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outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
This book practically leapt in to my hand at Los Angeles's legendary Last Bookstore. I have a mental thing about wanting to read a series like this in order, and Acqua Alta was next for me. The diva and her professor lover from the first book are back in this thrilling art caper. The violence seemed to me kicked up a notch, and with all the war going on right now, I didn't really need that but it certainly raised the stakes. The high water of the title energizes the Venice setting and makes for a nice analogy to the rising tide of corruption and organized crime. With these recurring characters and Brunetti's family -- so he's not the loner outside of society like hard boiled detectives -- I am more convinced that reading them in order is the way to go, even if random examples of the series are always lying around somewhere. To quote [a:John Scaggs|931472|John Scaggs|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] writing about [a:Michael Dibdin|43318|Michael Dibdin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1284567982p2/43318.jpg]'s Aurelio Zen books, "...the Italian setting [draws on] the image of Italy formed by early-modern revenge tragedy as a place of corruption, betrayal and Machiavellian conspiracy," and the frequent references to opera really make all that revenge, betrayal and conspiracy pop. Brunetti bends the rules a bit, like Zen, but it's hard to imagine going off the rails the way Zen does. All I can say is "Bravo!"
bookph1le's review
4.0
I just love these books. The atmosphere is so great, even if the mysteries stretch credulity at times--or at least, not so much the mysteries as their resolutions. Still, reading these is like immersing myself in Venetian culture as Leon portrays it, and I apparently cannot get enough of that.
It also must be said that a big part of what I enjoy about these books are the characters. They feel almost overly large to me at times (and this is particularly the case with the female characters), and yet that still works, probably because Brunetti himself seems so firmly grounded.
It also must be said that a big part of what I enjoy about these books are the characters. They feel almost overly large to me at times (and this is particularly the case with the female characters), and yet that still works, probably because Brunetti himself seems so firmly grounded.
utahmomreads's review against another edition
3.0
The tidal flow combined with the rainy seasonal weather causes the acqua alta in Venice, Italy. The high water covers the sidewalks and flows into the bottom floors of buildings. The Venetians are used to it and don their high boots to walk through the city.
Acqua Alta by Donna Leon takes place in Venice during the flood season. This mystery novel is part of Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series but can stand on it's own. In Acqua Alta he is intrigued by a case involving a former acquaintance and Chinese art expert who has been beaten in her luxurious apartment by apparent burglars. The case becomes more mysterious when a colleague at the museum is murdered.
Leon's style is fluid and the descriptions of a wet, darker Venice are lavish and rich. Brunetti is a likeable detective who also plays the role of family man. He cares about the victims of the crimes and isn't as jaded as some literary detectives.
I rarely read mysteries. I'm not sure why because I really enjoy them. I had a good time with this one.
I won a copy of Acqua Alta from one of my favorite literary blogs : A Reader's Journal.
Acqua Alta by Donna Leon takes place in Venice during the flood season. This mystery novel is part of Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti series but can stand on it's own. In Acqua Alta he is intrigued by a case involving a former acquaintance and Chinese art expert who has been beaten in her luxurious apartment by apparent burglars. The case becomes more mysterious when a colleague at the museum is murdered.
Leon's style is fluid and the descriptions of a wet, darker Venice are lavish and rich. Brunetti is a likeable detective who also plays the role of family man. He cares about the victims of the crimes and isn't as jaded as some literary detectives.
I rarely read mysteries. I'm not sure why because I really enjoy them. I had a good time with this one.
I won a copy of Acqua Alta from one of my favorite literary blogs : A Reader's Journal.
cathe_rine's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kvlreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
notizhefte's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Einer der frühen Romane aus der Commissario-Brunetti-Reihe, was bedeutet, daß es noch nicht primär um Kritik an den Verhältnissen geht, sondern eine Beziehungsgeschichte in geschickter Weise mit einem Kriminalfall verbunden wird. Dabei geht es um illegalen Kunsthandel und auch um Kunstraub, das Aufeinanderprallen von nord- und süditalienischer Mentalität, das Familienleben der Brunettis und die Unfähigkeit italienischer Männer unterschiedlicher Milieus, mit lesbischen Frauen angemessen umzugehen.
Eine gut geschriebene und unterhaltsame Lektüre.
Eine gut geschriebene und unterhaltsame Lektüre.
awebofstories's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nuthatch's review against another edition
5.0
I love the characters in this mystery series,the main character being the city of Venice, with all it's problems and beauty. This is the best book I've read in the series so far. Be prepared to stay up late reading it.
veronikar's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual violence