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Fiction. Mystery. HTML: Donna Leon's Death at La Fenice, the first novel in her beloved Commissario Guido Brunetti series, introduced readers to the glamorous and cutthroat world of opera and one of Italy's finest living sopranos, Flavia Petrelli�??then a suspect in the poisoning of a renowned German conductor. Years after Brunetti cleared her name, Flavia has returned to Venice and La Fenice to sing the lead in Tosca. Brunetti and his wife, Paola, attend an early performance, and Flavia receives a standing ovation. Back in her dressing room, she finds bouquets of yellow roses�??too many roses. Every surface of the room is covered with them. An anonymous fan has been showering Flavia with these beautiful gifts in London, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, and now, Venice, but she no longer feels flattered. A few nights later, invited by Brunetti to dine at his in-laws' palazzo, Flavia confesses her alarm at these excessive displays of adoration. And when a talented young Venetian singer who has caught Flavia's attention is savagely attacked, Brunetti begins to think that Flavia's fears are justified in ways neither of them imagined. He must enter in the psyche of an obsessive fan before Flavia, or anyone else, comes to harm… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member jeanmadison
Not Dona Leon's best Brunetti Mystery. Ended rather abruptly without much development of stalker. I enjoyed looking up the sites that were mentioned on Map of Venice. Learned a little about singing in an opera (Tosca). Singer from first book is in this book. Guidos family, and co-workers featured.
LibraryThing member smik
Although he does use some police resources, at first this is almost a private case for Brunetti. Not until a young singer whom Flavia Petrelli has praised is pushed down some steps does he really take it seriously. And then a mutual friend whose house Flavia is staying in is stabbed.
Once again the
And then the reader might question the morality of the "justice" meted out in the end.
Signora Elettra goes on strike over what she sees as the unfair dismissal of one of her colleagues, and there is also some discussion of how Venice has changed particularly under the influence of tourism.
Another good read.
Once again the
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title is intriguing, almost misleading.And then the reader might question the morality of the "justice" meted out in the end.
Signora Elettra goes on strike over what she sees as the unfair dismissal of one of her colleagues, and there is also some discussion of how Venice has changed particularly under the influence of tourism.
Another good read.
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LibraryThing member VictoriaJZ
I have really missed reading Leon's books and it was wonderful to again fall into the world of Venice and Brunetti.
LibraryThing member gaby317
The latest Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery, Falling in Love, reintroduces the famous soprano Flavia Petrelli years after their first meeting at the start of Donna Leon's series. Flavia is terrified by an extravagant secret admirer whose actions quickly escalate to stalking. Not only does she
Flavia is already uncomfortable with the public side of her profession. As the admirer grows more and more bold, her fear and distress increase. When victims of violent attacks are somehow linked to Flavia, it's clear that her admirer is building up to a dangerous climax.
Once again, Donna Leon delivers a delightful glimpse into Brunetti's Venice. I particularly enjoyed the return of the old character, the friendship between Flavia and Brunetti adds another layer to the investigation. Brunetti and Paola, their children and the political sparring all make Falling in Love a fun installment in one of my favorite detective series.
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receive lavish gifts but somehow the giver is able to bypass security and leave these offering within Flavia's private spaces. Flavia is already uncomfortable with the public side of her profession. As the admirer grows more and more bold, her fear and distress increase. When victims of violent attacks are somehow linked to Flavia, it's clear that her admirer is building up to a dangerous climax.
Once again, Donna Leon delivers a delightful glimpse into Brunetti's Venice. I particularly enjoyed the return of the old character, the friendship between Flavia and Brunetti adds another layer to the investigation. Brunetti and Paola, their children and the political sparring all make Falling in Love a fun installment in one of my favorite detective series.
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LibraryThing member AnnieMod
24th book in a long running series relies on the already known characters and actions. That's part of the reason I like series - you can have a big universe in a single novel. And in the case of Commissario Brunetti series, one of those main characters is the city of Venice.
And we meet an old
Flavia seems to have a stalker (even if it takes forever for the team to call it that) that sends flowers and demands attention. It all looks just annoying or just a bit disturbing until someone get pushed down the steps of a bridge. Brunetti decides to follow the case, despite it not being his job exactly and things starting to unravel.
Add to this a production of Tosca, a semi-strike in the police department and the world of Venice - with its streets and canals and the people that live there - Guido's family, Paola's parents, the policemen and policewomen of the city.
If you had read the rest of the series, it is a good entry in the series. But if you do not know the characters, they may sound a bit unfinished.
And after finishing the book, I almost want to go back and reread the early books in the series - in their proper order.
And we meet an old
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friend - Flavia Petrelli is back in town and getting in trouble again. This time noone dies almost until the end of the book - which is unusual. Which does not make it less of a crime book - just not one that deals with murder. Flavia seems to have a stalker (even if it takes forever for the team to call it that) that sends flowers and demands attention. It all looks just annoying or just a bit disturbing until someone get pushed down the steps of a bridge. Brunetti decides to follow the case, despite it not being his job exactly and things starting to unravel.
Add to this a production of Tosca, a semi-strike in the police department and the world of Venice - with its streets and canals and the people that live there - Guido's family, Paola's parents, the policemen and policewomen of the city.
If you had read the rest of the series, it is a good entry in the series. But if you do not know the characters, they may sound a bit unfinished.
And after finishing the book, I almost want to go back and reread the early books in the series - in their proper order.
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LibraryThing member gaby317
The latest Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery, Falling in Love, reintroduces the famous soprano Flavia Petrelli years after their first meeting at the start of Donna Leon's series. Flavia is terrified by an extravagant secret admirer whose actions quickly escalate to stalking. Not only does she
Flavia is already uncomfortable with the public side of her profession. As the admirer grows more and more bold, her fear and distress increase. When victims of violent attacks are somehow linked to Flavia, it's clear that her admirer is building up to a dangerous climax.
Once again, Donna Leon delivers a delightful glimpse into Brunetti's Venice. I particularly enjoyed the return of the old character, the friendship between Flavia and Brunetti adds another layer to the investigation. Brunetti and Paola, their children and the political sparring all make Falling in Love a fun installment in one of my favorite detective series.
Show More
receive lavish gifts but somehow the giver is able to bypass security and leave these offering within Flavia's private spaces. Flavia is already uncomfortable with the public side of her profession. As the admirer grows more and more bold, her fear and distress increase. When victims of violent attacks are somehow linked to Flavia, it's clear that her admirer is building up to a dangerous climax.
Once again, Donna Leon delivers a delightful glimpse into Brunetti's Venice. I particularly enjoyed the return of the old character, the friendship between Flavia and Brunetti adds another layer to the investigation. Brunetti and Paola, their children and the political sparring all make Falling in Love a fun installment in one of my favorite detective series.
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LibraryThing member AnnieMod
24th book in a long running series relies on the already known characters and actions. That's part of the reason I like series - you can have a big universe in a single novel. And in the case of Commissario Brunetti series, one of those main characters is the city of Venice.
And we meet an old
Flavia seems to have a stalker (even if it takes forever for the team to call it that) that sends flowers and demands attention. It all looks just annoying or just a bit disturbing until someone get pushed down the steps of a bridge. Brunetti decides to follow the case, despite it not being his job exactly and things starting to unravel.
Add to this a production of Tosca, a semi-strike in the police department and the world of Venice - with its streets and canals and the people that live there - Guido's family, Paola's parents, the policemen and policewomen of the city.
If you had read the rest of the series, it is a good entry in the series. But if you do not know the characters, they may sound a bit unfinished.
And after finishing the book, I almost want to go back and reread the early books in the series - in their proper order.
And we meet an old
Show More
friend - Flavia Petrelli is back in town and getting in trouble again. This time noone dies almost until the end of the book - which is unusual. Which does not make it less of a crime book - just not one that deals with murder. Flavia seems to have a stalker (even if it takes forever for the team to call it that) that sends flowers and demands attention. It all looks just annoying or just a bit disturbing until someone get pushed down the steps of a bridge. Brunetti decides to follow the case, despite it not being his job exactly and things starting to unravel.
Add to this a production of Tosca, a semi-strike in the police department and the world of Venice - with its streets and canals and the people that live there - Guido's family, Paola's parents, the policemen and policewomen of the city.
If you had read the rest of the series, it is a good entry in the series. But if you do not know the characters, they may sound a bit unfinished.
And after finishing the book, I almost want to go back and reread the early books in the series - in their proper order.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ebyrne41
Falling in Love is the twenty-fourth title in Donna Leon's Venice-based crime series featuring Commissario Brunetti. In this the opera singer Flavia Petrelli is uncomfortable with the level of attention she is getting from a supposed admirer, and when another singer is seriously injured having been
An improvement on her previous (By Its Cover), but otherwise unremarkable; there is little real mystery, the outcome predictable. I have seen more of the streets and sights of Venice in previous books, but Brunetti's wife Paola and in-laws do feature somewhat, which I welcome, as does the ever resourceful secretary Signorina Elettra, her involvement invariably adding some humour and comedy to proceedings. This time she is on strike against her boss Vice-Questore Patta and his sidekick Lieutenant Scarpa!
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pushed down some steps, Brunetti's concern for Flavia is heightened as he thinks both events may be related. The investigation is stepped up therfore before anyone comes to more serious harm. This story has an association with Leon's first book in the series, 'Death at La Fenice' where the soprano Flavia was a suspect in the death of a conductor. It therefore entails a revisit to the opera house La Fenice and the world of opera beloved by both Brunetti and Leon.An improvement on her previous (By Its Cover), but otherwise unremarkable; there is little real mystery, the outcome predictable. I have seen more of the streets and sights of Venice in previous books, but Brunetti's wife Paola and in-laws do feature somewhat, which I welcome, as does the ever resourceful secretary Signorina Elettra, her involvement invariably adding some humour and comedy to proceedings. This time she is on strike against her boss Vice-Questore Patta and his sidekick Lieutenant Scarpa!
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LibraryThing member cygnet81
Like reading about an old friend.
LibraryThing member cyderry
This, IMHO, has been the best Guido Brunetti installment so far. We are greeted by a former character, opera singer Flavia Petrelli from the first installment who this time rather than a suspect is being threatened by an unknown admirer. Very much a psychological thriller, this tale is very
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well-crafted holding the reader's interest while interjecting touches of levity at extremely tight points. Show Less
LibraryThing member Judiex
Being showered with flowers at the end of a performance may seem like a thrill to a performer, but the super abundance of yellow roses thrown onto the stage, arranged in vases in her dressing room, and left at her home made the thrill more of a frightened shiver for diva Flavia Petrelli. Her fear
Commissario Guido Brunetti had come to her aide previously. She now turned to him to help discover who was sending the flowers and why.
As usual, Donna Leon has written a fast-paced mystery utilizing the skills of his trusted team members and trying to avoid his professional adversaries. FALLING IN LOVE includes her traditional wit and observations. Some of my favorites:
Regarding a curtain call: “The applause increased, and voices, both male and female, shouted out “Brava”, for those who were either blind or not Italian, “Bravo”. She didn’t seem to mind, so long as they shouted.”
“Fact was meaningless: only art was real.”
“Most history....is filled with lies. :You’ve acquired the gift of listening. In your work, much of what you hear is lies, so you’ve learned to pay attention to everything that’s said to you.”
People think they have babies, but we don’t: we have people, and we have them all their lives, and we never stop worrying about them.”
“Brunetti had read, just that week, an article reporting that 25 per cent of Americans did not know that the Earth circled the Sun; he wondered how many people ever realized that the world did not circle around them.”
Leon also includes some untranslated Italian phrases.
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increases when two people with whom she had minimal contact are murdered.Commissario Guido Brunetti had come to her aide previously. She now turned to him to help discover who was sending the flowers and why.
As usual, Donna Leon has written a fast-paced mystery utilizing the skills of his trusted team members and trying to avoid his professional adversaries. FALLING IN LOVE includes her traditional wit and observations. Some of my favorites:
Regarding a curtain call: “The applause increased, and voices, both male and female, shouted out “Brava”, for those who were either blind or not Italian, “Bravo”. She didn’t seem to mind, so long as they shouted.”
“Fact was meaningless: only art was real.”
“Most history....is filled with lies. :You’ve acquired the gift of listening. In your work, much of what you hear is lies, so you’ve learned to pay attention to everything that’s said to you.”
People think they have babies, but we don’t: we have people, and we have them all their lives, and we never stop worrying about them.”
“Brunetti had read, just that week, an article reporting that 25 per cent of Americans did not know that the Earth circled the Sun; he wondered how many people ever realized that the world did not circle around them.”
Leon also includes some untranslated Italian phrases.
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LibraryThing member themulhern
Another workman-like, sort-of-literary entry from Leon. In contrast to the Ngaio Marsh mysteries set in theatres, the threat is external, so the relations among the cast members, stage crew, manager, director, are of no importance. It made me _slightly_ more interested in opera.
LibraryThing member pennykaplan
An opera star is stalked by a fan, and Brunetti uncovers the stalker's identity. OK entry in the series. Not the best; not the worst.
LibraryThing member sblock
Disclaimer: I'd read the back of a cereal box if it was written by Donna Leon, and I enjoyed this novel. But anyone looking for a real mystery, where the reader is challenged to solve a puzzle based on facts given, will be disappointed in this book. It's really more a police procedural, with lots
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of interesting details about opera, Venice and descriptions of excellent meals. Show Less
LibraryThing member kerns222
Donna Leon spends much more time on Venice, on Opera, on family, on relationships among the police and opera folks than on crime. I like that. The story mushes along, slowly, the way I would like to tour Venice.
LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: An opera singer, who Brunetti has known from a previous case, is being stalked. The stalking increases until people are hurt. The opera singer fears for her life, and must give a singing lesson to save it.
Review: Interesting story with an interesting ending.
Review: Interesting story with an interesting ending.
LibraryThing member tututhefirst
If I hadn't been to Venice and visited the famed opera house , La Fenice, this book would have held little interest. After reading all the books in the series up to now, the reader has to be aware of the author's love affair with opera. I found this particular episode a bit over the top on the
Leon does a great job of back fill, so even if you haven't read the earlier episodes, it isn't difficult to follow.
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subject. There was very little meat to the mystery, but, as always, watching the interplay of Brunetti, Sra Electra and all the regulars kept it a pleasant read.Leon does a great job of back fill, so even if you haven't read the earlier episodes, it isn't difficult to follow.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Tosca and its current diva create the environment for a stalker who turns violent. Brunetti aided and abetted by like thinking colleagues who continue to do good work despite the heavy hand of their Southern superiors. The food, as always, makes me want to find a restaurant with the Commissario's
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wife Paola creating the menu. Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
Opera diva Flavia Petrelli returns to Venice to star in Tosca. Guido Brunetti and wife Paola enjoy a performance. He learns a stalker sent large yellow rose bouquets to her dressing room and apartment. She feels violated the fan could find where she lives. When the stalker makes attempts to murder
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persons associated with the singer, Guido and his team step up their efforts to protect Flavia and catch a potential killer. It was nice to become reacquainted with Flavia and see where life took her over the years since her first encounter with Guido. While little time is spent on the wrap-up and readers may entertain lingering questions, the perpetrator received a measure of justice, whether ideal or not. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Diva Flavia Petrelli, who was introduced in the first of the Brunetti novels, has returned to Venice to star in Tosca. Her re-acquaintance with Commissario Brunetti is opportune. Flavia has an unknown stalker who knows far too much about Flavia’s movements for her comfort. Brunetti’s
I found the outcome of this case more satisfying than most of Brunetti’s other investigations, which typically end with the murderers receiving less than full justice for their crimes, or even altogether eluding justice. Brunetti usually has to be content with merely linking the crime to the guilty party. This case ended with a better sense of justice having been served.
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investigation becomes more urgent as the stalker becomes increasingly violent. Meanwhile, Signorina Elettra is the target for Lieutenant Scarpa’s underhanded office politics.I found the outcome of this case more satisfying than most of Brunetti’s other investigations, which typically end with the murderers receiving less than full justice for their crimes, or even altogether eluding justice. Brunetti usually has to be content with merely linking the crime to the guilty party. This case ended with a better sense of justice having been served.
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LibraryThing member Bruyere_C
I always enjoy joining Commissario Guido Brunetti and his family for meals in his Venice apartment. If only I could walk home from work, along the canals of Venice, for a two-hour lunch of gnocchi, grilled vegetables, and Pinot Grigio, followed by an espresso on the terrace. Here, Paola turns
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Guido's discussion of the possible stalker of an opera singer into a critique of Petrarch: "'I think that might be why Petrarch has always made me so uncomfortable.' 'What?' Brunetti asked in open astonishment. 'His thing with Laura,' she said, and Brunetti pondered those words — in the mouth of the most serious reader he had ever known, and said of the man who had taught his country to write poetry. His thing with Laura? 'I've always wondered if he simply wound himself up about her . . . one does get so tired of all the unrequited love.'" Show Less
LibraryThing member diana.hauser
FALLING IN LOVE is written by Donna Leon and is Book #24 in her award-winning Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery series.
An Opera singer is terrified by a stalker.
Years ago, in the first Commissario Guido Brunetti story Death at La Fenice, Guido Brunetti cleared the opera star Flavia petrelli in the
Presently, the soprano has returned to Venice, to its celebrated Opera House La Fenice, to sing the lead in its production of Tosca.
At a dinner party with Guido’s in-laws, Flavia reluctantly ‘confesses’ her nervousness, her fear, of being watched, of being stalked by an obsessive, ‘crazy’ fan.
Guido begins to delve into the world, the psyche of a possibly deranged, murderous fanatic.
What I know about opera would fit on a pinhead (!) so this title was fascinating to read - all the references to opera, stagecraft, costumes, music, lyrics, famous productions, the world-renowned La Fenice and, of course, the city of Venice.
A very good title. Love the book cover.
****
An Opera singer is terrified by a stalker.
Years ago, in the first Commissario Guido Brunetti story Death at La Fenice, Guido Brunetti cleared the opera star Flavia petrelli in the
Show More
murder of a famous conductor.Presently, the soprano has returned to Venice, to its celebrated Opera House La Fenice, to sing the lead in its production of Tosca.
At a dinner party with Guido’s in-laws, Flavia reluctantly ‘confesses’ her nervousness, her fear, of being watched, of being stalked by an obsessive, ‘crazy’ fan.
Guido begins to delve into the world, the psyche of a possibly deranged, murderous fanatic.
What I know about opera would fit on a pinhead (!) so this title was fascinating to read - all the references to opera, stagecraft, costumes, music, lyrics, famous productions, the world-renowned La Fenice and, of course, the city of Venice.
A very good title. Love the book cover.
****
Show Less