Published in 2012. She has published 22 books in the Guido Brunetti mystery series. I have enjoyed many of these. I am not sure if this is the first book she has written that is a stand alone. I listened to it and there was a lot of Italian in it, but you can follow the story. However, the story is pretty dull. It is about a musicologist hired to research papers written in the late 1700s from trunks recently found and sent to the descendents, two cousins who are greedy and mistrust each other.It was fairly boring, but I think there was a subtle message about Opus Dei. However, the message was way too subtle for me as I know so little about the Catholic church. It's fun, of course, to read about Venice which holds a super special magical feeling in most people's hearts and minds. This was the second Donna Leon book I've read and there seems to be a pattern of mysterious, intelligent, espresso-drinking women that seems a little too pat and perfect for readers (at least me) to relate to. I was most interested in the sister-nun with doubts who features only in electronic correspondence. More books might give time for the characters to develop. Not a bad read if you want to wander Venice's streets and imagine what it would be like to be a Venetian.
What do You think about Himmlische Juwelen (2012)?
Storyline was weak. Not the same quality as the Commissario Guido Brunetti novels.
—kat
Boring and poorly developed with a ridiculous, abrupt and unsatisfying ending.
—Camryn
Great fun - witty - urbane. Italians as they are.
—lecherous
