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timinbc's review
4.0
Duncan is such a relaxed writer. You can coast along with his plot and characters, enjoying his wit, and never once notice which words he used or how he phrased something - it just happens naturally.
It probably takes someone of my age to notice what I don't see mentioned in the comments: this is a flat-out tribute to Rex Stout. Nostradamus is Nero Wolfe - fat genius who never goes out. Alfeo is Archie Goodwin, wisecracking legman and all-round assistant. Violetta is Lily Rowan. Vasco is Lt. Rowcliff. We have people come to visit Nostradamus, and Alfeo makes sure this person gets the red chair and those people get the others ... and we have a big showdown at the end. Also, Alfeo keeps visiting people and appearing to get little information, until we see that he wasn't there for information, he was there to observe behaviour - just as Archie Goodwin usually is. Nostradamus enjoys being a step ahead of Alfeo all the way, but also enjoys watching Alfeo figure it out. There's even a really good lawyer they can turn to, and a superb chef feeding the fat man. OK, the police chiefs don't match up, and there's no Saul Panzer. But as a fan of Nero Wolfe I will say the whole thing is well done and I think Stout would have liked it.
I've been to Venice, and I'll read a book just because it's set there. Duncan throws in a few real places and several fake ones, and gives us a bit of history and gondola facts as we go along.
The extra characters are good, especially Bruno, and the plot is suitably complicated. A couple of characters are implausible, but we eventually find out why. The resolution explains everything quite well, and uses some details that were given to us quite early.
Gotta go, I need to read the next one.
It probably takes someone of my age to notice what I don't see mentioned in the comments: this is a flat-out tribute to Rex Stout. Nostradamus is Nero Wolfe - fat genius who never goes out. Alfeo is Archie Goodwin, wisecracking legman and all-round assistant. Violetta is Lily Rowan. Vasco is Lt. Rowcliff. We have people come to visit Nostradamus, and Alfeo makes sure this person gets the red chair and those people get the others ... and we have a big showdown at the end. Also, Alfeo keeps visiting people and appearing to get little information, until we see that he wasn't there for information, he was there to observe behaviour - just as Archie Goodwin usually is. Nostradamus enjoys being a step ahead of Alfeo all the way, but also enjoys watching Alfeo figure it out. There's even a really good lawyer they can turn to, and a superb chef feeding the fat man. OK, the police chiefs don't match up, and there's no Saul Panzer. But as a fan of Nero Wolfe I will say the whole thing is well done and I think Stout would have liked it.
I've been to Venice, and I'll read a book just because it's set there. Duncan throws in a few real places and several fake ones, and gives us a bit of history and gondola facts as we go along.
The extra characters are good, especially Bruno, and the plot is suitably complicated. A couple of characters are implausible, but we eventually find out why. The resolution explains everything quite well, and uses some details that were given to us quite early.
Gotta go, I need to read the next one.
devour_the_power's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
wwfeldman's review
3.0
I had not read any of Dave Duncan's work before, but I thoroughly enjoyed these three books. It's obvious he has spent a large amount of time familiarizing himself with the time period these books are set in and I really like his style of writing.
I enjoyed that these weren't the standard fantasy tropes, this was more Sherlock Holmes than Lord of the Rings. It all meshed very well together I thought and I look forward to reading more of Duncan's work.
I enjoyed that these weren't the standard fantasy tropes, this was more Sherlock Holmes than Lord of the Rings. It all meshed very well together I thought and I look forward to reading more of Duncan's work.
rouver's review
3.0
An interesting piece of historical (slight fantasy) fiction set in Venice around the 1500s. The story follows the adventures of an apprentice...the apprentice to Nostradamus. Oh, not *that* Nostradamus. His nephew. The fantasy bit is due to the fact that demonology, clairvoyance, & astrology are usable to predict the future. A prominent politician is killed while at a book viewing with Nostradamus. It's up to him & his apprentice to find & expose the killer before they themselves are accused of the murder.
I enjoyed it & am looking at reading other pieces by Duncan, including the next in this series.
I enjoyed it & am looking at reading other pieces by Duncan, including the next in this series.
jeregenest's review
3.0
This book is a genuine historical setting focusing on Renaissance Venice, and it proves my constant assertion that history is always stranger than fiction.
vaderbird's review
4.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
wmhenrymorris's review
Amusing. Oddly enough I like the courtesan best (there's a certain mid-20th century charm to the off stage sex scenes and I mean that in a positive way) But in the end even though I like the approach -- a whodunit in a Venice where certain magics are real -- it didn't exactly stick with me. This is more a two and a half stars review.
sammystarbuck's review
4.0
A fun historical whodunnit, set in renaissance Venice following Alfeo, the apprentice to Nostradamus (Felipe, not his more well-know relative Michel) as he attempts to solve a murder before his master can be accused of committing it.
This one is a lot more historical and a lot less fantasy than Duncan's usual fare, but there are enough references to and manifestations of the occult to satisfy people looking for a little more.
Definitely enjoyable, looking forward to the other two books in the series.
This one is a lot more historical and a lot less fantasy than Duncan's usual fare, but there are enough references to and manifestations of the occult to satisfy people looking for a little more.
Definitely enjoyable, looking forward to the other two books in the series.
samcarlin's review
5.0
the dry humor and wit of the main character, Alfeo, really made this book worth reading. I enjoyed the historical perspectives and I have a love for Venice in general.