book data
242 ratings, 3.87 average rating, 37 reviews
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published
August 30th 2004
by Penguin (Non-Classics)
binding
Paperback, 416 pages
isbn
0142004960
(isbn13: 9780142004968)
description
Donna Leon's growing American fan base is hungry for more of the books from her internationally bestselling series featuring Commissario Guido Brunett...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 310)
Another great atmospheric book with the wonderful Venetian Inspector Guido Brunetti.
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#5 Commissario Guido Brunetti police procedural set in Venice, Italy. Guido starts out investigating the assault of Brett Lynch, an American archaeologist/pottery expert who is in Venice visiting her lover, one of the opera singers who was featured in Leon’s first book, Death at La Fenice. Brett is threatened and told not to attend a meeting she had set up with a local museum director to discuss some antiquities that had been in a display from China that she’d spearheaded a couple of years e...more
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Read in July, 2008
ACQUA ALTA (Pol. Proc.-Comm. Guido Brunette-Venice, Italy, Cont) - Ex
Leon, Donna – 5th in series
Penquin, 1996, US Paperback – ISBN:0142004960
First Sentence: Domestic tranquility prevailed.
Commissario Guido Brunetti sees the report of an assault on a woman he’d met during a previous case. Art historian Dotoressa Brett Lynch, staying with her lover, opera diva Flavia Petrelli, is in Venice to meet museum curator, Dottor Semenzati regarding ancient Chinese pots that had been on ...more
Leon, Donna – 5th in series
Penquin, 1996, US Paperback – ISBN:0142004960
First Sentence: Domestic tranquility prevailed.
Commissario Guido Brunetti sees the report of an assault on a woman he’d met during a previous case. Art historian Dotoressa Brett Lynch, staying with her lover, opera diva Flavia Petrelli, is in Venice to meet museum curator, Dottor Semenzati regarding ancient Chinese pots that had been on ...more
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Read in March, 2008
Aqua Alta, by Donna Leon. Narrated by Anna Fields, Produced by Blackstone Audio. B-plus.
This is only my second Leon book. I have recently purchased the early Guido Brunetti books because Anna Fields narrated them. This one was also very good, although not quite as good as Death at La Fenice.
In this book, an art curator is beaten very seriously in her home and the thugs who did it are run off by her lover, a famous opera diva. Brunetti has to get the trust of the two women who are us...more
This is only my second Leon book. I have recently purchased the early Guido Brunetti books because Anna Fields narrated them. This one was also very good, although not quite as good as Death at La Fenice.
In this book, an art curator is beaten very seriously in her home and the thugs who did it are run off by her lover, a famous opera diva. Brunetti has to get the trust of the two women who are us...more
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I wanted to like this book, it seemed like an RP in the school of Fred Vargas or Simenon but I found it moved slowly, and, in the few chapters I made it through, it made Venice seem like a completely horrible charmless city, and not even in a fascinatingly corrup way just... icky. I think if I loved Italy more, I would have enjoyed this book more.
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3 comments
Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in July, 2007
Just started last night (half-way through). My attempt to reinstate Leon, after two rather slow first efforts. So far, so good. Moving along nicely, with a good mix of plot and setting. Characters have enough depth to get my interest.
(next morning) Finished! "Come back, Donna Leon; all is forgiven."
Good dialogue, moves well, with neat, escalating plot twists and occasional chunks of interesting hard info (Chinese pottery, for instance); having an opera diva get down-and-dirty in ...more
(next morning) Finished! "Come back, Donna Leon; all is forgiven."
Good dialogue, moves well, with neat, escalating plot twists and occasional chunks of interesting hard info (Chinese pottery, for instance); having an opera diva get down-and-dirty in ...more
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Love all the Donna Leon books. Every time I read one, I try to visualize Venice and remember my trip there.
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Read in November, 2008
I used to be such a big fan of mysteries, but I feel like lately I keep picking up books that aren't bad per se, but are simply pretty middle-of-the-road examples of the genre. Of course, the fact that I'm picking most of these up from the free table at work probably has something to do with that. Anyway, Acqua Alta by Donna Leon is a fine read, but nothing special. Commissario Guido Brunetti is just kind of this guy, you know, thou...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Venice lovers
Donna Leon gets it right this time. And the story is exciting, beautiful, rich in detail and most of all memorable. The excitement leading up to the climax of this story is great. The form is perfect. Acqua Alta are the extremely high tides that flood Venice especially in the winter. Who know's what's floating around in that murky water! As always, it's Commissario Brunetti who will find the truth.
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Read in September, 2007
Very well written mystery. This whole series is excellent. The Venetian setting adds a lot. In this one, a flood inundating the buildings is a key element to the plot and adds a feeling of desperation and isolation. Guido Brunetti, the Venetian police detective, is a great character.
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Read in February, 2006
I read a review in Booknotes magazine that said that Acqua Alta was every Leon reader's favorite of her novels. I was indignant at first, since I thought that a different one was better, till I realized that the one I loved was Acqua Alta, so I have to agree, that this one is the best.
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This series of mystery novels set in Venice, Italy have a strong central character and backgrounds that deal with different aspects of life in the current Italy. They won't make you admire Italian government but they are fascinating.
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Well I do like Brunetti. And who can't love Venice. However, I found a third of the way through this that I just didn't care whodunit. As it is a murder mystery I identified that as an obstacle to the appreciation of the book.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
mystery lovers, travellers
I'm in the process of reading the whole series. These are truly delightful mysteries, with a cast of characters I've come to know and love. The real joy here, however, is the sense of getting to know Venice.
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Read in January, 1998
Read any one of her richly atmospheric 14 mysteries based in Venice. The characters are terrific, the plots teach you all about Venice and its approach to "law" and the food makes me want to get there today.
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Read in October, 2006
While Leon's probably best known for her ability to capture the soul of Venice, she's equally adept at characters as well - this one's especially good at making you care.
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Read in April, 2008
Very good mystery. Leon writes great descriptions of Venice and the detective is very likeable. Not as good as my favorite Mrs. Christie but enjoyable nonetheless.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in November, 2007
I started this book in Venice, so found it fascinating as I could relate to the maze of streets and canals described in the book. Made me want to spend more time in Venice.
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Read in December, 2007
Thanks to Ruth S. for turning me onto this series by Donna Leon. This is the fourth in the series. If you like mysteries or Italy, you may find this to be nice escapism.
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I am working my way through this series (have about 5 to go)- great whodunits set in Venice with excellent characters you really care about. LOVE this author!
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