Helpful Score: 7
I only discovered Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series earlier this year and I'm glad I did. These books will bring you right to the heart of Venice and allow you to prowl the canals alongside Brunetti. In her writing, Leon can be a bit wordy but she is good with words. I recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes thoughtful, well-written mysteries.
Helpful Score: 4
In contemporary Venice police commissioner Guido Brunetti must solve a murder that involves the world of stolen art and artifacts. Wonderfully drawn characters of victims, perps and police
Helpful Score: 2
The Guido Brunetti books are so enjoyable, and Acqua Alta presents a new view of the seasonal difficulties of living in Venice (high tides). Donna Leon not only writes a good detective story, but better than that, she gives such a wonderful perspective of what it is to live in Italy. I love learning of the historical cultural differences throughout Europe.
Helpful Score: 2
The backdrop is Venice during the winter rains when the "acqu alta" occurs----the water rises from the canals into streets and buildings.
First Donna Leon book I've read and I liked it very much.
First Donna Leon book I've read and I liked it very much.
Helpful Score: 1
A good mystery with intriguing characters populating it.
Helpful Score: 1
Fast paced mystery set in Venice with Commissario Guido Bruetti. Very good.
Helpful Score: 1
Great author and a great series. I would suggest reading her "Death at la Fience" first as the same characters are in both books.
Another good book in Leon's series about a police commissioner in modern day Venice. Love the locale details. Especially enjoy his interviews, in which he allows long silences to get the person to talk more. Funny scenes with his boss. Nice domestic scenes with family. Mystery & murder without the mayhem.
This is one of my favorite Donna Leon books. She has brought back the characters from her first book -- The Singer and her 'friend' Brett, the American -- and really 'fleshed' them out. The story centers around Brett and her work with ancient Chinesse porcelain. Once again the bad guys don't necessarily see the inside of a jail but in the end got their 'due'. I hope we see them in future stories.
This is a well crafted mystery loaded with interesting information about Italy and particularly Venice. Dona Leon is a mystery writer who keeps you turning the pages. Rather than filling the narrative with vivid details of the blood and guts of violet crime, you will instead be privy to the unfolding details of detective work, rich with the inner musings of Guido Brunetti as he comments on everything from ecology, and social commentary to psychological processes.
One of the best of Donna Leon's excellent Brunetti series. Her interesting plot and thoughtful characters give armchair travelers a view of Venice, Italy from the inside.
SusanG
SusanG
Leon rises to the top again.
Very good read, would give it a A
Commissario Guido Brunetti finds an old friend has been savagely beaten at the palazzo home of the reigning opera diva Flavia Petrelli. He sets out to find who dunit and why. This volume is part of the mystery series by Donna Leon and is set in Venice. Thoroughly enjoyable and keeps you hanging until the very end.
Donna Leon's Inspector Brunetti series, set in Venice, is terrific. Acqua Alta is no exception.
Any book by Donna Leon is exceptional including this one in particular
My second favorite (I think!) of Leon's - first being Death at La Fenice. Ironically, same characters from that one. Involves art theft this time.
I liked the book and the setting in Venice with the references to the Italiain culture and thinking about life and relationships in general was different. The approach to crime solving in Venice was a new approach for me since I wasn't familiar with the author's style. It wasn't as much of a page turner as others but I rate the book very good and I'll probably read more about the adventures of Guido Brunetti from this author
