The strengths of The Bellini Card are the sense of place, characterisation, and historical detail. Goodwin places the reader in both Istanbul and Venice -- the landscape and architecture, the sights, sounds and smells, and the social strata and living conditions. The descriptions are wonderfully evocative and come to life in one’s mind’s eye. This is aided by a melting pot of nicely drawn characters -- a mix of fading aristocrats, bureaucrats, servants and criminals -- and their interactions conditioned by social standing. This is all well framed with respect to byzantine politics and the long history of connections between the two cities. The plot, however, is also somewhat byzantine. It might have been because I was tired when reading, but as the story progressed I became increasingly lost as to logic driving the story and I reached the end without really understanding the denouement. Maybe if I read it again it would become clear, but on first reading the complex weave and twists in the story never fully unravelled to reveal themselves. The result was a tale I enjoyed for the rich portrait of people and places, but where the plot became evermore incidental. This series just keeps getting better. The shift of scene to Venice allows for plenty of atmospheric detail, as well as insight into the relationship between Venice and Istanbul in the 19th century. Not that the atmosphere and history get at all in the way of the action--there's plenty of that too, much of it featuring Palewski the Polish ambassador, helping Investigator Yashim out by posing as an American art dealer. Of course, Yashim has to follow, and both of them have intense encounters with a Venetian contessa. The plot is as intricate as the Sand-Reckoner's pattern that functions as a clue, but the episodes of going to markets for ingredients, preparing them, and enjoying the resulting meal provide welcome relief to readers as well as to the characters. Exotic locations, characters both appealing and appalling, puzzles involving old paintings and manuscripts, and food besides--Jason Goodwin has a good thing going.
What do You think about Il Ritratto Bellini (2009)?
Fantastic tour of early Venice thought the eyes of Yashim and Palwski on a historical mystery.
—dmarshall
see previous reviews...though I need to add that this guy and the series grow on me.
—nmiranda12
