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Death at La Fenice (Commissario Brunetti, #1)

Donna Leon

Start date: June 15, 2022

Finish date: July 8, 2022

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Starting a new buddy read series.
[close] Starting a new buddy read series.

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What Members Thought

Mar 08, 2021 Mara Pemberton rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks, contemporary-mystery, contemporary-fiction, contemporary-crime, 2nd-read

I found the recording of DEATH AT THE LA FENICE on YouTube. I liked it. It was recorded when BBC Audio was still around. His voice was okay but at times he slid into a bit of a Cockney accent with some of the characters. Wish they would redo it with David Collaci as the narrator. He’s one of my favorite male narrators.

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Dec 27, 2011 Carol Evans rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, venice

The characters feel like living, breathing people. The mystery has its share of twists and turn, and I only guessed at a piece of the solution. And Venice is just a fascinating setting, a character in its own right. A great start to a series I return to again and again

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Mar 11, 2011 Robin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

Death at La Fenice is the first book in Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti series which takes place in Venice. When world-famous Maestro Wellauer is found dead between acts of the opera La Traviata in the Teatro La Fenice, Venetian police commissioner, Guido Brunetti, is called to the scene. In order to solve the case, Brunetti must delve into Wellauer’s past, including his rumored Nazi connections and his relationships with his three wives – one divorced, one committed suicide and one widowed. Also co Death at La Fenice is the first book in Donna Leon's Guido Brunetti series which takes place in Venice. When world-famous Maestro Wellauer is found dead between acts of the opera La Traviata in the Teatro La Fenice, Venetian police commissioner, Guido Brunetti, is called to the scene. In order to solve the case, Brunetti must delve into Wellauer’s past, including his rumored Nazi connections and his relationships with his three wives – one divorced, one committed suicide and one widowed. Also complicating the case is Wellauer’s homophobia against his stage manager and his soprano.

This is the first book by Donna Leon I have read, although I have had this book on my wishlist for some time. I was immediately pulled into the book as I could feel myself in the theater:

The lights dimmed, the hall grew dark, and the tension created by an ongoing performance mounted as the audience waited for the conductor to reappear on the podium. Slowly the hum of voices faded, the members of the orchestra stopped fidgeting in their seats, and the universal silence announced everyone’s readiness for the third and final act.
The silence lengthened, grew heavy.

I enjoyed Leon’s style of writing. I found it easy to read, and the storyline generally flowed without dragging. Leon sprinkles in a few Italian phrases here and there, but I don’t think it detracts from the story. We are also introduced to the Venice in the story, getting to know different aspects of the city.

Guido Brunetti is a very likable character. Leon lets us in on his thoughts so that we get to know him throughout the book, especially his dedication to the law, but also his empathy. We are introduced to his family – wife, Paola, daughter, Chiara, and son, Raffaele, all of whom he adores, and his in-laws, Count and Countess Falier, with whom he has a strained relationship. Adding some comic relief is Guido’s superior, Vice-Questore Guiseppe Patta, who regularly issues “crime alerts” in the press, singling out a particular crime of the week for wiping out. Patta seems more of a hindrance than a help, but Guido seems adept at managing Patta's ego.

I thought the resolution of the case was a little unexpected given that this was the first book of the series. For most readers, there is a reveal that will be surprising; however, I felt the solution was a little anti-climatic.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read, and I look forward to continuing the series. ...more

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Jul 26, 2015 Yorky Caz rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-loans

soooo good. I love to find a new series with loads of books to its name. quick reads and love the venice setting. I only started them as going on holiday there but will definitely be reading more!

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