Death at La Fenice
2 journalers for this copy...
Received a few days ago from sister Cathy.
The first by this author that I have read. The action takes place in Venice, Italy, where our detective works as a police detective.
The conductor of the orchestra for an opera is found dead of cyanide poisoning after the second act of the opera. Suspicion centers on his wife, the soprano soloist and her partner, and a few others who might have wanted him gone. He was not a well-loved man but was considered one of the top conductors in the world.
Our detective, Guido Brunetti, treads carefully around political roadblocks as well as reluctant witnesses, discovering that the conductor, Helmut Wellauer, seemed to be losing his edge in the months prior to his death. Although in his seventies he appeared to be in robust health, but witnesses say he seemed tired and not as devoted to his craft, and not as good at it.
Brunetti is an interesting police detective, sensitive and observant. The forensic investigation seems, to me, to be not as thorough as it should be, and that the detective decides, for example, if it is worth while to take fingerprints from the murder scene. It strikes me that one does not make such decisions early on, before knowing what really took place and by whom. I also notice that he calls for the photographer and medical examiner, and it seems to me that all of these activities would be automatic, that a detective would not be asking for scene-of-crime people. Maybe it's different in Venice?
I always find it interesting when the action takes place in a country other than the U.S. and the details of the location are shared as if we too live there. The author in this case is American and lives in the U.S. but spent 20 years in Italy. Does this mean she truly represents the "Italian mind"? Possibly, but I'd love to read what Italians think of these novels.
I like the insight I get from the information about the different parts of Italy, the perceptions of the characters, differences in dialect and manner, things I may not have thought about previously. Having been to Italy and to Venice in particular I am happy to transpose some of my memories to this novel as well.
Interesting, well-written, questionable police procedure, interesting plot.
The conductor of the orchestra for an opera is found dead of cyanide poisoning after the second act of the opera. Suspicion centers on his wife, the soprano soloist and her partner, and a few others who might have wanted him gone. He was not a well-loved man but was considered one of the top conductors in the world.
Our detective, Guido Brunetti, treads carefully around political roadblocks as well as reluctant witnesses, discovering that the conductor, Helmut Wellauer, seemed to be losing his edge in the months prior to his death. Although in his seventies he appeared to be in robust health, but witnesses say he seemed tired and not as devoted to his craft, and not as good at it.
Brunetti is an interesting police detective, sensitive and observant. The forensic investigation seems, to me, to be not as thorough as it should be, and that the detective decides, for example, if it is worth while to take fingerprints from the murder scene. It strikes me that one does not make such decisions early on, before knowing what really took place and by whom. I also notice that he calls for the photographer and medical examiner, and it seems to me that all of these activities would be automatic, that a detective would not be asking for scene-of-crime people. Maybe it's different in Venice?
I always find it interesting when the action takes place in a country other than the U.S. and the details of the location are shared as if we too live there. The author in this case is American and lives in the U.S. but spent 20 years in Italy. Does this mean she truly represents the "Italian mind"? Possibly, but I'd love to read what Italians think of these novels.
I like the insight I get from the information about the different parts of Italy, the perceptions of the characters, differences in dialect and manner, things I may not have thought about previously. Having been to Italy and to Venice in particular I am happy to transpose some of my memories to this novel as well.
Interesting, well-written, questionable police procedure, interesting plot.
Sent to sister Mary.
I am reading it right now. I am SO happy to have these books!! Thank you!!!
