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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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

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Jun 04, 2022 Jill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: donna-leon

A world-famous musical conductor, is found dead in an interval of a performance, at La Fenice, a main opera house in Venice. It would seem to be that he has been poisoned via a cup of coffee served to him. Commissario Brunetti is called in to investigate. We meet Brunetti's family, who seem to be quite conventional, although it is brought to our attention that his wife's family is one of the wealthiest, whilst he manages on his salary from the police.
This was really a 3.5 star book for me. I did ...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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