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jijo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
readingthemenu's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This is book 26 in the Guido Brunetti series. Brunetti is a Commissario Police officer in Venice, Italy. He takes a medical leave of absence after faking a heart attack in order to stop a subordinate from attacking a suspect during an interview. His wife arranges for him to spend two weeks at a villa owned by one of her wealthy relatives. He becomes friends with Davide Casati, the caretaker of the villa. Casati and Brunetti's father were rowing partners many years ago and he and Brunetti start rowing every day in the canals around Venice.
But then Casati goes missing and his daughter asks Brunetti for help. Brunetti does find his body and starts an informal investigation. What he finds leads him to a long ago explosion at a chemical plant and some buried secrets. I found the ending to be somewhat unsatisfactory, but perhaps realistic, given a certain amount of corruption in Italy. Brunetti is an honest, dedicated police officer, experienced in the ways of navigating through bureaucracy and being told to stop investigating sensitive matters.
Some quotes:
"Brunetti, urban to his marrow, was incapable of distinguishing the scent of one flower from another, but the scent pleased him."
"After a long time, he went back into the house to prepare his solitary dinner, well, solitary save for the company of Gaius Plinius Secundus, dead for nearly two thousand millennia but very much present to Brunetti."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book.
This is book 26 in the Guido Brunetti series. Brunetti is a Commissario Police officer in Venice, Italy. He takes a medical leave of absence after faking a heart attack in order to stop a subordinate from attacking a suspect during an interview. His wife arranges for him to spend two weeks at a villa owned by one of her wealthy relatives. He becomes friends with Davide Casati, the caretaker of the villa. Casati and Brunetti's father were rowing partners many years ago and he and Brunetti start rowing every day in the canals around Venice.
But then Casati goes missing and his daughter asks Brunetti for help. Brunetti does find his body and starts an informal investigation. What he finds leads him to a long ago explosion at a chemical plant and some buried secrets. I found the ending to be somewhat unsatisfactory, but perhaps realistic, given a certain amount of corruption in Italy. Brunetti is an honest, dedicated police officer, experienced in the ways of navigating through bureaucracy and being told to stop investigating sensitive matters.
Some quotes:
"Brunetti, urban to his marrow, was incapable of distinguishing the scent of one flower from another, but the scent pleased him."
"After a long time, he went back into the house to prepare his solitary dinner, well, solitary save for the company of Gaius Plinius Secundus, dead for nearly two thousand millennia but very much present to Brunetti."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book.
margaret21's review
5.0
I can never put down a book by Donna Leon until I've finished it. This is no exception. Commissario Brunetti does something a bit daft to protect a colleague, but it turns out well- he gets sick leave which he uses to vanish to a fairly isolated island in the Venetian lagoon to try to eliminate the huge build up of stress brought on by his job. Rowing turns out to be the answer, rowing with an old friend of his father, who was a proficient oarsman.
His new friend dies in a storm. A horrible accident? Suicide? Murder. The answer lies in one of the themes that Leon often promotes in her books- potential environmental disaster, and political corruption. I can say no more. Just read this book, and find out for yourself.
His new friend dies in a storm. A horrible accident? Suicide? Murder. The answer lies in one of the themes that Leon often promotes in her books- potential environmental disaster, and political corruption. I can say no more. Just read this book, and find out for yourself.
mhoffrob's review
4.0
Donna Leon never disappoints! Not sure I've read every prior Commissario Brunetti volume, but the beauty of the highly descriptive language is always a delight to read. Only about 33% into Earthly Remains (Advanced Reader Copy) and I'm thoroughly enjoying it!
lady_elle's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
albrechtra's review against another edition
5.0
Another good Leone read
The next in this long running series continues the story of Brunetti, his family and Venice. One of the better story lines even though most take place away from Venice.
The next in this long running series continues the story of Brunetti, his family and Venice. One of the better story lines even though most take place away from Venice.
turrean's review
4.0
Here’s why I love this series: the author devotes more than a page to her protagonist choosing books to take on vacation.
This is a slow, thoughtful, polished addition to the series. Brunetti’s family and favorite coworkers are offstage for most of the book, so this isn’t the book to choose when diving into the series for the first time.
As with all the books in this series, Leon is most concerned with her hero’s internal journey toward understanding. I love the scenes in which Brunetti and his colleagues question people. Leon describes tone, facial expression, the thought process behind each question, how each subject’s foibles are used against them to arrive at the truth.
This is a slow, thoughtful, polished addition to the series. Brunetti’s family and favorite coworkers are offstage for most of the book, so this isn’t the book to choose when diving into the series for the first time.
As with all the books in this series, Leon is most concerned with her hero’s internal journey toward understanding. I love the scenes in which Brunetti and his colleagues question people. Leon describes tone, facial expression, the thought process behind each question, how each subject’s foibles are used against them to arrive at the truth.