Death at La Fenice
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4.1 • 342 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
A conductor succumbs to cyanide at the famed Venice opera house, in the first mystery in the New York Times–bestselling, award-winning series.
During intermission at the famed La Fenice opera house in Venice, Italy, a notoriously difficult and widely disliked German conductor is poisoned—and suspects abound. Guido Brunetti, a native Venetian, sets out to unravel the mystery behind the high-profile murder. To do so, he calls on his knowledge of Venice, its culture, and its dirty politics. Along the way, he finds the crime may have roots going back decades—and that revenge, corruption, and even Italian cuisine may play a role.
"One of the most exquisite and subtle detective series ever." —The Washington Post
"A brilliant writer . . . an immensely likable police detective who takes every murder to heart." —The New York Times Book Review
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A breathless beginning and an unexpected lack of reference to the lush setting mark this lively launch of a projected series of Venetian mysteries. When legendary German conductor Helmut Wellauer is found dead in his dressing room two acts into a performance of La Traviata , police commissario Guido Brunetti is called in. Among those who might have provided the cyanide poison that killed the maestro, immediate suspects include the vaunted conductor's coolly indifferent young wife and those many in the music industry who are offended by his homophobia. Methodically probing into the victim's past, Brunetti also uncovers Wellauer's Nazi sympathies and a lead to a trio of singing sisters from yesteryear--one now destitute, one dead and the other missing. Though burdened by a dictatorial superior and two lumpen subordinates, Brunetti gets help from his aristocratic wife and her well-connected parents. The narrative's best moments involve Brunetti's wry exchanges with his colleagues and the cunningly masked, obvious solution.
Customer Reviews
Well Written
The novel was very well written and interesting for its location. Enjoyed the read. It was, however, not a page turner mystery.
An Engaging Mystery
I love the setting, the characters, the story. It took me back to Venice and kept me fully engaged.
Death at La Fenice
Donna Leon can get more character description, internal and external dialogue, interaction between players than any other writer I have ever read. She does this while wrapping the mystery and awe of Venice around the reader much like fingers of the city’s fog.