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In Venice, Homer's wife uncovers a decades-old conspiracy Four-month summer holidays, spring break, and regular sabbaticals mean that Harvard professors Mary and Homer Kelly never have trouble finding time to vacation. Unfortunately, Homer's sideline as an amateur sleuth means that they rarely get to relax during their time off. And so, when Homer begs Mary to let them visit Venice to attend a conference in the famed rare book library of Cardinal Bessarion, Mary agrees on condition that show more Homer avoid any dead bodies. When they arrive in Venice, it is Mary, not Homer, who stumbles upon a murder. An intent sightseer, she combs the city with her camera, snapping pictures of anything that catches her eye. But when one of her snapshots captures something it shouldn't, Mary is sucked into a decades-old mystery that stretches back to the darkest moments of World War II. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Well, it's a cozy, a genre I don't often venture into but Langton's characters are so refreshing and her plot line so pleasantly offbeat that I found myself smiling as I glided through the pages. And both her descriptions and her illustrations evoke not only the wonder of Venice but also the relentless chaos of aqua alta. The very real impact on our lives of our closest solar system neighbor is an especially deft touch. If you're looking for a break from the angst of crime noir you could do worse than picking up a Jane Langton story.
I am a fan of the Homer Kelly mysteries, but this one bothered me due to the completely atypical behavior of one of the characters. If this development had been explained or had been more central to the story line, it would have made for a better book. But Langton detonates this bizarre plot point without worrying about the shrapnel. Those unfamiliar with the series/characters will probably not find it as problematic.
That said, the other elements of the mystery and the visualization of Venice are well-executed and carefully researched. The line drawings bring the Piazza San Marco and other Venetian landmarks to life, as in a private travel journal.
That said, the other elements of the mystery and the visualization of Venice are well-executed and carefully researched. The line drawings bring the Piazza San Marco and other Venetian landmarks to life, as in a private travel journal.
Less mystery fiction perhaps than a celebration of the city of Venice.
The characters are somewhat under-described,but the visitor could surely use this as a walking guide without any trouble. Together with the charming drawings by the author the story,though light, has a certain something that makes one want to keep reading.
This is the fourteenth novel in the series featuring Homer Kelly,but the only one so far that I have read.I am therefore at a disadvantage I am sure. Homer does not seem to do much detecting but in fairness he is on holiday. The crimes of art theft and murder are perhaps of less interest than the setting.
Would I seek out more of the series? Well,yes I really think I will.
The characters are somewhat under-described,but the visitor could surely use this as a walking guide without any trouble. Together with the charming drawings by the author the story,though light, has a certain something that makes one want to keep reading.
This is the fourteenth novel in the series featuring Homer Kelly,but the only one so far that I have read.I am therefore at a disadvantage I am sure. Homer does not seem to do much detecting but in fairness he is on holiday. The crimes of art theft and murder are perhaps of less interest than the setting.
Would I seek out more of the series? Well,yes I really think I will.
Homer Kelly and his wife Mary are in Venice for an "ancient books" conference and Mary becomes involved in thiefery and mayhem. Mediocre mystery--14th in a series.
Mystery, Italy, Venice
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Author Information
34+ Works 8,929 Members
Jane Langton was born Jane Gillson in Belmont, Massachusetts on December 30, 1922. She received a bachelor's degree in art history in 1944 and a master's degree in art history in 1945 from the University of Michigan. She received a second master's degree in art history from Radcliffe College in 1948. She studied at the Boston Museum School from show more 1958 to 1959. Her writing career began with children's books. Her first book, The Majesty of Grace, was published in 1961. She illustrated several of her children's books. She wrote a young adult series entitled the Hall Family Chronicles. The fourth book in the series, The Fledgling, was a Newbery Honor book. She also wrote an adult mystery series entitled the Homer Kelly mysteries. The fifth book in the series, Emily Dickinson Is Dead, received a Nero Wolfe Award and an Edgar Award. In 2017, she received the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award for the series. She died from complications of a respiratory condition on December 22, 2018 at the age of 95. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Thief of Venice
- Original publication date
- 1999
- People/Characters
- Homer Kelly (Professor); Mary Kelly (Homer's wife)
- Important places
- Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Important events
- Flooding of Venice
- Dedication
- For Laura Lilli
- First words
- Many novels start with a funeral and end with a wedding.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Greedily they watched it float away behind them, relishing its Venetian double nature--because Santa Maria della Salute was not only an architectural marvel, it was a piece of fantasy, a fat round temple rising from the sea, its dome alive with springy spirals, its broad steps dropping down into the water as though Neptune himself might ascend, his long hair streaming with seaweed, his whiskers clotted with shells.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 152
- Popularity
- 215,340
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 3
