Doctored Evidence by Donna Leon

Advantages: Good story
Disadvantages: Slow pace

...About the author This was Donna Leon's 12th crime novel. Of these five including this one, have focused on Commissario Brunetti as the books main character. The book is set in Venice and is it very clear this is a place the author knows a lot about and has a respect and knowledge for. She has won the CWA Macallan Silver Dagger for Fiction for 'Friends in High Places'. The Story An old and highly unpopular lady Maria Battestini is found murdered in her flat. The prime suspect for this is her Romanian Maid. Who is found on a train bound for her home land. She tries to escape but is killed by an oncoming train. The Police believe this unaccountable departure, together with forged papers and a large amount of cash prove her guilt. The head of the investigation Lieutenant Scarpa believes the case is solved and no further...

CPTDANIELS 12.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Doctored Evidence - Donna Leon

Another super novel from Donna Hay

Advantages: Great characters, compelling story, well explored relationships, realistic
Disadvantages: None

...I am now a real fan of Donna Hay's book and when I saw this one in a charity shop for the bargain price of 50 pence, I decided I would grab it and have a go. I have loved the 2 previous Donna Hay books I have read so I expected that I would like this one too, and luckily for me, Hay did not disappoint, with her realistic and fun story-telling style! A quick bit about the author for those of you who haven't heard of her, and I am sure there are a few of you! Donna Hay is the author of 7 books, and Some Kind Of Hero is her 4th book. She has won critical acclaim for most of her novels, and her debut novel called Waiting In The Wings won the Romantic Novelists Association's New Writer of the Year award. Ok, now back to this novel. Some Kind of Hero follows the lives of 2 people living in the same town, and living very similar lives...

mummy2harry 24.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Some Kind of Hero - Donna Hay

Hot stuff from Donna Summer!

Advantages: Good mix of tunes
Disadvantages: Not enough modern material

...Donna Summer has had mixed fortunes over the years, mainly thanks to some alleged homophobic comments Summer was supposed to have made during the mid-1980s when AIDS was first being properly recognised. However, the music has to be priority and this is a good collection of songs. The main styles are disco and pop. Here's a track-listing. 1. Love To Love You Baby (Single Version) 2. Could It Be Magic (Single Version) 3. I Feel Love (Edit) 4. Theme From The Deep (Down Deep Inside) 5. Love's Unkind 6. I Love You (Single Version) 7. Last Dance (Single Version) 8. MacArthur Park (Single Version) 9. Heaven Knows 10. Rumour Has It 11. Hot Stuff (Single Version) 12. Bad Girls (Edited Single Version) 13. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) 14. On The Radio 15. Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) 16. State...

Mel27 27.06.2004 (22.07.2005) · Read review
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Review of Journey, The (The Very Best Of Donna Summer) - Donna Summer

The Little Friend by Donna Tartt

Advantages: Harriot is a sweet character
Disadvantages: dull, slow moving and boring

......

CPTDANIELS 02.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Little Friend - Donna Tartt

Donna Noble Impersonation

Advantages: Quirky with a good dramatic edge.
Disadvantages: The main character is a bit annoying.

..., Sally Hawkins becomes a source of annoyance? simply because she has 'stolen' Tate's Donna Noble persona from Doctor Who. In fact, there are times when Sally Hawkins actually looks like Donna Noble! Being a fan of Catherine Tate, and having loved her as Donna Noble in Doctor Who, I found myself constantly comparing Hawkins (Poppy) to Tate (Donna Noble)? it was downright distracting. However, managing, albeit with great difficulty, to focus on the movie as opposed to the character, I was again distracted by the fleeting appearance of a man who looked just like Tilk in Stargate SG-1, and if that wasn't bad enough, there's a long camera shot of a man who looks like Pavarotti sitting on a bench! I didn't quite know what to make of it all. 'Happy-Go-Lucky', although firmly entrenched in the 'comedy' genre with its quirks...

GoFigure 26.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Happy-Go-Lucky

Murder of Honour

Advantages: Excellent characters
Disadvantages: Slow in parts conclusion not quite right.

...Background: I have not read a Donna Leon novel in a couple of months, so I suppose I was getting withdrawal symptoms, as she is one of my favourite authors. When I noticed this novel in the library and to amazement it was one I had not yet read. So I immediately took the book out and couldn?t wait to get it home and start reading it. About the author: Donna Leon lives and writes primarily about the city she loves Venice. She was born 29 September 1942 in the USA. In her earlier career she taught English Literature in Iran, China, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Italy. In her writing career she has written 18 crime novels with her latest ?About Face? in April 2009. She has been nominated for the Best Novel or Dagger award for one of her books ?Friends in high places?. Synopsis of the book: One of Paola...

CPTDANIELS 08.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Wilful Behaviour - Donna Leon

Fishing for trouble

Advantages: Great well written story
Disadvantages: Luck and chance in an investigation

...Background: This is the fourth novel I have read by Donna Leon. My boss loves this author and persuaded me to try her. Since then I have become addicted to her style. I was not planning to read another so soon but when I saw this one for only £2.50 I could not resist it. About the author: Donna Leon gave up her job as a teacher to pursue her dream to become a writer. Since then she has become a very successful and acclaimed crime novelist. She was born September 29th 1942 in the US, but focuses her books on her home for the past 20 years of Venice in Italy. So far she has written 13 books featuring Commissario Brunetti as the lead character and his investigations. The story itself: Commissario Brunetti is called to the sleepy fishing village of Pellestrina in Italy, to investigate the murder of two of its Clam fishermen...

CPTDANIELS 03.05.2008 · Read review
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Review of A Sea of Troubles - Donna Leon

Am I losing faith?

Advantages: High quality of writing
Disadvantages: Very slow moving story that fails it ignite

...Background: I was looking at the list of books that have been written by Donna Leon the other day, and realised there were a couple I still hadn?t tried. So with that in mind when I was in my local bookshop the other day I looked for them and found this one while the other one was out of stock. I decided immediately to purchase it and couldn?t wait to get it home and read it. About the author: Donna Leon has a passion for her adopted country Italy since her first visit there in 1965. She has lived in Venice for the past 20 years and the love of the place is demonstrated beautifully in her writing. Her crime novels feature Commisssario Brunetti as her investigating officer. So far she has written 18 of these with this one I am reviewing was written in 1997. Synopsis of the Novel: Commissario Guido Brunetti is in...

CPTDANIELS 13.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Death of Faith - Donna Leon

DKNY - Not Such A Delicious Night

Advantages: If you like it - long lasting
Disadvantages: Heavy, Old fashioned, strong

...fragrance before but I am familiar with the range of television adverts promoting their Delicious range (usually with apples). This Donna Karen New York range is advertised for women (although they do offer a scent for men too) and was introduced in 2007. My sample included 2 small plastic sachets of perfume, in a plastic bubble type packaging with a snap end which opens a very small pin hole for the perfume to be squeezed out of. The plastic is black with a clear bubble where you can see a decent amount of fluid. Unfortunately due to the way the packaging is designed you cannot reuse your sample, so if you do not need the full amount you will waste the rest of the product as it is not reseal-able. On snapping the plastic I was immediately squirted in the eye, so with watery eyes I applied the fragrance to the inside of my wrists...

carysb 24.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Donna Karan DKNY Delicious Night

Acqua Alta

Advantages: Well written, exciting novel
Disadvantages: No epilogue

...Background: I have reviewed several novels by Donna Leon over the past six months. This time I hadn't planned to read any more by this author but one of my friends gave me this one as she saw me reading one before. So I thought the least I could do was read it and review it. About the author: This book I'm reviewing is the fifth by Donna Leon. All her crime books feature Commissario Brunetti as the investigating officer and are set in Venice, Italy. She was born September 29th 1942 in New Jersey in America, but has spent over 20 years living in Italy. Her other skills involve being a successful critic for the Sunday Times and an expert on Opera. Synopsis of the book: When a celebrated American archaeologist Miss Brett Lynch is attacked in her home Commissario Brunetti immediately shows an interest. As she is a friend...

CPTDANIELS 09.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Acqua Alta - Donna Leon