with a poisoning of a famous opera conductor. Instead of investigating the murder, commissario Brunetti is being very nice to all people involved, especially the potential female suspects, and does not really work on solving the murder, and why would Brunetti be doing that, when he can make a few calls and wait for all the clues to fall into his lap. For it's Venice and everyone knows everyone so why shouldn't Brunetti just wait for everyone to supply him with bits of predicable information that will lead to predictable end.... Literally, the man does NOTHING! Everyone else works for Brunetti, all he does is make a few calls and/or rely on people he knows to lay it out to him in endless monologues.....and the dialogues are agonizingly boring!
Here is an example, Brunetti calls his a friend of his, who opens the conversation by sympathizing with comimissario over how 'pressured' he must feel to solve this case. Then Brunetti asks him to find out more about the opera conductor and his past affairs. They talk in length and then the friend asks Brunetti whether he is a hurry to get the information. The same friend who opened the conversation with Brunetti with the acknowledgement that Brunetti must be in hurry to get some piece of information and that is why he must be calling! Unfortunately, 100% percent of dialogues and monologues are self-serving, repetitive and boring. And so is the book.
The worst crime novel I read.....and one of the worst books I've read. It's a caricature of a novel. It's so bad, I felt it is an insult to books- even the most trashy writing is way better and can at least be considered a guilty pleasure. Here you feel the guilt for reading this, but no pleasure. It's guilty torture. On some level, it fascinates me how someone can write this badly. It fascinates me more than the fact that this book got published and read. In a way, reading this book was educational. Being able to write this badly has to be an accomplishment of some sort. I've never seen anyone mess up...every possible aspect of the book.
I've just googled Donna Leon and found that she demanded her novels wouldn't be translated into Italian. Blessed are the Italians, for they will be spared of reading this book!
You don't have to know anything about writing a crime novel to write a crime novel either. You pick a protagonist, commissario Brunetti, give everything away in the first chapter and then drag the story on by repeating everything you already said one thousand times. What to say of Brunetti? Commissario Brunetti who is not even one dimensional (more lacking dimension) and the best you can do is keep talking about how we likes his coffee. If you pile on enough insignificant details, perhaps people won't notice you don't have an idea what characterization is or what it should look like. A clue: it's not piling insignificant details one onto another.
Why bother with characterization? All of the motives why people in this world do anything can be explained in two ways:
1. Clearly he/she is Italian
2. Clearly he/she isn't Italian.
Why bother using your head? Why bother explaining things or trying to find sense in them? It's that simple. People do things because they are either Italian or not. That explains everything! Why, Donna Leon, that's so simple it is....incredibly stupid. Or brilliant. That way you can get away with not using your head and still publish a novel. So, the joke is on the readers.
Not only were all the characters in the book one dimensional collection of stereotypes, the description of the society and the setting was a pile of prejudice and stereotype as well. The plot....wait was there a plot? Alright, let me be polite and call it a plot- the 'plot' had so many holes it was....I don't even know where to start. I can feel my brain cells dying in agony as I think of this book.
The 'novel' opens with a poisoning of a famous opera conductor. Instead of investigating the murder, commissario Brunetti is being very nice to all people involved, especially the potential female suspects, and does not really work on solving the murder, and why would Brunetti be doing that, when he can make a few calls and wait for all the clues to fall into his lap. For it's Venice and everyone knows everyone so why shouldn't Brunetti just wait for everyone to supply him with bits of predicable information that will lead to predictable end.... Literally, the man does NOTHING! Everyone else works for Brunetti, all he does is make a few calls and/or rely on people he knows to lay it out to him in endless monologues.....and the dialogues are agonizingly boring!
Here is an example, Brunetti calls his a friend of his, who opens the conversation by sympathizing with comimissario over how 'pressured' he must feel to solve this case. Then Brunetti asks him to find out more about the opera conductor and his past affairs. They talk in length and then the friend asks Brunetti whether he is a hurry to get the information. The same friend who opened the conversation with Brunetti with the acknowledgement that Brunetti must be in hurry to get some piece of information and that is why he must be calling! Unfortunately, 100% percent of dialogues and monologues are self-serving, repetitive and boring. And so is the book.
The worst crime novel I read.....and one of the worst books I've read. It's a caricature of a novel. It's so bad, I felt it is an insult to books- even the most trashy writing is way better and can at least be considered a guilty pleasure. Here you feel the guilt for reading this, but no pleasure. It's guilty torture. On some level, it fascinates me how someone can write this badly. It fascinates me more than the fact that this book got published and read. In a way, reading this book was educational. Being able to write this badly has to be an accomplishment of some sort. I've never seen anyone mess up...every possible aspect of the book.
I've just googled Donna Leon and found that she demanded her novels wouldn't be translated into Italian. Blessed are the Italians, for they will be spared of reading this book!
June 27, 2024
I read this because it's set in Venice, a city I've only been to on a dull rainy day in winter, but one I enjoyed visiting very much. The damp only served to heighten the atmosphere and the lack of tourists gave us room to move and explore. The novel does have some nice descriptions of Venice and the Venetians but otherwise I found the writing a bit stilted and the story somewhat predictable.
Comissario Guido Brunetti is the detective in charge of investigating the death of a famous German conductor half way through a performance of La Traviata. He is an interesting character and consummate Italian who seems to be able to run the investigation his own way, despite an overbearing boss, and has a good feel for when people are telling him all they know or not. The murdered conductor turns out to be a not very likeable man and I had trouble investing any energy into caring who was responsible for his death. This is the first book in a popular series so it will be interesting to see if the series improves.
Comissario Guido Brunetti is the detective in charge of investigating the death of a famous German conductor half way through a performance of La Traviata. He is an interesting character and consummate Italian who seems to be able to run the investigation his own way, despite an overbearing boss, and has a good feel for when people are telling him all they know or not. The murdered conductor turns out to be a not very likeable man and I had trouble investing any energy into caring who was responsible for his death. This is the first book in a popular series so it will be interesting to see if the series improves.
May 18, 2012
Well, I've now entered the world of Commissario Guido Brunetti, of the police force of Venice. This is the first of Donna Leon's long-running series set in that fabled city, which is equally a character in the novel. This was an enjoyable beginning with a nice introduction to Brunetti's family, his investigation techniques, many fellow officers, and assorted Venetians of all stripes. His travels around the city give an interesting and occasionally claustrophobic feeling to the place.
I enjoyed the process of working through the crime and clues, learning about the characters. I like the way Leon developed the plot and her primary character and look forward to reading many more in this series.
I enjoyed the process of working through the crime and clues, learning about the characters. I like the way Leon developed the plot and her primary character and look forward to reading many more in this series.
January 19, 2020
Being Italian I enjoy detective novels set in Italy. For some reason, however, I had never tried Donna Leon until a week ago. I really enjoyed Book 1 of the Brunetti mystery series. A conductor is found dead between acts at the Venetian Opera House, La Fenice, during a performance of La Traviata. It is fairly obvious that it was death by poisoning, but who had access to get the poison into the conductors cup of coffee?? There are plenty of clues, plenty of potential murderers and a lot of backstory about the conductor who apparently was a Nazi in his early life. You get a pretty good flavor for Venice in this book, and it was interesting that it was Brunetti who solves the mystery with very few extra characters involved. Oh we see a doctor here and there, two incompetent police detectives who barely appear in any more than 10 pages, a typical Italian police commissioner, and some flavor for Guido Brunetti's home and family life. I felt the book moved effortlessly, that the characters were believable and that the solution to the crime was very interesting, even though I had sort of figured it out before Brunetti. I now have a lot of Donna Leon's work on my Kindle and look forward to many an enjoyable evening curled up with her and Guido Brunetti.
January 21, 2018
I chose this book, the first in the Commissario Brunetti mystery series, because the setting is Venice, and my family and I will be briefly visiting there soon. Donna Leon does a wonderful job describing the city. If you’re looking for the type of mystery that you can’t put down, this isn’t it. Except for the ending, when it all comes together, this book is more about characters and the setting. A famous, but not particularly likeable conductor is found dead in his dressing room at the La Fenice theatre (Teatro La Fenice), an opera house in Venice.
Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder. I like him, as well as the fact that he adores his wife.
This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing with more in this series.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“He left his office and walked slowly up towards Piazza San Marco. Along the way, he paused to look into shop windows, shocked, as he always was when in the centre of the city, by how quickly their composition was changing. It seemed to him that all the shops that served the native population – pharmacies, shoemakers, groceries – were slowly and inexorably disappearing, replaced by slick boutiques and souvenir shops that catered to the tourists, filled with luminescent plastic gondolas from Taiwan and papier-mâché masks from Hong Kong. It was the desires of the transients, not the needs of the residents, that the city’s merchants answered. He wondered how long it would take before the entire city became a sort of living museum, a place fit only for visiting and not for inhabiting.”
“Why was it that, when children loved you, you knew everything, and when they were angry with you, you knew nothing?”
Brunetti is assigned to investigate the murder. I like him, as well as the fact that he adores his wife.
This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing with more in this series.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“He left his office and walked slowly up towards Piazza San Marco. Along the way, he paused to look into shop windows, shocked, as he always was when in the centre of the city, by how quickly their composition was changing. It seemed to him that all the shops that served the native population – pharmacies, shoemakers, groceries – were slowly and inexorably disappearing, replaced by slick boutiques and souvenir shops that catered to the tourists, filled with luminescent plastic gondolas from Taiwan and papier-mâché masks from Hong Kong. It was the desires of the transients, not the needs of the residents, that the city’s merchants answered. He wondered how long it would take before the entire city became a sort of living museum, a place fit only for visiting and not for inhabiting.”
“Why was it that, when children loved you, you knew everything, and when they were angry with you, you knew nothing?”
September 17, 2023
A slow burner with a satisfying ending. Venice itself is as important a character in this book than any of the human ones. It is beautifully described without romanticising it. We’re shown the beauty and the ugliness in equal measure.
The setting is the Venice Opera House (La Fenice) and the victim is a famous conductor. I enjoyed this concept having worked in classical music and spent a great deal of time with opera singers. The descriptions rang true, although the disrespect shown to the music by the audience isn’t something I’ve ever experienced thankfully. It would annoy me just as much as a member of the audience as it would if I were performing.
I wasn’t blown away by this but it’s the first in a long series and so I assume they get better. I chose to read it only because I’m going to Venice in September and wanted to get in the mood! It’s very well written, however, and so I’ll probably be tempted to read more.
For UK readers, I was amused by the name of one of the characters - a tall woman called Brett Lynch. I couldn’t get the image of Corrie’s Bet Lynch out of my head every time she appeared!
The setting is the Venice Opera House (La Fenice) and the victim is a famous conductor. I enjoyed this concept having worked in classical music and spent a great deal of time with opera singers. The descriptions rang true, although the disrespect shown to the music by the audience isn’t something I’ve ever experienced thankfully. It would annoy me just as much as a member of the audience as it would if I were performing.
I wasn’t blown away by this but it’s the first in a long series and so I assume they get better. I chose to read it only because I’m going to Venice in September and wanted to get in the mood! It’s very well written, however, and so I’ll probably be tempted to read more.
For UK readers, I was amused by the name of one of the characters - a tall woman called Brett Lynch. I couldn’t get the image of Corrie’s Bet Lynch out of my head every time she appeared!
March 1, 2020
3.5. Primera incursión en una de las grandes sagas de la Novela Negra con el Comisario Brunetti. Como me gusta empezar por el principio he ido a por el primer libro de la serie, que se remonta a 1992 y que creo que ya va por más de 20 libros.
Muy al estilo Agatha Christie, con cianuro incluido, la primera mitad del libro muy plana, muy clásica, con su asesinato, y seguimiento de sospechosos, la segunda mitad mejora y es lo que me ha llevado a darle media estrella más. Los personajes bien desarrollados, la localización en Venecia es un punto extra. El desenlace no me ha sorprendido del todo, pero justifica en gran medida muchos de los interrogatorios que se desarrollan a lo largo de la trama, y que hacen el libro lento al principio.
Sin ser nada excepcional, cumple. Intentaré seguir con los siguientes libros en orden cronológico, para ver como evoluciona.
Muy al estilo Agatha Christie, con cianuro incluido, la primera mitad del libro muy plana, muy clásica, con su asesinato, y seguimiento de sospechosos, la segunda mitad mejora y es lo que me ha llevado a darle media estrella más. Los personajes bien desarrollados, la localización en Venecia es un punto extra. El desenlace no me ha sorprendido del todo, pero justifica en gran medida muchos de los interrogatorios que se desarrollan a lo largo de la trama, y que hacen el libro lento al principio.
Sin ser nada excepcional, cumple. Intentaré seguir con los siguientes libros en orden cronológico, para ver como evoluciona.
October 9, 2023
I loved being transported back to Venice. I haven’t been there in over ten years. This is a mystery involving a renowned musical conductor at the famous La Fenice opera house. We meet Guidio Brunetti who investigates the crime.
Very interesting investigation, it seems our conductor is not too popular.
Wonderful who done it.
Very interesting investigation, it seems our conductor is not too popular.
Wonderful who done it.
December 13, 2024
You may or may not have heard of this Venice, Italy mystery series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti.
This particular book was published in 1992.
Readers are treated to an interesting international murder mystery with what appears to be a straightforward crime of a renowned musical conductor during the intermission of an opera.
But...Is he really as beloved as we are led to believe?
As the inspector unravels the victim’s history in an attempt to find the “culprit” we may be surprised at what is determined by the time we come to the end of the novel. 3.5 stars.
This particular book was published in 1992.
Readers are treated to an interesting international murder mystery with what appears to be a straightforward crime of a renowned musical conductor during the intermission of an opera.
But...Is he really as beloved as we are led to believe?
As the inspector unravels the victim’s history in an attempt to find the “culprit” we may be surprised at what is determined by the time we come to the end of the novel. 3.5 stars.
September 9, 2012
I have read @ ten of Donna Leon's books and this review reflects my opinion of most of them. Some have a slightly better story, a little more engaging than others, but for the most part, the books are about Brunetti, and about Venezia, and the Italian people.
Commissario Guido Brunetti is a deep and interesting character, but he is unlike most detectives you’ll find in American mystery books. Brunetti solves crimes with his wits, and all the while deals with crooked politicians; his independent and wonderful wife; and his 2 children, who come complete with the normal teenage problems. Throughout the books, though, Brunetti never loses sight of what is important—food. Leon’s books are as much a culinary delight as a mystery lover’s passion. As I read, I find myself yearning to pop the cork on a bottle of Prosecco and mix up a plate of farfalle with a creamy wild mushroom sauce.
Some have argued that the mystery in Leon’s books isn’t that captivating. I won’t disagree with that, but the characterization and the setting are so wonderful it makes up for it. Signorina Elettra is one of the best characters I’ve come across in books. She adds more flavor to Leon’s books than a sprig of freshly picked lemon basil to a bowl of pasta.
What seals it for me, though, are Leon’s descriptions of Venice, or Venezia. What she describes is so real you will feel as if you’re strolling in Piazza San Marco, or enjoying a brioche at a cafe near the Hotel Danieli. She brings a fresh perspective to plots that have been done before, and her insight into the Italian people is so perfect, all I can do is laugh…and enjoy. If you haven’t read Leon before, and if you’re fond of Italy or the Italian people, rush out and get one of her books. You’ll be glad you did.
Commissario Guido Brunetti is a deep and interesting character, but he is unlike most detectives you’ll find in American mystery books. Brunetti solves crimes with his wits, and all the while deals with crooked politicians; his independent and wonderful wife; and his 2 children, who come complete with the normal teenage problems. Throughout the books, though, Brunetti never loses sight of what is important—food. Leon’s books are as much a culinary delight as a mystery lover’s passion. As I read, I find myself yearning to pop the cork on a bottle of Prosecco and mix up a plate of farfalle with a creamy wild mushroom sauce.
Some have argued that the mystery in Leon’s books isn’t that captivating. I won’t disagree with that, but the characterization and the setting are so wonderful it makes up for it. Signorina Elettra is one of the best characters I’ve come across in books. She adds more flavor to Leon’s books than a sprig of freshly picked lemon basil to a bowl of pasta.
What seals it for me, though, are Leon’s descriptions of Venice, or Venezia. What she describes is so real you will feel as if you’re strolling in Piazza San Marco, or enjoying a brioche at a cafe near the Hotel Danieli. She brings a fresh perspective to plots that have been done before, and her insight into the Italian people is so perfect, all I can do is laugh…and enjoy. If you haven’t read Leon before, and if you’re fond of Italy or the Italian people, rush out and get one of her books. You’ll be glad you did.
April 28, 2018
The first in this long-running series and Brunetti emerges fully-formed from the start with his humane efficiency, and his charming family. The plot doesn't have the same emotional and politicized depths as some of the later books but the Venetian setting and immaculate writing make this stand out in an over-crowded crime marketplace.
January 23, 2023
A great first in a series-wondering what took me so long to pick it up! I loved the setting in Venice, Brunetti and his wife; and the murder taking place during an opera was intriguing. So, I will be going on to the second book sometime soon.
June 9, 2010
Before I get to the review part, can I ask a question of my Goodreads friends? I know some of you probably speak Italian, so can someone please tell me how to properly pronounce "Fenice"? With my years of French I automatically go with "Fe-nees", but I suspect the correct pronunciation might be "Fen-nee-che". Whenever I have to say the title out loud I'm never sure if I'm saying it right and always end up waffling between the two options. So it'd be nice if someone could tell me how to say it right.
Okay, anyway. The story opens at the beginning of the third act of Traviata at the famous Fenice opera in Venice. The conductor, a man named Wellauer, has been found dead of cyanide poisoning in his dressing room. There are plenty of what we'll call The Usual Suspects (I watched Casablanca last night) - a much younger wife, a passionate soprano, a betrayed performer, and plenty of journalists and musicians who know way too many of the conductor's dirty secrets. Enter police commissioner Brunetti, who has to figure out which of these people had the best reason to want the conductor dead.
To do this, he has to dig into Wellauer's past and try to figure out what kind of man he was. This takes many chapters, and lots of interviews over the phone and in restaurants with a variety of people who worked with the conductor over the years. The pace moves slowly, and there are very few major plot-twisting revelations until the very end, where everything suddenly speeds up and I kept expecting Brunetti to put on his sunglasses and tell someone that This Shit Just Got Real.
The story is good, the writing is good, the setting is fantastic, and the mystery is fascinating - it's because of the pace that this book gets four stars instead of five. Maybe it's because I'm used to Agatha Christie, where we get a new startling revelation or clue every couple of chapters, but for some reason this story just dragged a little too much for my taste. For instance, in a scene that's depressingly reminiscent of the infamous Vampire Baseball Scene in Twilight, an entire chapter of Death at La Fenice is devoted to Brunetti playing Monopoly with his family. Sweet, but I wanted the story to focus on, ya know, the murder.
Okay, anyway. The story opens at the beginning of the third act of Traviata at the famous Fenice opera in Venice. The conductor, a man named Wellauer, has been found dead of cyanide poisoning in his dressing room. There are plenty of what we'll call The Usual Suspects (I watched Casablanca last night) - a much younger wife, a passionate soprano, a betrayed performer, and plenty of journalists and musicians who know way too many of the conductor's dirty secrets. Enter police commissioner Brunetti, who has to figure out which of these people had the best reason to want the conductor dead.
To do this, he has to dig into Wellauer's past and try to figure out what kind of man he was. This takes many chapters, and lots of interviews over the phone and in restaurants with a variety of people who worked with the conductor over the years. The pace moves slowly, and there are very few major plot-twisting revelations until the very end, where everything suddenly speeds up and I kept expecting Brunetti to put on his sunglasses and tell someone that This Shit Just Got Real.
The story is good, the writing is good, the setting is fantastic, and the mystery is fascinating - it's because of the pace that this book gets four stars instead of five. Maybe it's because I'm used to Agatha Christie, where we get a new startling revelation or clue every couple of chapters, but for some reason this story just dragged a little too much for my taste. For instance, in a scene that's depressingly reminiscent of the infamous Vampire Baseball Scene in Twilight, an entire chapter of Death at La Fenice is devoted to Brunetti playing Monopoly with his family. Sweet, but I wanted the story to focus on, ya know, the murder.
September 8, 2021
Oh I do so love visiting a foreign city and reading this book was as good as wandering around Venice for real. A great character in Commisario Brunetti who comes alive in front of one’s eyes. Great plotting and beautiful descriptions which evoke the reality of Venice. I have not read Brunetti in order so starting at the beginning is a bit strange but it feels rather good. I look forward to catching up on the other ones I have missed!
March 18, 2021
Excellent start to this popular and highly recommended series. I’m looking forward to reading the 30 odd other books in the series!
March 29, 2025
I have read a few Donna Leon's Brunetti novels and finaly have gotten to the first of a 30 plus book series. In this book we meet Brunetti when hé goes to the opera because the conductor of the Orchestra has been found dead. And death by poison, which becomes a murder investigation. We follow our Venetian investigator who on a pedestrian speed goes about his investigations. Which illustrates the City of Venice and the Italian way of life.
This series can be considered Italian cozy taking place in the City of Venice.
While reading this book I discovered that this series of Italian Police novels never were translated into the Italian language. Which perhaps stops a large group of Italian readers but there are those who read English. So I find her choice somewhat puzzling.
This book however was an interesting journey with an interesting idea.
This series can be considered Italian cozy taking place in the City of Venice.
While reading this book I discovered that this series of Italian Police novels never were translated into the Italian language. Which perhaps stops a large group of Italian readers but there are those who read English. So I find her choice somewhat puzzling.
This book however was an interesting journey with an interesting idea.
November 25, 2012
Commissario Guido Brunetti is called to Venice's La Fenice, the city's premiere opera house, when the infamous maestro Helmut Wallhauer is found dead in his dressing room after intermission. Brunetti must quickly solve this case as the victim's high profile creates added pressure on city officials to provide answers.
Brunetti is introduced in this first book of the series and he is an interesting study. His investigation style probably conforms with that of his city's culture, more of a laid back, meandering approach to getting answers without a clearly defined plan. After having read so many murder and mayhem books of late, I found Guido Brunetti to be refreshing once I settled back, relaxed and convinced myself that there weren't going to be any serial killers here (for now). Brunetti's family is also quite interesting in their normalcy as well as with their individuality. His way of handling the incompetents around him was also an interesting study. Brunetti isn't perfect and that was evident in this story. I learned just enough about him to want more. The realm of suspects wasn't that large so it allowed me to delve into those characters as Brunetti uncovered information. It was more of a challenge keeping up with those who provided the flavor.
Overall, I found the combination of an interesting character, the Italian setting and culture and a puzzling death made for a very pleasant reading experience. I will definitely be continuing this series.
Brunetti is introduced in this first book of the series and he is an interesting study. His investigation style probably conforms with that of his city's culture, more of a laid back, meandering approach to getting answers without a clearly defined plan. After having read so many murder and mayhem books of late, I found Guido Brunetti to be refreshing once I settled back, relaxed and convinced myself that there weren't going to be any serial killers here (for now). Brunetti's family is also quite interesting in their normalcy as well as with their individuality. His way of handling the incompetents around him was also an interesting study. Brunetti isn't perfect and that was evident in this story. I learned just enough about him to want more. The realm of suspects wasn't that large so it allowed me to delve into those characters as Brunetti uncovered information. It was more of a challenge keeping up with those who provided the flavor.
Overall, I found the combination of an interesting character, the Italian setting and culture and a puzzling death made for a very pleasant reading experience. I will definitely be continuing this series.
February 19, 2020
This novel is about a world-famous conductor who is poisoned in his dressing room during an intermission. Commissario Brunetti, in his first outing, must dig deep into the man's past to find out who could possibly have wanted to do such a thing. Turns out there were quite a few people who had reason to dislike him, but enough for murder? I did guess the primary aspect of the case long before it was revealed, but it did not spoil the story, because there were still more mysteries to be uncovered. (Perhaps the author even knew that some readers would come to the same correct conclusion; it almost seems too obvious.) I liked Brunetti and his family, in fact those scenes were among my favorites. A very enjoyable mystery and I may read some more of them in the future.
July 10, 2025
I read this book a few years ago and it was the 1st one of Donna Leon's that I read and I was hooked. She has created an interesting series around the Venetian character Commissario Brunetti, who has a strong, intelligent wife who I think might be an alter ego of Ms Leon (?) I love Donna Leon's books...xo
June 22, 2019
Es gibt kaum ein Genre das mich mittlerweile mehr langweilt und nervt als Thriller (ok, der ganze New-Adult-Romantasykram und wie sie alle heißen mal ausgenommen). Ab und zu lese ich aber gerne einen Krimi in dem die Lösungen nicht auf Teufel komm raus schockieren müssen und dadurch an Logik und Glaubwürdigkeit einbüßen. Bevorzugt lese ich die Krimi-Klassiker von Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes oder auch Edgar Wallace, die auf dem englischen Land spielen und in mir oft ein heimeliges Gefühl auslösen.
Brunetti mit dem Schauplatz Venedig mochte ich ebenfalls gerne und lässt sich gut zur Entspannung lesen. Im Vergleich zu Christie oder Wallace ist zumindest dieser erste Band relativ handlungsarm, bis ca. 75% des Buches passiert nichts von Bedeutung, es werden auch nicht ständig neue, interessante Hinweise entdeckt. Venedig ist hier im Mittelpunkt, es wird viel über die Stadt aber auch die Personen geschrieben, was vielleicht etwas langweilig war im Vergleich zu Christie, mich durch die Kürze des Buches aber trotzdem bei der Stange halten konnte. Ich mochte außerdem die Beschreibungen der Stadt und auch die langsame Ermittlung hat mich letztlich nicht gestört, das war besonders im Vergleich zu den Hau-drauf-Krimis bzw. Thrillern sehr entschleunigend und angenehm. Ich fand es zusätzlich sehr positiv, dass der Kommissar mal ausnahmsweise keine dunkle, tragische Vergangenheit hat die im Mittelpunkt steht, sondern im Gegenteil sogar eine ganz harmonische Familie besitzt.
Insgesamt also ein solider Krimi der mich unterhalten konnte, eher entspanned als spannend ist und mich teilweise sogar mit Humor überraschen konnte.
Brunetti mit dem Schauplatz Venedig mochte ich ebenfalls gerne und lässt sich gut zur Entspannung lesen. Im Vergleich zu Christie oder Wallace ist zumindest dieser erste Band relativ handlungsarm, bis ca. 75% des Buches passiert nichts von Bedeutung, es werden auch nicht ständig neue, interessante Hinweise entdeckt. Venedig ist hier im Mittelpunkt, es wird viel über die Stadt aber auch die Personen geschrieben, was vielleicht etwas langweilig war im Vergleich zu Christie, mich durch die Kürze des Buches aber trotzdem bei der Stange halten konnte. Ich mochte außerdem die Beschreibungen der Stadt und auch die langsame Ermittlung hat mich letztlich nicht gestört, das war besonders im Vergleich zu den Hau-drauf-Krimis bzw. Thrillern sehr entschleunigend und angenehm. Ich fand es zusätzlich sehr positiv, dass der Kommissar mal ausnahmsweise keine dunkle, tragische Vergangenheit hat die im Mittelpunkt steht, sondern im Gegenteil sogar eine ganz harmonische Familie besitzt.
Insgesamt also ein solider Krimi der mich unterhalten konnte, eher entspanned als spannend ist und mich teilweise sogar mit Humor überraschen konnte.
June 16, 2019
It’s a decent book. I correctly identified who it was very early on. That being said it was still an enjoyable read but I’m unsure if I’ll read another
October 22, 2022
I picked this up because of the good reviews I found on Goodreads. Alas, I was disappointed. This book is so slow that I had a hard time staying awake at night (when I do most of my reading). There is no action in this story except for yada, yada, yada. Since this is the first Leon I have read I may try another to see if I can get into it. This one is not recommended to anyone other than major Leon fans.
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