By Its Cover

Commissario Brunetti #23

by Donna Leon

Donna Leon’s critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling Commissario Guido Brunetti series has attracted readers the world over with the beauty of its setting, the humanity of its characters, and its fearlessness in exploring politics, morality, and contemporary Italian culture. In the pages of Leon’s novels, the beloved conversations of the Brunetti family have drawn on topics of art and literature, but books are at the heart of this novel in a way they never have been before.

One afternoon, Commissario Guido Brunetti gets a frantic call from the director of a prestigious Venetian library. Someone has stolen pages out of several rare books. After a round of questioning, the case seems clear: the culprit must be the man who requested the volumes, an American professor from a Kansas university. The only problem—the man fled the library earlier that day, and after checking his credentials, the American professor doesn’t exist.

As the investigation proceeds, the suspects multiply. And when a seemingly harmless theologian, who had spent three years at the library reading the Fathers of the Church, turns up brutally murdered, Brunetti must question his expectations about what makes a man innocent, or guilty.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Italy, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Detective

237 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Donna 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

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these books, but I'm beginning to tire of Leon's increasing tendency to phone them in. This one concerns the theft and/or destruction of ancient, priceless books and manuscripts, a subject that should be close to my heart. Brunetti's apparent ignorance of the subject and his skillful questioning of those involved so he can make himself smart is handled well and gives the reader at least a smattering of knowledge. But there's nothing deep to this one. Leon presumes we all know all the background of the cast, gives us very little motivation for anything or anybody, offers some flip remarks about the in depth, inbred crime rampant in modern day Venice, offers enchanting descriptions of Venetian scenery, throws in a few mentions of food (the hallmark of previous volumes), and comes to such an absolutely abrupt halt that I had to go and double-check to make sure my download of the e-galley hadn't been corrupted. Sorta like she ran out of steam and said "ok,,, I'm done now....I'm off to the opera."

Really disappointing. I guess it could be a stand alone, but I'm not sure if I started here if I'd ever want to read any others. The subject matter should have made it much more interesting than it did, and I miss the sharp repartèe so common to her characters in earlier books. Much as I hate to see Brunetti go, I may be more reluctant to read any more of these if she doesn't find the old spark again.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 23rd book in the 'Commissario Guido Brunetti' series, the Italian policeman investigates the destruction of valuable old manuscripts and the murder of a former priest. The mystery can be read as a standalone.



*****

The Biblioteca Merula in Venice has experienced a terrible desecration: a number of valuable old books have been stolen and others have had pages cut out.



When Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates, Dottoressa Fabbiani - the chief librarian - tells him an American scholar, Dr. Joseph Nickerson, had been reading the cut up books.



Brunetti also learns that another ardent reader, former priest Aldo Franchini, has been coming to the library for years to read 'Fathers of the Church'.



Before long Brunetti discovers that Nickerson's credentials were falsified and that Franchini has been murdered. He also learns that book theft has become rampant in the country, with valuable tomes disappearing from libraries across Italy.



While investigating the murder and thefts Brunetti learns a bit about obsessive collectors, greedy villains, and certain members of the Italian aristocracy. As always his boss's fashionable secretary, Signorina Elettra, provides valuable computer assistance as well as a touch of humor.



Much of the charm of Donna Leon's books lie in the ambiance, including snippets about Venice - the canals and cafés, and Brunetti's warm interactions with his children and wife Paola - a scholar, teacher, and excellent cook. Paola's delicious meals are one of the highlights of the series. 💕





Brunetti and his team conduct their investigation and solve the crime in an efficient manner, but without much excitement. This is a mildly entertaining quick read with familiar likable characters.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Labijose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Durante muchos años fui un ávido seguidor de Donna Leon y su comisario Brunetti. Finalmente quedé un poco saturado, ya que las sucesivas entregas no me aportaban mucha satisfacción. He decidido retomar su lectura por la número 23, y sigo con la idea de que la serie anda bastante estancada. El robo en la biblioteca veneciana y su posterior investigación se hacen bastante aburridos. Incluso la parte culinaria, una de las más destacadas a lo largo de todas las novelas, me ha parecido repetitiva. Aún así, no es una lectura desdeñable, sobre todo si eres un lector nuevo a esta escritora, pues te encontrarás con una Venecia como ningún turista jamás podría imaginar. Pero para los que somos seguidores del comisario y su entorno desde el principio, necesitamos una renovación que en estas páginas está muy lejos de producirse.

[Jeff Eastman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I'm simply tiring of Donna Leon's formula, but I found this book to plod along in a too predictable fashion. It has all the expected things of a Commissario Brunetti mystery, including descriptions that make one see Venice through Brunetti's eyes. His interactions with his family and the too clever Signorina Elettra, along with his love of Venetian food and Italian history are just rehashes of things that have happened in every other book in the series. In short, there was simply nothing new to spark my interest or make me look forward to the next in the series.

[آبتین گلکار · Rating 2 out of 5]

ترجمة نسبتاً خوبی داشت، ولی به نسبت کتاب‌های پلیسی بیش از حد کُند و سنگین به نظرم رسید و از پایانش هم اصلاً خوشم نیومد

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s set in Venice. Much time is spent thinking about drinking coffee or actually drinking coffee. Much of the rest of the time is devoted the consumption of delicious meals. The crime? Well that’s all about books. It ticks most of my boxes – what’s not to like!

I look forward each April to the latest instalment of Donna Leon’s ruminations on the foibles and customs of this wonderful city, all dressed up as a detective novel. The crime always pays second fiddle to Venice and its people, and it’s all the better for it. So grab a copy, pour yourself a coffee, relax and enjoy.

[Larraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Italy is the capital of the slow food movement, then Donna Leon fits right in with her Brunetti series which takes place in Venice. Like her other books, this one opens slowly as the reader puts one piece of the puzzle in after another. There are so many delicious asides - such as nearly a whole page devoted to Brunetti's gray suit. Then there are the domestic scenes with his wife, Paola and their two children. The book takes place in the spring. This was, for me, very appropriate. As Brunetti feels the warmth of the sun after a cold, wet winter, I could completely understand since we also had an exceptionally cold, wet and VERY long winter this year! This series is not for those who are looking for action or a lot of red herrings. Brunetti is a thoughtful investigator who doesn't rush. A private library has recently experienced a series of thefts - both of entire books, but also of books being vandalized by having their illustrated pages sliced out to be sold to collectors. An American professor, Joseph Nickerson, from a university in Kansas presents his credentials including a letter from the Dean stating that he is an expert in Mediterranean Maritime Trade and wishes to do some research at the library. Of course anyone who knows anything about an American university should question that, but the director of the university accepts his credentials. Soon, a young museum guard discovers that some of the books that Nickerson was reading are missing pages. The only other regular reader is an ex priest who spends his time reading the Fathers of the Church. As the book unfolds we learn that this is, indeed, a tangled web. However, the pleasure of a Brunetti book is the slow unwinding like a rose that seems to take forever to open - petal by petal.

[سيامك محبوب · Rating 4 out of 5]

.
وندال‌ها به شکل‌های متنوعی کتاب‌ها را سلاخی می‌کنند. کتاب‌رباها نیز با انگیزه‌های مختلفی به این کار دست می‌زنند. «از روی جلد» رمانی معمایی-جنایی درباره وندال‌ها و کتاب‌دزد‌ها است. به کمیسر برونتی خبر می‌دهند که بخشی از مجموعه کتاب‌های نفیس یکی از کتابخانه‌های عمومی ونیز به سرقت رفته و از چند کتاب نیز صفحاتی کنده شده است. این خبر اهمیتش زمانی بیشتر می‌شود که فردی کتابخوان و کتابدوست که از قضا بی‌ارتباط با این کتابخانه نیست به قتل می‌رسد.
کتاب ضرباهنگ تندی ندارد و خواننده لازم است بر جمله‌ها و سرنخ‌ها با دقت توجه تا بتواند همپای کاراگاه برونتی قاتل را پیدا کند. بنابراین اگر خواننده باحوصله‌ای هستید و به حل معما علاقه‌داری سراغ این کتاب بروید. چیز دیگری که می‌تواند برخی خواننده‌ها را مشتاق خواندن این رمان کند، توصیف‌هایی است که از شهر شناور بر آب ونیز و برخی رخدادهای تاریخی ارائه می‌شود. سومین گروه خوانندگان احتمالی این کتاب کسانی هستند که کتاب نفیس و بازار آن علاقه‌مند هستند. این گروه نیز از جزئیات مرتبط با این موضوع بهره‌مند می‌شوند.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love Guido Brunetti, but get increasingly tired of Leon’s inability to get background information conveyed by any means other than making him appear a simpleton with the need to ask his wife, his relatives, Signorina Elettra, and victims for information about Venice that any Venetian over the age of 5 would know. Apparently she has decided that dialogue beats exposition any day of the week, even if it’s ridiculous to think Brunetti doesn’t already know these things.

On the other hand, this has the virtues of a crime committed in a library of the oldest and most valuable printed books. Since I’m by chance reading a nonfiction book about the very earliest days of printing in Venice, the authors' and publishers' names made a nice echo. And who isn’t outraged at book vandalism?

[Lyn Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

2014: It is quite a while since I read a Donna Leon, and I was pleased to re-enter the familiar world of Brunetti in a case that concerned book theft rather than some of the more gruesome themes he has addressed in the past.
It is a good light read, ideal for a long plane trip which is where I read it in one sitting (pun intended).

Update 2023: read again without having remembered anything of the plot. An easy holiday read.

[Momkersch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the Commissario Brunetti stories. I look forward to a new book the way children look forward to Christmas morning. My expectations for Donna Leon are high, so that's perhaps why I was disappointed here. The book feels flimsy in comparison to the others in the series. The characters are flat, the story less developed, and the ending, well, I won't give it away, but I was left dissatisfied. There were few references to food, and rather than drooling over her lush descriptions of Paola's cooking, there was little to imagine. There is only one meal described in detail, and Guido wasn't even allowed to enjoy it because he was so engaged in this case. I'd rather wait a little longer for a story that measures up to Leon's usual high quality than read a story that leaves so much to be desired. Sorry!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this installment, Brunetti investigates book vandalism for the art market and book theft for private collectors at a library in Venice. The chief suspect is a man purporting to be an American scholar from a heartland state offering a major in maritime studies. The library's regular patrons include a former priest nicknamed "Tertullian" because he enjoys reading church fathers and first requested one of Tertullian's works. As Brunetti investigates he learns more about the way these thieves operate. The novel felt "unfinished" because it lacked a wrap-up, and the only "justice" achieved was through a murder. We see the Italian justice system's corruption at play in this novel as in many of the author's works.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy)

How can you NOT like a Donna Leon/Commissario Brunetti novel? They are great books, and like it's predecessors, By It's Cover does not disappoint.

The story takes us into the Biblioteca Merula, a prestigious Venetian library. Commissario Brunetti gets a call from the librarian that several books have been vandalized, pages cut out of them. The books are priceless historical books, and the library is devastated at what's happened. At first it seems like solving the mystery might not be hard; it seems like an American who has been working with the books, must be responsible for the thefts. But things get murkier when they discover that the American doesn't exist, nor does he hold a position at a prestigious American university, as his credentials had stated. Who is this guy, and why would he deface these books.

As the investigation continues, and the number of books damaged or missing increases, Brunetti must follow twists and turns that rival Venice's famous streets and canals. With his usual methodical approach, interspersed with wonderful Italian meals and breaks for espresso, Brunetti solves the case.

If you like Donna Leon, you'll love this book!

[Ruby Grad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying read in this series, although I missed the Brunetti children, who were almost completely absent. Commissario Brunetti is called in to figure out who disfigured precious ancient volumes and stole some of them from the Merula library in Venice. Eventually, the investigation widens to include a murder. Although one aspect of the investigation, the international end, remains unresolved, the Commissario, with the help of his usual team, is able to solve what happened locally. (Not really a spoiler, since that happens in almost every book in this series.)

[Lynne Perednia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donna Leon's love of books and literature has shone in her Inspector Brunetti mysteries, especially through the character of Brunetti's wife, Paola. In By Its Cover, books as objects are at the heart of the story's mystery.

Because this is a Brunetti story, in which differences matter, a distinction is made between books as art objects and the text contained on the pages of those objects. For rich collectors, the objects have more value. For the Brunettis, who live a book-strewn life in which volumes are left open and upside down, snuggled into cushions of furniture and perhaps even dog-eared, books are far more valuable for what they contain than for their appearance. And because this is a Brunetti story, perhaps this is a way to view people as well.

Brunetti is called to a Venetian scholarly library where old and revered volumes reside. Someone has been cutting out specific pages that are highly valued by collectors, while other rare and costly volumes are missing.

Suspicion immediately falls on a visiting American scholar, whose credentials soon prove to be false. Brunetti would like to speak with another man who spends many hours in the library -- a former priest who reads the works of older religious figures.

Adding to Brunetti's knowledge of this world are a library employee who helps retrieve books, the elegant library director and the woman whose generous donations form part of the damaged and stolen bounty. The benefactress is known to Paola's patrician parents, as is her wastrel stepson. But because she is not Venetian, she is not as valued by the small group that makes up the highest rung of Venetian society.

Donna Leon's compact story delves into the mystery of the underground market of rare books. But By Its Cover also touches on the idea of judging people by their covers, by their outside appearances and background. And because this novel is written by Donna Leon, that touch is light yet incisive.

By Its Cover is a shining example of how an author can keep a long-running crime fiction series fresh, relevant and highly entertaining.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Guido Brunetti book by Dona Leon is like running into an old friend and realizing that the intervening time hasn't lessened your friendship.

This is very much a character driven story. The crimes, theft of rare books and a murder, are secondary to Brunetti's professional, family and social interactions. I felt the story dragged a little in spots but never enough to make the book less enjoyable.

In this case, some rare books and pages from others are stolen from a private library by what appears to be a professional thief. Leon uses the plot as an opportunity to have her characters describe the tragedy of losing historically valuable publications in addition to the venality of many Italians, some in government and law enforcement, who facilitate these thefts.

As someone, who was not a suspect but well-known in the library is murdered, Brunetti uncovers the full scope of the thefts. As he works to solve both mysteries, he runs into the usual bureaucratic barriers Italy is infected with but also uses his personal contacts to close the case. In some ways, this book is a police procedural but only if one is an Italian working in Venice.

Because I've spent some time in Venice I also enjoy Leon's descriptions of Venice and its neighborhoods, as Brunetti often walks to places he's headed to.

I recommend this book with the caveat that the reader might enjoy it more if he or she would read some of the earlier books in the series first.

[Xan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivo en una ciudd pequeña arrasada periódicamente por los turistas. Sustituyo el agua de la laguna por el verde la hierba y ya puedo hacerme una idea de lo que es vivir en Venecia, aunque lejos del esplendor pasado de San Marcos. A Brunetti puedo imaginármelo como el vecino con el que coincido en el bar tomando un café a media mañana, comentando el periódico local con triste ironía. Por eso me gusta la serie de Donna Leon, porque sus personajes son reales: tienen un comportamiento natural y complejo, contradictorios y coherentes al mismo tiempo. Y al relatar los casos de Brunetti expone con la mirada sorprendida del extranjero los comportamientos cotidianos que ya no nos sorprenden a los nativos porque forma parte de nuestra realidad cotidiana.

En las últimas entregas me ha soprendido el desenlace sin tener la sensación de haber llegado al meollo de la historia, como si la novela solo fuese unas escenas para cubrir un esquema sin profundizar en personajes secundarios ni en los problemas que denuncia la autora.

[Derek · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm stunned. Somewhere in the middle of this story (OK, perhaps more than half-way), Leon just suddenly abandoned it.

Not only did she not make any attempt to solve the original art-theft crime (which I can understand – that's not the sort of case that Commisario Guido Brunetti usually has to solve), but she wrapped up the murder case that developed from it by finding a possible murder weapon. Period. No motive, not even a confirmation that it really was the weapon.

I reserve one-star ratings for books I couldn't finish. In this case, I feel that the author denied me the right to finish it.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better entries in this series. Someone is stealing rare books and slicing illustrations from others in the Merula library. Suspect turns out not to be who he claims to be in spite of impeccable identification--an American professor doing research. Then follows the murder of another long-time patron--a man who sits in the library all day reading Church Fathers.

Good mystery with some facts about rare books and their market. As a retired librarian, I had to read this one. A quick, enjoyable read. Recommended.

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

#23. This one was about rare books missing or defaced. The plot was entirely predictable, but it was a pleasure as always to visit Venice with Commissario Brunetti. I keep reading them just for the descriptions of yet another gourmet meal served up by Brunetti's wife Paola.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last Donna Leon I am going to waste my time reading. Very thin and without a lot of the usual colour. Think the time has come to retire the Commissario!

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Sentence: It had been a tedious Monday, much of it spent with the written witness statements about a fight between two taxi drivers that had sent one of them to the hospital with a concussion and a broken right arm.

Someone is stealing pages from some rare books as well as stealing whole books as well from a prestigious library in Venice. Their one possible witness is an ex-priest who has been coming to the library for years. It quickly becomes clear to Commissario Guido Brunetti that the man for whom they are looking is an American professor with credentials from an American university. Not only do they discover the credentials are false, but that other libraries in Italy have suffered losses as well.

This is truly a book that bibliophiles will love. Yet it is one that will occasionally make a bibliophile cringe. There is a wonderful description of old, handmade books.

It is nice to not always start with a murder, but to let the story build. That takes a truly confident writer. But be patient; the murder will come.

Comm. Guido Brunetti is such an excellent and appealing character. He is well aware of the corruption and graft within the government and the police department. Yet he believes in his job and works to bring justice. One wonderful thing about Leon’s writing is that her characters are anything but one dimensional. Brunetti’s family is just as much a part of the series as is he. For those who have followed the series, it’s nice to see how relationships have evolved. However, even for new readers, there is enough history provided that one never feels as though they are missing something.

Leon is an incredibly intelligent author. The things one learns, on a variety of subjects, are nearly as interesting as the mystery. She makes the reader curious to look thinks up and to know more. She provides small statements that make you think, and sometimes question the way you’ve thought…”It’s more important to understand people than to forgive them.”

“By Its Cover” is an excellent and rather unusual mystery with an eyebrow-raising twist in the plot.

BY ITS COVER (Pol Proc-Comm. Guido Brunetti-Itlay-Contemp) – Ex
Leon, Donna – 23rd in series
Atlantic Monthly Press, 2014

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

The theft and destruction of books at the Girolamini Library in Naples forms the basis for Donna Leon's newest Commissario Brunetti's mystery, By its Cover. This sort of theft which appears to be recurring with some regularity could form the basis for a fascinating, complex tales with many layers and facets. Yet from its inception, this latest tale feels more like an episode of "Law & Order"'s "ripped from the headlines" procedural than a standalone mystery. In Venice, the Biblioteca Merula is found to be missing pages, illustrations and entire volumes from its rare book collection.

This volume disappoints. It neither deepens nor develops new contours for our friend Brunetti. Even meals seem to have been given short shrift in this mystery. And Leon pens the story in a 237 pages which do not feel like a complete mystery, but do feel truncated because of the close which felt abrupt to this reader. The result is that this book feels more like an amuse bouche than a complete meal, a sort of Brunetti-lite offering.

Even more damaging is the clunkiness of this story. If a reader does not hear the breadcrumbs falling as soon as Leon proffers them, the reader may well be wearing earplugs. So, for Leon and her readers, I wish better and more intriguing chapters in the Commissario Brunetti series. This book is lackluster at best and read to this reader as a tale rushed out in a hurry without much thought. Leon is better than this and her readers deserve the best, not this mush.

[G.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another deeply enjoyable Donna Leon novel, dotted with the sardonic observations at which the author excels. I particularly enjoyed her opening salvo: An altercation between two water taxi drivers over a fare to the airport leaves one injured and the American passengers missing their flight.

Brunetti knew, but could not prove, what had happened: the porter had waved to a passing taxi so that he, instead of the concierge, would get a percentage of the fare. The consequences were evident: no one would tell the truth, and the Americans would not understand what had happened.
As he entertained that thought, Brunetti was momentarily deflected from his desire for a coffee and paused to consider whether he had perhaps stumbled upon some cosmic explanation of current world history. (p. 2)

But this is a story about books, collectors, libraries—and looting. The theft of books and pages of books from the (fictional) “Biblioteca Merula” in Venice that Brunetti is called to investigate was perhaps inspired by the looting of the Biblioteca Girolamini in Naples: Brunetti and his colleague Claudia Griffoni discuss this real crime (“it would make a stone weep”) as they head to suspect Franchini’s house in the Castello sestiere of Venice.

As ever in Leon’s Commissario Brunetti series, the sights, sounds, and scents of Venice are delightfully evoked. One can’t help but enjoy the descriptions of Brunetti’s deepening uxoriousness too.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Brunetti book was definitely not my favorite. It was bland compared to most of her other mysteries. All the action (non-action) centered around the theme (rare book theft) and rather ignored all the usual cast of characters. Not much happened. Brunetti, himself, was rather boring -- not particularly clever. It's as if Leon was only interested in the theme of the day instead of the colorful and clever people that usually weave their way into the life of an equally clever inspector. And, all the other characters connected to the thievery were reticent and not particularly interesting. Perhaps we should have gotten to know the thieves better.

I was most excited at the very beginning when Brunetti and Foa, the boatman, encountered a large cruise ship in the canal causing much shock and frustration that such a gigantic ship would be allowed to invade the waters and cause ruin to the ancient stones and the bindings that kept them together. This event on the first few pages was the most exciting event of the book. You can imagine the shock of seeing such a huge ship in such an ancient and lovely setting.

The book never again reached that level of entertainment or interest for me.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whenever I read the Brunetti series, it's like visiting an old friend. You're familiar with all the characters and their quirks, it's a pleasure to stroll through the "calles" with Brunetti, a delight to sit with his family and savor one of Paola's delicious meals. And it's always nice to meet up with Senorina Elettra, Vice-Questore Patta, Vianello, etc. In other words, you know what to expect.
I think if it wasn't for the way Donna Leon brings her characters to life as well as her vivid portrayal of Venice, I may have stopped reading the series a while ago. Over time, the crimes Brunetti has had to solve are no longer the main focus of Leon's novels, rather these crimes are committed to trigger a discussion of socio-political issues in Venice and Italy itself. The crime story lacks suspense, the novels are slow-paced and I can understand this won't be to many people's tastes. At book 23, Brunetti really is only for his die-hard fans, of which I am one.
3 - 3.5 stars

[Ariadne Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Thanks for providing me with a copy.

I read the Donna Leon books not for their plot, but for the look in the Commisario's family life and the atmosphere of Venice. This book provides both of that, plus a lovely setting. Enjoyable.

[Dany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I didn't dislike it, but I can't say I'm satisfied with this book. The characters were all too flat, Brunetti seemed unusually ignorant and slow and the ending was too simple.

[Latif Joneydi · Rating 2 out of 5]

میانه وضعیتی که توشیم "خواندن" نمیدونم چه معنایی باید داشته باشه ولی برایِ من هم فرار از وضعیته و هم گذرانِ اوقات و شاید لَختی اندیشیدن.
این کتاب بازمانده خواندنی هایِ پیش از جنگم بود و تمامش کردم. از دونا لئون "رفقای دم کلفت" رو خونده بودم و خوشم اومده بود از شخصیت برونتی و ایتالیایی که توصیف می‌کرد. این یکی نه پیچش خاصی داشت و روایتِ پُرکِششی، صرفا داستانِ بی مایه ای رو کِش داده بود.
خوندم که تموم شه. پیشنهادش نمیکنم.

[Rebecca Hock · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been quite a while since I have read anything by Donna Leon. I forgot how enjoyable this series is. I enjoyed the story and the characters.