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holly_keimig's review
4.0
Auntie Poldi stories are the perfect summer read. They are long, winding, and full of tasty details. There is love and heartache, morality and evil, hardship and fun afternoons. In this story, Poldi visits a winery, struggles to get her section of town's water turned back on, possibly tussles with the Mob, and falls in and out of love all while helping to solve a mystery of the poisoning of the neighbor's dog. (The dog part isn't graphic but it is sad and happens at the beginning.) The writing is rich and detailed and draws you in very quickly. It's a long book, but well worth the read. Can't wait to see what kind of adventures Poldi encounters in the next book!
A few of my favorite quotes below:
Page 335-""And I know a thing or two about getting stuck." Valerie laughed at her. "But also about starting afresh." "Because I had to," Poldi said with a sigh. "Letting go is the only thing I've ever mastered.""
Page 267-""There simply are people who can stretch time, space, and the truth to suit themselves. People with the talent to open up vistas for you. People who make you feel light and airy in their presence, and you can only be grateful for it.""
Page 113-""But things that annoy us, Poldi once told me, are simply messages sent us by life and ought to draw our attention to something.""
Page 19-""It's what's called a backstory wound... whether in life or in a novel, each of us is haunted by a shadow that keeps whispering, 'Don't become like me and you'll be better off!' You can't help this, and you certainly can't choose your own shadow.""
Page 17-"2 kinds of people: deliziosi and spaventosi
"The charming and the frightful. Rule of thumb: house guests, friends, and dogs are always deliziosi, the rest are spaventosi. At least until they prove otherwise.""
Page 12-""Imagine a superbrain functioning at full throttle and someone suddenly pulls the plug. It really can't be good... it's the same with detectives' brains when there's nothing to detect. They're like dogs with nothing to chase and worry to death.""
A few of my favorite quotes below:
Page 335-""And I know a thing or two about getting stuck." Valerie laughed at her. "But also about starting afresh." "Because I had to," Poldi said with a sigh. "Letting go is the only thing I've ever mastered.""
Page 267-""There simply are people who can stretch time, space, and the truth to suit themselves. People with the talent to open up vistas for you. People who make you feel light and airy in their presence, and you can only be grateful for it.""
Page 113-""But things that annoy us, Poldi once told me, are simply messages sent us by life and ought to draw our attention to something.""
Page 19-""It's what's called a backstory wound... whether in life or in a novel, each of us is haunted by a shadow that keeps whispering, 'Don't become like me and you'll be better off!' You can't help this, and you certainly can't choose your own shadow.""
Page 17-"2 kinds of people: deliziosi and spaventosi
"The charming and the frightful. Rule of thumb: house guests, friends, and dogs are always deliziosi, the rest are spaventosi. At least until they prove otherwise.""
Page 12-""Imagine a superbrain functioning at full throttle and someone suddenly pulls the plug. It really can't be good... it's the same with detectives' brains when there's nothing to detect. They're like dogs with nothing to chase and worry to death.""
lieselie's review against another edition
4.0
Ik ben gek op tante Poldi!! Ben je op zoek naar een mega spannende thriller, dan is dit niet je boek. De boeken van tante Poldi zijn leuke, sfeervolle detectives; grappig en goed geschreven en je leert een aantal nieuwe dingen over Sicilië. Tante Poldi zelf is nogal een portret en ze stort zich steeds opnieuw in een penibele situatie. Daarnaast is haar liefdesleven nogal een zooitje. Je gaat haar leuk vinden! Kortom: ik heb weer genoten en ben in herfstachtig september toch nog even op vakantie geweest in Sicilië.
shirleytupperfreeman's review
In which Aunti Poldi solves 2 more murders, uncovers a bottled water scam, nudges her nephew (the narrator) along in his novel writing, learns she is a Sicilian at heart, pushes Death away for now, and advances her relationship with detective chief inspector Vito Montana. Another fun read from Giordana.
mbry's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emilymreads's review
4.0
Another amazing installment in the Auntie Poldi series! Strange things start to happen in Sicily, from Poldi’s water shut off to a poisoned dog to a murdered fortune teller in the vineyards. Poldi is on the case, while also trying to juggle her love life with the hot detective and some possible Mafia entanglement. Poldi is such a wild character. She’s witty, snarky, sexy, just everything I want to be when I grow up. My one complaint is the amount of pages given to the narrator’s novel. It took me out of the mystery, and I found myself speed-reading to get back to Poldi. Can’t wait to pick up the next book in the series!
l6zarras's review
4.0
I liked this one much better than the first. The banter between Poldi and her nephew really starts to add to the storyline.
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Medical content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, and Murder
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Cursing, Excrement, Grief, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Gun violence
suzannalundale's review
4.0
"Namaste, Life. And the rest of the world can kiss my ass."
They're mysteries, but first and foremost, the Auntie Poldi series is a piazza where wonderful characters can see and be seen, grow and interact. Poldi herself is a delight, but there are other richly-drawn characters in whom to delight. Death is a particular favorite of mine in this book.
The mystery in this book takes some fun and surprising twists. Twins and surprise tasers, word puzzles and shady Americans (because, really, is there any other kind?)... All of it super enjoyable.
They're mysteries, but first and foremost, the Auntie Poldi series is a piazza where wonderful characters can see and be seen, grow and interact. Poldi herself is a delight, but there are other richly-drawn characters in whom to delight. Death is a particular favorite of mine in this book.
The mystery in this book takes some fun and surprising twists. Twins and surprise tasers, word puzzles and shady Americans (because, really, is there any other kind?)... All of it super enjoyable.
jacquibear's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25