The Thief of Venice

Having read almost all of the Homer Kelly mysteries by Jane Langton, I was surprised by this one. Not only does it take place outside the normal venue, but as well, Homer plays a very small part in the book, with Mary doing most of the detecting. As usual, Ms. Langton does an excellent job of wrapping up several seemingly disparate plotlines into one tidy ending. The descriptions of Venice are interesting, although at times are rather more like a list of attractions rather than true descriptions. All in all, not the best of the series; but even when not the best, a Jane Langton book is better than most in the genre.

This might not be the best Homer Kelly mystery to start with, but it is definitely worth reading if you like the series. Most of the Homer Kelly books take place in Boston; occassionally on another site, such as Florence (the Dante Game) and Oxford (the Longest Day). Unlike the previous reviewer, I did not find ANY of the Boston books boring. This one, that takes place in Venice, is a great introduction to the city. And Mary Kelly is more of the main character than Homer. But for those of us who have READ EVERY ONE, it was interesting to see Mary in a foreign city and the danger she finds herself in. Perhaps not the best, but a very good look at Venice and to an extent, Medieval art.

In Venice, Samuele Bell hosts an international rare book convention that experts from around the world attend. Among the attendees is American Professor Homer Kelly, whose spouse Mary, also a professor, accompanies him to Italy. While Homer spends all of his time relishing the city''s vast Renaissance collection, Mary tours Venice with her camera.As the Kellys enjoy their stay in the city, Dr. Richard Henchard finds an apartment for his mistress. However, the apartment contains a strange closet where he uncovers a hidden Jewish treasure, probably buried there during World War II. To keep the treasure that he now claims as his, Richard murders two people. He also meets Mary and they begin an affair even as the police seek an unknown killer.The fourteenth Kelly mystery provides a fresh look at the main characters by shifting them to Italy and having their personal lives intercede on the who-done-it. Homer and Mary remain a warm, wonderful couple, who now must deal with her affair with the killer. However, it is Jane Langton''s descriptions of present day and World War II Venice that makes this must reading of series fans and amateur sleuth tales.Harriet Klausner