From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

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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Buddy reads

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By Susan · 21 posts · 11 views

last updated Oct 25, 2025 07:02AM

* Willful Behaviour - SPOILER Thread - (Brunetti #11) (Oct/Nov 25)
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last updated Oct 23, 2025 12:57AM

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What Members Thought

Jun 02, 2022 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the first Brunetti mystery, published originally in 1992. I had read it before, but I was pleased that, revisiting this book, it was still an enjoyable read (not always the case with mysteries you have read a long time ago).

Maestro Wellauer, a famous German conductor, is found poisoned at La Fenice, the Venetian opera house. Brunetti has to battle his lazy, interfering boss and his inept assistants who spy for him, and investigate a host of different possible suspects and motives, to get ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

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.

2 likes · Like · see review

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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Nov 21, 2013 ShanDizzy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

For this to be the 1st in this series, it was FANTASTIC! The story moved along smoothly; the characters were relatable; the setting in Venice was well-described. I could "smell" the atmosphere; "move with" the waves; "feel" the cramped spaces of the calles. And get a sense of the beauty and history of the city and the Venetian culture. It was a terrific murder plot and very cerebral trying to figure out who and why. There was some misdirection as to motive, which I liked. I look forward to compl ...more

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