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Inspector Pallioti #1
Faces of Angels
A sweltering day in Florence, and newly-wed art student Mary Warren breaks away from her tour group in the Boboli Gardens to wander into a shady tunnel of trees. But the tranquil setting conceals a complex maze and a masked killer: within minutes Mary has been severely attacked and her husband brutally murdered.
A year later and the ‘Honeymoon Killer’, Karel Indrizzio, is dead and Mary is living a restless life in Philadelphia. Her scars are a constant reminder of that dreadful day, but in an effort to help her forget, her friend – attractive journalist, Pierangelo – invites her to return to Italy.
However, in this city Mary’s dark secret cannot stay buried for long. For there is a new menace stalking the women of Florence, and his technique is startlingly reminiscent of her own attacker’s. Piero is following the deadly trail and Mary soon recognizes terrifying implications and patterns in his research: either this is a copycat, or her husband’s murderer is still at large . . .
A year later and the ‘Honeymoon Killer’, Karel Indrizzio, is dead and Mary is living a restless life in Philadelphia. Her scars are a constant reminder of that dreadful day, but in an effort to help her forget, her friend – attractive journalist, Pierangelo – invites her to return to Italy.
However, in this city Mary’s dark secret cannot stay buried for long. For there is a new menace stalking the women of Florence, and his technique is startlingly reminiscent of her own attacker’s. Piero is following the deadly trail and Mary soon recognizes terrifying implications and patterns in his research: either this is a copycat, or her husband’s murderer is still at large . . .
440 pages, Hardcover
First published July 7, 2006
89 people are currently reading
1201 people want to read
About the author
Lucretia Grindle
10 books70 followersLucretia Grindle was born in Boston Massachusetts and grew up spending half her time in the United States and half her time in the UK. Continuing as she started out, she still splits her time, but now calls the coast of Maine home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 6, 2011
Lucretia Grindle's The Villa Triste made my top ten last year, I've recently really enjoyed The Nightspinners, and this one - the middle novel of the three - was equally excellent. I'm not really much of a thriller/murder reader but this was in a different class. One of the main characters was really Florence itself - you really live and breathe it, walk the streets, stand on the balconies, feel the fear in the dark alleys. And there's a pervading atmosphere of fear and danger all through this book - there's times I really needed to take a really deep breath! The mystery is really well constructed - fantastic clue dropping, twists and turns, and just as you feel you've cracked it along with Mary it slips from your fingers again. I thought it was absolutely superb, and can't wait for her next book due out in August. Write faster Lucretia!
May 20, 2025
This book started with real promise. The opening chapter had a beautifully written, almost ethereal tone that immediately pulled me in. The atmosphere was strong, the narrative voice compelling, and the setup suggested an intelligent, slow-burn psychological thriller with real emotional depth.
But then the middle happened.
The story meanders for a long stretch, drifting into what feels more like pages and pages of Mary exploring Florence, sitting in cafés, going to galleries... and not much in the way of tension or forward motion. It’s less thriller, more what Mary did on her holidays. That middle section is genuinely tedious, and I think many readers would struggle to stay engaged through it.
Thankfully, the final third improves. The suspense kicks in again, and there’s solid tension leading up to the conclusion. The ending makes sense and wraps things up well enough, but it also feels rushed, like the book realized too late that it needed to be a thriller again. It’s frustrating, because when the book is good, it’s really good. It just spends far too long drifting before it gets there.
Worth reading if you’re patient and like atmospheric stories with a psychological tilt, but manage expectations. This one could have been excellent with tighter editing and more consistent pacing
But then the middle happened.
The story meanders for a long stretch, drifting into what feels more like pages and pages of Mary exploring Florence, sitting in cafés, going to galleries... and not much in the way of tension or forward motion. It’s less thriller, more what Mary did on her holidays. That middle section is genuinely tedious, and I think many readers would struggle to stay engaged through it.
Thankfully, the final third improves. The suspense kicks in again, and there’s solid tension leading up to the conclusion. The ending makes sense and wraps things up well enough, but it also feels rushed, like the book realized too late that it needed to be a thriller again. It’s frustrating, because when the book is good, it’s really good. It just spends far too long drifting before it gets there.
Worth reading if you’re patient and like atmospheric stories with a psychological tilt, but manage expectations. This one could have been excellent with tighter editing and more consistent pacing
January 1, 2012
Set in Florence, Italy, this is a suspense thriller having to do with an American art student who is attacked and tortured by a masked assailant when she wanders off the sight-seeing path into a dark glade. Her husband is murdered in an attempt to rescue her. This flight off the path symbolizes Mary's reckless and curious nature which intensifies the tension and suspense throughout the novel. The title of the book hints at the multiple faces of "angels."
Mary/Maria returns to Florence a couple of years after her physical recovery ostensibly to continue her studies, and to reunite with the lover she had just met before her attack. However, the under-current of her return lies in the unrelenting obsession Mary has with resolving who her torturer really was, why he tortured and murdered other women...and what their similarities are.
She is also driven by the need to know if her attacker was actually caught and killed after he tortured her. She has doubts. Then she's horrified and set spinning as a rash of new, similar murders begins to crop up. Is there a copy-cat serial killer, or was the original murderer never really caught?
"The Faces of Angels" is a novel with a clever plot and a perfectly rich setting for art history and gothic intrigue. Lucretia Grindle is a fine writer. I liked her story. A love of architecture and details of great masterpieces in Florence and surrounding countryside makes this book an intimate sort of travelogue. Those things are well and good, and may draw a readership in and of themselves.
What didn't work was the pace of the story. It was slow and was completely mired in unnecessary details.
While Ms Grindle creates strong, engaging characters who act out quite believable scenarios and remain consistent in their roles, they become almost boring in sluggish surrounding details. Too much information not necessary to the plot, and several characters who are superfluous weigh heavily. Florentine beauty is one thing, but too much is nearly devastating to this book.
In a capsule, the good things about the novel: characterization, setting, plot, mystery; all nearly died-on-the-vine because of the "wordiness," and I don't like that experience in reading. This novel hit stall in the bulk of itself. Making this another difficult call to rate as a reviewer.
I cannot recommend "The Faces of Angels" without reservations. My readers need to be aware... I did read to the end because I wanted to know the answer to the mystery, but it took some persistence!
3.5 stars with reservations
Mary/Maria returns to Florence a couple of years after her physical recovery ostensibly to continue her studies, and to reunite with the lover she had just met before her attack. However, the under-current of her return lies in the unrelenting obsession Mary has with resolving who her torturer really was, why he tortured and murdered other women...and what their similarities are.
She is also driven by the need to know if her attacker was actually caught and killed after he tortured her. She has doubts. Then she's horrified and set spinning as a rash of new, similar murders begins to crop up. Is there a copy-cat serial killer, or was the original murderer never really caught?
"The Faces of Angels" is a novel with a clever plot and a perfectly rich setting for art history and gothic intrigue. Lucretia Grindle is a fine writer. I liked her story. A love of architecture and details of great masterpieces in Florence and surrounding countryside makes this book an intimate sort of travelogue. Those things are well and good, and may draw a readership in and of themselves.
What didn't work was the pace of the story. It was slow and was completely mired in unnecessary details.
While Ms Grindle creates strong, engaging characters who act out quite believable scenarios and remain consistent in their roles, they become almost boring in sluggish surrounding details. Too much information not necessary to the plot, and several characters who are superfluous weigh heavily. Florentine beauty is one thing, but too much is nearly devastating to this book.
In a capsule, the good things about the novel: characterization, setting, plot, mystery; all nearly died-on-the-vine because of the "wordiness," and I don't like that experience in reading. This novel hit stall in the bulk of itself. Making this another difficult call to rate as a reviewer.
I cannot recommend "The Faces of Angels" without reservations. My readers need to be aware... I did read to the end because I wanted to know the answer to the mystery, but it took some persistence!
3.5 stars with reservations
May 12, 2019
This book is the first in a trilogy with Inspector Pallioti who only has a small role in this book. Mary Warren is the narrator and takes us through the story the whole time. I've been to Florence twice, each time staying there for a week-and-a-half and I love the city. I've been to Fiesole also, so I know the sounds, smells, colours and general atmosphere. This certainly adds to it for me but I think that it's also highly enjoyable if you've never been there.
The story is slow-moving but interesting. It is more a psychological thriller than an action-packed page turner, so be aware of that. The city of Florence is very much a presence, almost a character in the book and is described in great detail, which I liked very much. There is plenty of suspense and the creepy Opus Dei organisation is also involved and the tension builds palpably, and the pace quickens towards the end of the book. I'm looking forward to the other two books in the series.
The story is slow-moving but interesting. It is more a psychological thriller than an action-packed page turner, so be aware of that. The city of Florence is very much a presence, almost a character in the book and is described in great detail, which I liked very much. There is plenty of suspense and the creepy Opus Dei organisation is also involved and the tension builds palpably, and the pace quickens towards the end of the book. I'm looking forward to the other two books in the series.
July 3, 2012
this is one of those books that really pulls you in and hooks you although the pace is slow..set in Florence it really evokes the city and all of its wonders but there is also a dark side ala Venice in "Don't Look Now". I kept getting signs of approaching creepiness and sometimes have to put it down if I am not ready to do creepy at that moment.
Finished the book finally - the pace was too slow but it is a good read...
Finished the book finally - the pace was too slow but it is a good read...
December 30, 2021
Another great novel by Lucretia Grindle - the minute the setting is anywhere in Italy I am hooked but Florence made it even more appealing. Has all the great elements of a detective/mystery book and adds in lovely food, setting and atmosphere. Loved every minute of it and struggled to predict the ending.
July 23, 2011
This book managed to keep me interested, although it could've been slightly more fast-paced. But the storyline has such great potential (wouldn't be surprised if a movie follows) and at least the ending managed to keep some elements of surprise. Would recommend it.
July 23, 2017
Dit boek was blijkbaar geschreven vóór de twee andere delen met Ispettore Pallioti in de hoofdrol. Dat was eerst even wennen, onwillekeurig zat ik op hem te wachten. Gelukkig bleek dit boek ook een goed verhaal te hebben met kop-staart waardoor het een fijne leeservaring was!
February 10, 2022
Sehr auf Stadt, Geschichte und Kultur von Florenz bezogen, aber durchaus spannende Story !
January 20, 2018
Crime mystery set in FLORENCE
3.75
I have often heard it said that Lucretia Grindle is to Florence what Donna Leon is to Venice, and therefore I have had my eye on reviewing one of her titles for some time now.
And I am pleased to report that from a literary wanderlust point of view, The Faces of Angels is an excellent novel to transport you to Florence, from the Boboli Gardens to the darker passageways of the city. The author has a real talent for creating atmosphere and a terrific sense of place. The characters even take a trip to Vicolo for an ice cream, and the wonderful Farmacia Santa Maria Novella also gets a mention. The characters venture further afield to places such as Fiesole.
Mary Warren/Thorcroft is in the final throes of her marriage to Ty, when they decamp to Florence for 6 months. She is after all a young woman from Pennsylvania who dreamed about being anywhere but there. She soon gains a lover, Pierangelo, to take her mind off her relationship issues. One day, sauntering though the Boboli Gardens, she is violently attacked, Ty comes to her rescue but is murdered by her assailant. The attacker, Karel Indrizzio is caught, and on the way to a prison facility in Milan, the car in which he is travelling catches fire and he dies.
After a period of recuperation in America, following the murder of her husband, she is back in Florence, essentially to be with her lover (it all sounds a bit tacky, but the author handles this sensitively). She embarks on an art history course in the city, sharing an apartment with Billy (a female room-mate, lest there should be any confusion about Mary’s moral compass now that she is in a more committed relationship with new beau, Pierangelo). As she settles into her life in Florence she becomes alarmingly aware of a series of grisly murders, young women whose lives are cut short. Karel Indrizzio may be dead but the perpetrator uses the same modus operandi as Indrizzio; is he perhaps nevertheless still alive and well, or is a copycat killer at work? She feels observed, mystery figures (especially with amber eyes) darting among the shadows… Is she imagining things, is fear preying on her mind?
There are many allusions to liturgical symbolism bound up in the murders, and much contemplation of the iconography within paintings (which will interest readers who like art), The author intricately weaves these into her plot, throwing in a few red herrings along the way, and keeping the reader guessing until the end. There is a lot of well informed and intelligent storytelling…
Overall, however, the author makes quite heavy weather of the narrative, the analogy of eating a dense and worthy sponge cake kept coming to haunt me, and I longed for a storyline with a lighter touch.
And why on earth the multiple use of “anyways” (twice on one page) wasn’t edited out, I really don’t know, because its over-use rather began to grate.
If you want a story where Florence is a large character in its own right, then give this book a go!
FLORENCE: "This is what I love about this city", muses Mary, "the sense that it’s made of magic boxes, that not only does time slide back and forth – suggesting you might turn a corner and run into Beatrice, or Byron, or the ancient Botticellli, raving, with spittle in his beard and God in his eyes…One second you’re standing in front of a wild baroque altar, the next you’re o a medieval battlement, or wandering in an olive grove. Add Fiesole, and you’ll get a Roman bath or an Etruscan shrine“. Now THAT is Florence!
3.75
I have often heard it said that Lucretia Grindle is to Florence what Donna Leon is to Venice, and therefore I have had my eye on reviewing one of her titles for some time now.
And I am pleased to report that from a literary wanderlust point of view, The Faces of Angels is an excellent novel to transport you to Florence, from the Boboli Gardens to the darker passageways of the city. The author has a real talent for creating atmosphere and a terrific sense of place. The characters even take a trip to Vicolo for an ice cream, and the wonderful Farmacia Santa Maria Novella also gets a mention. The characters venture further afield to places such as Fiesole.
Mary Warren/Thorcroft is in the final throes of her marriage to Ty, when they decamp to Florence for 6 months. She is after all a young woman from Pennsylvania who dreamed about being anywhere but there. She soon gains a lover, Pierangelo, to take her mind off her relationship issues. One day, sauntering though the Boboli Gardens, she is violently attacked, Ty comes to her rescue but is murdered by her assailant. The attacker, Karel Indrizzio is caught, and on the way to a prison facility in Milan, the car in which he is travelling catches fire and he dies.
After a period of recuperation in America, following the murder of her husband, she is back in Florence, essentially to be with her lover (it all sounds a bit tacky, but the author handles this sensitively). She embarks on an art history course in the city, sharing an apartment with Billy (a female room-mate, lest there should be any confusion about Mary’s moral compass now that she is in a more committed relationship with new beau, Pierangelo). As she settles into her life in Florence she becomes alarmingly aware of a series of grisly murders, young women whose lives are cut short. Karel Indrizzio may be dead but the perpetrator uses the same modus operandi as Indrizzio; is he perhaps nevertheless still alive and well, or is a copycat killer at work? She feels observed, mystery figures (especially with amber eyes) darting among the shadows… Is she imagining things, is fear preying on her mind?
There are many allusions to liturgical symbolism bound up in the murders, and much contemplation of the iconography within paintings (which will interest readers who like art), The author intricately weaves these into her plot, throwing in a few red herrings along the way, and keeping the reader guessing until the end. There is a lot of well informed and intelligent storytelling…
Overall, however, the author makes quite heavy weather of the narrative, the analogy of eating a dense and worthy sponge cake kept coming to haunt me, and I longed for a storyline with a lighter touch.
And why on earth the multiple use of “anyways” (twice on one page) wasn’t edited out, I really don’t know, because its over-use rather began to grate.
If you want a story where Florence is a large character in its own right, then give this book a go!
FLORENCE: "This is what I love about this city", muses Mary, "the sense that it’s made of magic boxes, that not only does time slide back and forth – suggesting you might turn a corner and run into Beatrice, or Byron, or the ancient Botticellli, raving, with spittle in his beard and God in his eyes…One second you’re standing in front of a wild baroque altar, the next you’re o a medieval battlement, or wandering in an olive grove. Add Fiesole, and you’ll get a Roman bath or an Etruscan shrine“. Now THAT is Florence!
March 26, 2013
(3.5 stars) Mary is returning to Florence after taking time away to set her life in order after a brutal attack on her and the murder of her husband as he tried to protect her. His seemingly selfless act is tempered by the fact that Mary was having an affair with a journalist there, and is now returning to be with Piero. While her husband had journeyed to Italy to be part of a gathering of religious people, Mary went as an art student and is now returning to continue her studies after the death of her assailant prior to trial. Her roommate and fellow students know nothing of her past, but Mary finds that it is coming back to haunt her. She is visited by the priest to whom she confessed her infidelity, also a member of the religious gathering, and is disturbed when she finds out about a suspicious death, mimicking what was seen in her case. Is this a copycat? Or is the real killer still on the loose? Mary finds herself drawn in to investigating on her own, and later with her roommate, who has put some of the pieces together herself. While the story initially leads you towards some conclusions, there are some surprising twists and turns along the way. While not the most sympathetic protagonist at first, Mary is an intriguing character caught up in an interesting mystery/thriller.
June 30, 2014
I picked this up on the off-chance through the Kindle deal of the day - so glad I did!
This is a cracking good read with the suspense kept right the way to the very end. What's more, despite the fact that normally I find writing in the present tense very off-putting, this is so enthralling that you don't notice. At the outset, Mary, the person telling the tale, is attacked in Florence and her husband is killed. What follows is the story of what happens when she returns to Florence over a year later and fears she is seeing a copycat killer. The psychological tension is superbly handled, so that the reader feels Mary's panic and also her doubts as to whether she's just imagining connections. The hidden star of the book is Florence itself - without indulging in superfluous descriptions, the author evokes the atmosphere of the city and its characteristics so well you can almost taste and smell the place.
This is the first book of Lucretia Grindle's I've read, but I'll definitely be looking for more!
This is a cracking good read with the suspense kept right the way to the very end. What's more, despite the fact that normally I find writing in the present tense very off-putting, this is so enthralling that you don't notice. At the outset, Mary, the person telling the tale, is attacked in Florence and her husband is killed. What follows is the story of what happens when she returns to Florence over a year later and fears she is seeing a copycat killer. The psychological tension is superbly handled, so that the reader feels Mary's panic and also her doubts as to whether she's just imagining connections. The hidden star of the book is Florence itself - without indulging in superfluous descriptions, the author evokes the atmosphere of the city and its characteristics so well you can almost taste and smell the place.
This is the first book of Lucretia Grindle's I've read, but I'll definitely be looking for more!
August 29, 2016
Set in Florence, Italy, Faces of Angels begins when an American couple has moved to Florence. The husband teaches a a nearby school. His wife exploring the stunning city faces her truths. First, she loves Florence. Second, she does not love her husband. She is not even sure she ever loved him. Lastly, her heart is now is the hands of her Italian lover.
On a fateful day, her life changes forever. While exploring the ruins of Florence, she is brutally attacked. Her husband gives his life to save her.
After returning to the U.S., she buries her husband. Her attacker is caught and dies before trial. All she has left is her love for Florence and her lover.
She returns to the city and her lover only to realize the past is far from buried. Soon murder victims are being found and their deaths echo her attack. Did the police arrest the right man? Is there a copy cat? Or is the killer still out there waiting for his next victim?
On a fateful day, her life changes forever. While exploring the ruins of Florence, she is brutally attacked. Her husband gives his life to save her.
After returning to the U.S., she buries her husband. Her attacker is caught and dies before trial. All she has left is her love for Florence and her lover.
She returns to the city and her lover only to realize the past is far from buried. Soon murder victims are being found and their deaths echo her attack. Did the police arrest the right man? Is there a copy cat? Or is the killer still out there waiting for his next victim?
November 26, 2020
I had no idea what this book was about before I bought it from a booksale, but I'm glad I picked it up. The writing style of the author is lyrically pleasing, like poetry.The twists and turns are amazing. The book gives insight into Florence, the Renaissance, the cathedrals, and the greatest artists in Italy. It was a bit confusing for someone who's never been to Florence, so it should have had a map with it. Now the main character wasn't my favourite, the book could have been cut 75-100 page shorter, but it was still an interesting, informative and overall enjoyable read. This book is underrated, while a lot of other books are praised but don't deserve the hype. (Cough, cough. The girl with the dragon tattoo.)
July 12, 2016
Came close to putting this book away many times while reading it.
The first half is painfully slow. I found myself skipping entire pages of what was paradoxically the most rewarding thing about the book... It's descriptions of Florence.
I don't know what genre this book was aspiring too. It's definitely not suspense because I figured out who the killer was shortly after he was introduced. With the pace of the story, it's decidedly not a thriller. And there is no detective work in it to qualify it as s mystery.
The second half... Or maybe last third... Is a tiny bit faster paced and actually held my attention long enough for me to finish the book.
Cannot understand the 5 star reviews!
The first half is painfully slow. I found myself skipping entire pages of what was paradoxically the most rewarding thing about the book... It's descriptions of Florence.
I don't know what genre this book was aspiring too. It's definitely not suspense because I figured out who the killer was shortly after he was introduced. With the pace of the story, it's decidedly not a thriller. And there is no detective work in it to qualify it as s mystery.
The second half... Or maybe last third... Is a tiny bit faster paced and actually held my attention long enough for me to finish the book.
Cannot understand the 5 star reviews!
January 9, 2020
Wow I loved this book. Another found on holiday in Apartments library. I was not sure I would feel comfortable with a story written from a female POV. Obviously too sexist and old. But too be fair it did not matter at all. The story and characters were fleshed out nicely. The tour of Florence added to my desire to go there. Although I may be a bit tetchy about possible serial murderers. As a lapsed Catholic I found the depiction of the faith close to heart. Could have been 3 people on the who did it list. Luckily the killer was on my list. The story pace was excellent. I am lucky also as the book contains another story as well - The Nightspinners. I am looking forward to reading this also.
July 13, 2019
One of those books where the city itself, in this case, Florence, is a leading player. It unfolds, languidly at first, then picking up speed as it approaches the end, with clues scattered along to be collected by perceptive readers (or run back for by those of us whose epiphanies come later). I will look for the others in the series.
January 27, 2012
Gawd help us. If you'd seen your husband killed and nearly bought the ranch yourself in Florence, why would
you go back? And why would you wander around alone, late at night, unless you had a death wish? A deeply
irritating heroine and a slow crawl of a read.
you go back? And why would you wander around alone, late at night, unless you had a death wish? A deeply
irritating heroine and a slow crawl of a read.
September 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! This genre isn’t normally my favourite but the writing is fantastic and the setting and characters are brilliant. Most pleasantly surprised and will def read more of this author
July 8, 2018
Written like poetry, evoking images of Florence as if I was sitting on a terrace or wandering its streets. Beautiful, gripping and mysterious. A great read!
June 19, 2024
Reminds me of Romanticism Lit
I commend the writer for what I can only assume is her extensive knowledge of the art and landscape of Florence. The descriptions are practically their own character, but frankly, I found it dull to read (and eventually began to skim).
Aside from that, the actual characters and the events were far more interesting. Pockets of characters: the art students, the neighbors, the religious nuts, the police, the victims and their loved ones, the MCs lover, and the people whom Mary (the MC) interacts with are all moving parts and potential suspects.
I don't regret reading this which is why I finished it, but I didn't love it. I'd prefer to give this a 3.5 but alas, stars are whole.
I commend the writer for what I can only assume is her extensive knowledge of the art and landscape of Florence. The descriptions are practically their own character, but frankly, I found it dull to read (and eventually began to skim).
Aside from that, the actual characters and the events were far more interesting. Pockets of characters: the art students, the neighbors, the religious nuts, the police, the victims and their loved ones, the MCs lover, and the people whom Mary (the MC) interacts with are all moving parts and potential suspects.
I don't regret reading this which is why I finished it, but I didn't love it. I'd prefer to give this a 3.5 but alas, stars are whole.
March 11, 2024
exceptional writing
I am new to this author and will immediately try to find everything else she has written. I did not know what kind of book this was : mystery, fiction, literary fiction, when i picked it up. But the descriptions of Florence, of history and art, of the ancient Catholic Church, and of each of the characters was compelling. I had to keep reading. I was not expecting the intensity of the friendships, their past lives, or the murders. And this is also a charming love story. I read it in one sitting and am still a little stunned and emotionally drained. One of the best books i have read this year.
I am new to this author and will immediately try to find everything else she has written. I did not know what kind of book this was : mystery, fiction, literary fiction, when i picked it up. But the descriptions of Florence, of history and art, of the ancient Catholic Church, and of each of the characters was compelling. I had to keep reading. I was not expecting the intensity of the friendships, their past lives, or the murders. And this is also a charming love story. I read it in one sitting and am still a little stunned and emotionally drained. One of the best books i have read this year.
January 16, 2020
Did not like this book. It gets 2 stars instead of 1 because I liked the descriptions of the Italian countryside and artwork. Didn’t care for who we found out was the serial killer—didn’t think it made sense with the rest of the book. Also, this book seems so anti religious and anti Catholic...sad.
May 5, 2019
I read Villa Triste and loved it, so I decided to try this book by Lucretia Grindle. One of the rare time I couldn’t finish a book. I did not like the main character and really wasn ‘t into the gruesomeness of all the murders. Just not my cup of tea.
April 14, 2021
Dit was best een leuke thriller, al komt het verhaal wat traag op gang.
Ideaal als je Firenze een beetje kent of beter wil leren kennen. Waarom de stad in de Nederlandse vertaling steevast Florence genoemd wordt en niet Firenze, is me een raadsel en heeft me toch wel wat geïrriteerd.
Ideaal als je Firenze een beetje kent of beter wil leren kennen. Waarom de stad in de Nederlandse vertaling steevast Florence genoemd wordt en niet Firenze, is me een raadsel en heeft me toch wel wat geïrriteerd.
February 11, 2024
This novel is so beautifully written that I wish I was familiar with Florence. That said, having never been there is my only negative comment I can make on this novel. Lovely prose and story line that leaves you guessing till the very end. I recommend this book
December 4, 2024
Sun drenched or blood drenched Italy
I can't decide whether this is a travelogue masquerading as a murder mystery or a murder mystery masquerading as a travelogue.
The characters and the plot are good. However it gets bogged down in details making it way too long in length.
I can't decide whether this is a travelogue masquerading as a murder mystery or a murder mystery masquerading as a travelogue.
The characters and the plot are good. However it gets bogged down in details making it way too long in length.
June 4, 2017
Stared off promising, but quickly went down hill. Very cliched and about 100 pages too long. Rushed at then end and no real conclusion
June 20, 2017
Een gewone whodunnit, beetje te dik, maar prettig vakantielezen.
January 5, 2018
Het boek is geschreven in de ik-vorm; niet echt mijn favoriet. Na een paar hoofdstukken het boek aan de kant gelegd.
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