The Bellini Card: A Novel Audiobook

" I did not like it as much as the first one in the series. There seemed to be some plot holes at the end. "

" I felt slightly dizzy as Goodwin took us this time to Venice from Istanbul and I kept thinking of hearing Salmun Rushdie talk on the similarities and differences of Venice & Istabul in re his The Enchantres of Florence though at a different time in history. Always twinned, la Venitia and Byzantium. And this such a satisfyingly twisting, turning, Gothic story!! What a read!! "

" I am completely hooked on this series! It takes the reader to another world and time, with amazing characters, rich plots, and absorbing prose. Anyone who loves Istanbul would especially appreciate Jason Goodwin's writing. "

" I will look for the two earlier books by Goodwin; he writes very well. The scenes in Venice are vivid; the plot and characters are exotic. This is a readable and thoughtful mystery. "

" I always have a hard time following the denouement of Goodwin's novels. But the settings are fascinating and every book has several very good recipes that I love trying out for myself. "

" I have found few books to be such page turners as goodwin's trilogy books. I had no doubt that moving the set to Venice would prove a good idea, after all the history of the two cities is so intertwined ... What tend to be bothersome for those who are familiar with both Istanbul and Venice are the small inaccuracies in the settings. Although the author himself admits to have sacrificed accuracy to imagination and since it is fiction after all I guess it goes overlooked. The cooking references are mouth watering and give a nice pace to the story. The main character is so peculiar that you can't help loving and cheering for him. "

" This was good enough that I've put the two prequels in my reading list, but I did get a little lost in the rather convoluted--and only partially satisfying--solution. "

" Interesting -- as the previous two Yashim mysteries were -- but a little too much Venice and not enough Istanbul in this one. The end, however, makes up for the wait. "

" The other two Inspector Yashim books are much better. "

" Officially, I only skimmed the second half of this. I enjoy Yashim and his friends, but I just couldn't get through this one. After 6 months of pretending to try, I am giving up. "

" This one was a disappointment to me. I listened to the audiobook and maybe that was the problem. "

" A little over my head but painted a good picture of Venice in the 1800's-makes you want to float through the water in a gondola and order the ethnic food of Venice. "

" Fantastic tour of early Venice thought the eyes of Yashim and Palwski on a historical mystery. "

" I have enjoyed all of this series. I like Yashim and I liked the expanded role of the Polish ambassador in this one. Also like the Venice setting. I did find the plot machinations got away from me a bit for a while there; I didn't quite follow what was going on, but eventually I caught up. "

" see previous reviews...though I need to add that this guy and the series grow on me. "

" Enjoyed the look at Venice this third book provides, but am less interested in Italian than Muslim culture. "

" Less interesting than the prior two novels because far less Istanbul (this one set chiefly in Venice) and far less Inspector Yashim. "

" Investigator Yashim returns in this book. ut it was disaapointing because there's not too much Yashim and there's not too much Turkey. Still, a good yarn to read on the place. Lots of twists and turns. "

" Good, a nice look at the Turkish/Italian connection and some history on both the Ottoman Empire and Venice "

" This was the second time I have read this book but I enjoyed it as much or more than the first time. I really like this series and this story took the main characters out of their usual comfort zone and gave the reader a chance to see some new dimensions. "

" I really liked the previous Yashim books and I love Venice, so I had high expectations for this book. While I enjoyed it, I felt it was rather jumpy and fragmented. I had a hard time at points following the action. The ending felt a bit abrupt to me. "

" Yashim is the master of his city. Istanbul has no secrets for him, but what can he do in Venice? This adventure just proves that he has no equal. "

" Setting Venice...could relate. Interesting insight to food, fencing exotic references. Not a page turner but very interesting read. "

" What's not to like, a highly placed Eunich from the Ottoman empire tries to find a painting of the Sultan by Bellini in Venice. Court intrigue, murders double crosses and a particular pattern. It was a bit convoluted. "

" I was a bit disappointed at first that the book took place in Venice, not Istanbul like the other Yashim books, but the writing is as rich and helped me see the interplay between the Ottomans and other European empires. Well-drawn characters, a suitably intriguing mystery. "

" another great installment in the Yashim series, this one taking us from Istanbul to Venice and back. Yashim's friend Palewski plays a more active role, and Goodwin continues the delightfully descriptive cooking classes! "

" Another in my collection of "honest detectives working for corrupt regimes": This time is is 1840 in the crumbling Ottoman Empire and the hero is a court eunuch. "

" Satisfied my obsession with the Ottoman Empire and Turkish cuisine . . . "

" This is the second of this series I have Read and I enjoyed it as much as the first. A new time period and place for me to discover and an eunuch for the detective is different, too. The story is well written, too and I really enjoy the extra tidbits about Turkish cuisine. "

" A little muddy and muddled in the second half, but still a jolly good romp :) Great fun. "

" Not as much fun as The Janissary Tree. The plot meandered - I guess it was rather byzantinian - and not enough of the delightful Yashim. But enjoyable none the less. "

" • The Bellini Card by Jason Goodwin. A detective series set in 19th century Istanbul, this time with a side visit to Venice. Yashim the detective is searching for a possible portrait of Mehmet the Conqueror. Very entertaining and the period details are great. Who knows much about old Istanbul? "

" Less interesting than the prior two novels because far less Istanbul (this one set chiefly in Venice) and far less Inspector Yashim. "

" OK, but not great. Goodwin's writing always seems to jump around so much that I have a hard time following his train of thought. It works better for his fiction than his non-fiction, though. "

" escapist historical fiction. 1840s Istanbul & Venice. fun. but the plot was a bit implausible. if I recall correctly. "

" A very good historical mystery--literate and compelling. I will try to find more by this author "

" I enjoy this series featuring Yashim the Istanbul detective, set in the 1800s. In this one, at about 1/2 thru, the action mainly centres around is friend Palewiski, in Venice. Update: Yashim makes his appearance later- I won't give it away:) "

" Yashim is the master of his city. Istanbul has no secrets for him, but what can he do in Venice? This adventure just proves that he has no equal. "

" This was good enough that I've put the two prequels in my reading list, but I did get a little lost in the rather convoluted--and only partially satisfying--solution. "

" Fantastic tour of early Venice thought the eyes of Yashim and Palwski on a historical mystery. "

" I really liked the previous Yashim books and I love Venice, so I had high expectations for this book. While I enjoyed it, I felt it was rather jumpy and fragmented. I had a hard time at points following the action. The ending felt a bit abrupt to me. "