Reviews

Beastly Things by Donna Leon

ms_dzt's review

4.0

Fantastic as usual. Abattoirs and veterinarians

margaret21's review

5.0

Donna Leon never disappoints. Her evocation of Venice as living community, rather than as a tourist hotspot, and of Commissario Brunetti and the family whom he loves, and who ground him is what gives this series its depth. But here too is an involving story. Here is an unidentified body in the canal, leading eventually to a slaughterhouse, where as the tale develops, crime after crime is uncovered, and few of the characters involved live happily ever after.

flutter_bye's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

4.0

mariah_reads's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

turrean's review

4.0

Time in Venice with a Guido Brunetti mystery is time well-spent. In Beastly Things, Brunetti and his colleagues are investigating the mysterious death of a veterinarian whose body was dumped in a canal. They untangle a web of lies surrounding the slaughterhouses in the city.

lady_elle's review against another edition

mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

richardpierce's review

5.0

If the last chapter doesn't make you cry you've got no soul, and that's not a spoiler. Sometimes the best plot isn't about who did it but how to prove they did it.

judenoseinabook's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Subtle and thoughtful.  The story is intricate and it is a while before the main plot emerges, and a realisation of the extent of the crimes. There is a scene in a slaughterhouse that is very graphic, not for the faint hearted, but otherwise Brunetti stories are.not usually all.action and guns blazing police dramas. They are thoughtful and full of moral and ethical questions.  All the more realistic for that.

kezharri's review against another edition

Was boring tbf and the writing was too small adn the names were confusing 

alysona's review

4.0

ARC provided by Netgalley.

I like the increasing amount on ethical issues in Leon's books, it gives the books the pleasure of genre reading but with a little more substance. As always the characters are great, but I wish there had been a little more food.