(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In Death at La Fenice, Donna Leon’s first novel in the Commissario Brunetti series, readers were introduced to the glamorous and cut-throat world of opera and to one of Italy’s finest living sopranos, Flavia Petrelli – then a suspect in the poisoning of a renowned German conductor. Now, many years after Brunetti cleared her name, Flavia has returned to the illustrious La Fenice to sing the lead in Tosca.
As an opera superstar, Flavia is well acquainted with attention from adoring fans and aspiring singers. But when one anonymous admirer inundates her with bouquets of yellow roses – on stage, in her dressing room and even inside her locked apartment – it becomes clear that this fan has become a potentially dangerous stalker. Distraught, Flavia turns to an old friend for help. Familiar with Flavia’s melodramatic temperament, Commissario Brunetti is at first unperturbed by her story, but when another young opera singer is attacked he begins to think Flavia’s fears may be justified. In order to keep his friend out of danger, Brunetti must enter the psyche of an obsessive fan and find the culprit before anyone comes to harm.

I have to admit I have been a fan of the Commissario Brunetti series since the beginning. There was something about the setting, the language, the mysteries, that always drew me back for the next book...time and time again.

However, I do feel that there must come a time when a series needs to come to an end and I feel like Donna Leon really needs to consider that after this book. The worst thing about this story was, well, the lack of story. It just plodded along, nothing really happening of any note, almost like she is being paid by the word. Long paragraphs of nothingness filled this book.

And it saddens me. I am sure that Donna Leon has better stories in her than this one. Will I try the next? Probably - I am a bit of a sucker. Who knows? It might be amazing. I am going to just pretend this was a blip on her usually-exceptional radar and see what comes next...


Paul
ARH