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Beastly Things
- A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery, Book 21
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
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Beastly Things
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Summary
When a body is found floating in a canal, strangely disfigured and with multiple stab wounds, Commissario Brunetti is called to investigate and is convinced he recognises the man from somewhere. However, with no identification except for the distinctive shoes the man was wearing, and no reports of people missing from the Venice area, the case cannot progress.
Brunetti soon realises why he remembers the dead man, and asks Signorina Elettra if she can help him find footage of a farmers' protest the previous autumn. But what was his involvement with the protest, and what does it have to do with his murder?
Acting on the fragile lead, Brunetti and Inspector Vianello set out to uncover the man's identity. Their investigation eventually takes them to a slaughterhouse on the mainland, where they discover the origin of the crime and the world of blackmail and corruption that surrounds it.
Both a gripping case and a harrowing exploration of the dark side of Italy's meat industry, Donna Leon's latest novel is a compelling addition to the Brunetti series.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jaybeetee
- 08-08-20
Terrible narrator
My enjoyment of this story was marred by the dreadful American drawl and pronunciation of the narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Oscar
- 18-03-17
Leave David Colacci alone!!
Where does Beastly Things rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I love Donna Leon's 'Brunetti' books and this is one of the best. I think people are far too dismissive of David Colacci's narration. I know he sounds like a Mexican bandit some of the time, but I really like his interpretation -slow and laconic, perhaps a bit lazy -and quite frankly, rather 'Italian'. There is a sensitivity he imbues into his characters that all but Andrew Sachs fail to achieve in reading Donna Leon. He does male and female characters equally well and when I read the Brunetti books, it is Colacci's voice I hear -and for me that adds another layer of enjoyment.
(As an aside, why didn't Andrew Sachs read unabridged Donna Leon's? I'd buy them all!)
I found this book (and its narration!) moving, amusing and engaging in turn and thoroughly recommend it. Open your mind and give Colacci a chance!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- S J MUMFORD
- 23-01-23
Brilliant
One of Donna Leon’s best. Well read and very good on relationships especially with the child
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- 333skiway
- 03-12-19
Leon continually pleases
This is my first Audible for Leon, all my other reads of her works have been e-book format. I have listened avidly during the course of my daily walks and the narrator brought this low key story alive. A recent visit to Venice made this one so much more enjoyable It is always a pleasure to enjoy a well constructed tale and as usual Donna Leon does not disappoint.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
- J Halle
- 09-05-12
New narrator please!
Not one of Donna Leon's best, but would be an ok listen if it weren't for the dreadful quality of the narration. The reader has no sensitivity to the text, no understanding of the nuances, and succeeds only in spoiling the experience. very disappointing.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
- iphoneX
- 30-04-12
Awful Accent
Narrator very irritating. Cant imagine Guido talking to his staff in broken English with an American accent. Thought the last narrator was much better.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
- Martin
- 08-09-12
Donna Leon Beastly Things - read by David Colacci
There is not comparison with the great reader Andrew Sachs! How can Donna Leon admit to read her text in a "badly made" Italian accent! It would be more genuin to read in American without pretending to fake "Italianita"! A reader should at least learn to spell the Italian Terms correctly - starting with the name of Brunetti!
We're most disappointed!
Annemarie & Martin Luchsinger
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
- Dr B Gumbrell
- 30-04-12
Slow, slow, slow
Well written and good character development but the slow development of a thin plot and an even slower narration by David Colacci practically sent me to sleep. If you need to know the details of every mouthful of food eaten by the characters, you'll like this but it felt like padding to me. Not Leon at her best.
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2 people found this helpful