Another wonderful addition to the Commissario brunetti series.
I love the setting, writing and characters and honestly the crime elements take a bit of a side point for me in those books. So much so that i honestly can't say if i would recommend this purely for the plot itself since i would never recommend starting the series with this -the 26th!- book in the series. and i would also say that at this point most readers are in this series and the continues books for characters, writing and setting as much as i am. So what do i even need to say about the plot anyways?
Great addition and should be read if you love the series!

Brunetti is back in the latest instalment set in Venice. An incident at work results in Brunetti being given a leave of absence. He finds himself staying in his parents-in-laws holiday home on one of the Venetian islands. Meeting an old family acquaintance he re-captures some of his joie de vivre in rowing on the lagoon and getting to know the islands. A shocking death jolts him back into his normal life. How does an industrial accident many years ago, the decline in the bee population and the death of his friend all connect? The twist and turns of city are reflected in the twists and turns of politics, crime and business. An enjoyable read!

My first Donna Leon book and I can see why she is a Bestseller!

Fabulous characters residing in a vivid and inviting Venice with a crime/thriller undercurrent - perfection.

Easy for the reader to step straight into without reading previous Commissario Brunetti titles, as this is number 26 that was a HUGE bonus.

An environmental crime that felt sadly too real. A fantastic read.

I am always glad to be visiting Commisario Brunetti, & the (by now) familiar setting of
Venice - yet Donna Leon always manages to surprise with another variation on what
should be a limited locale.
It is easy for the rest of the world to forget what it is like to live in Venice, to actually be
a 'local'. This writer takes us inside, to experience Venice from a non-tourist point of view.
Each book in this series extends my Italian vocabulary in a new area, & my knowledge
of problems facing today's Italy - without seeming like a lecture. This latest addition also
manages to challenge the reader : are there times when morality should prevail over a
strict application of the law?
Donna Leon is not 'just' a writer of fiction, she is educating the world on important issues.
This is a writer who's books one wants to read in one sitting....whilst at the same time,
never come to the end of!

Another winner for Donna Leon's Commissario Brunetti who takes on another case while taking a well deserved respite in bella Venezia. As expected he soon becomes one of the key investigators trying to ascertain the circumstances surrounding a mysterious death. There are no surprises here but the ride is thoroughly enjoyable and the narrative provided the ideal holiday companion. Mille grazie!

For me its both Brunetti and Venice that draw me in. I know the setting will be Venice - drawbacks and all and told from the point of view of an actual resident, not the romantic version of tourists and then there is the Police matters told in minute detail with an Italian flair! Irresistible.

This time the setting is out on the islands and adds another dimension to this author's work. A sudden drowning of a seasoned seaman - is it enough to be suspicious or is it just one of those freak accidents. Brunetti decides to investigate with surprising results and sequences which goes back decades to uncover a tale of corruption, hidden stories and very present day problems.

As usual a fabulous story.
Goodreads and Amazon review up on 24/5/2017. Review on my blog mid September 2017.

While questioning a suspect Commissario Guido Brunetti takes some rash action to save a colleague from ruining his career. As a result and with medical support and encouragement from his loving wife Paola he takes a few weeks leave to a family owned villa at the tip end of Sant’Erasmo. There he hopes to restore his mind and body to the state it was in the early days of police work. Dreams of an idyllic break are soon shattered when the caretaker of the house goes missing following a sudden storm. Nobody can find him and Guido uses the investigative skills gained from years in the Questura to assist local police.
When the caretaker’s body is found the cause of death appears to be a simple accident. Suspicions that all is not what it seems lead police to several suspects and a trail leading back many years. Further enquiries uncover past misdeeds and the terrible price paid by those involved.
My favourite character was Guido as he wasn’t the usual stereotype officer I would normally encounter in a crime story. I found parts of this book humorous and in particular enjoyed how the author wove this into the first few chapters.
Initially the story seemed to move at a slow pace without detracting from my enjoyment. I felt the author needed time to develop a picture of life on the island and he certainly did an excellent job of that.
Loved how it all ended even though I didn’t see it coming. It’s a strange thing when the scenario/s placed in front of you leads to a totally different outcome than expected. You will have to read this book to understand my cryptic comment.
If you enjoy a good mystery/thriller and want something just a little bit different then make sure you put this book on your reading list.

Donna Leon's environmental concerns are coming to the forefront in her recent writing. Just as she has rallied against the huge cruise ships that tower over her beloved city, she is now bringing light to the plight of bees.
Guido Brunetti has always been the most compassionate of men and this recent rendering only adds to his gentle nature.
It was my pleasure to read of a different side of Brunetti on holiday; his gentle meanderings through a countryside and his always respectful intercourse with his fellow man and woman.
Another delightful read by the best of mystery writers today.

Like all other Brunetti novels Earthly Remains is set in Venice, but in a Venice quite different from the one we normally know. Commisario Brunetti spends two weeks of vacation in a villa on the island of Sant Erasmo in the Venetian lagoon, a world quite unknown to him even though he lived in Venice all his life. Brunetti spends his time rowing with Davide, an old friend of his father's. They visit Davide's beehives which are slowly dying. One day Davide doesn't show up after a storm despite being a fantastic rower. Soon after his body is found. He drowned but it is not sure wether this was an accident, suicide or something else...
The book started very slowly and only sped up in the second half. As with all Brunetti novels the truth comes out eventually but once again no one will do anything to punish the criminals. I like that the solution is always very simple and clear once it is brought to light but I find it very frustrating that so often no criminal is arrested or accused.

(I received a free digital copy via Netgalley/ the publisher. Thanks for the opportunity!)

This was my first Commissario Brunetti novel and I was concerned about starting 26 books ito an established series. i really needn't have worried as I was hooked and engaged from the beginnijbg and have now discovwred a new series of police procedurals that i fully intend to devour.

Beautifully written, calm and gentle and a credible plot with wonderful characters all set in Venice

What more could anyone ask for?

I have a lot of reading to do in order to catch up!

Another excellent case solved.

** spoiler alert ** I don't really appreciate criminal novels where the culprit won't pay for his/her deeds, and in this book it happened not once but twice. So, even if I usually like Donna Leon's books, even if she hates Venice in particular and Italy in general, this one was not to my liking.

Non mi piacciono i gialli dove i "cattivi" alla fine non pagano per i loro crimini, ed in questo libro accade per ben due volte quindi, anche se di solito mi piacciono i romanzi della Leon, anche se lei odia Venezia in particolare e l'Italia in generale, questo non é stato poi un granché.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Even though this was less of a mystery than a contemplation, I still thought it was worthwhile. The protagonist of this book is really the city of Venice and through Brunetti we get to see how the beauty of this environment is under threat. A longstanding fan of Donne Leon's novels, I find their strength lies in the growth of the characters and the understanding of the life of Venice and its people. Here the reader can take a closer look at what lies beyond Venice itself, at the lagoon and some of the murkier details of its recent past. The book meanders and flows, a bit like the canals of Venice. Enjoyable as usual!

This to me is a five star book. I have read nearly all of Donna Leon's books. Commissario Brunetti is a wonderful character who is described brilliantly and in great detail in every novel. This book is no exception. It is wonderfully written and the descriptions make it so easy for you imagine yourself there. Brunetti solves everything in his own unique and likeable style. I would definitely recommend this book and I hope there is another one in the series.

Here we are, number 26 in the Brunetti novels. Having been a fan since the beginning I always look forward to revisiting Brunetti and the family. As each novel moves on, we see the World around us changing and as it does we see the impact it has upon Venice, the family and of course, Brunetti.

Earthly Remains opens with an interrogation of arrogant wealthy man whose attitude towards his victim leads Brunetti to act rashly which in turn makes the Commissaire review his career. Granted leave Brunnetti escapes Sant'Erasmo, a large island in the Laguna, he spends his time in the company of the villa's caretaker Davide Casati, until Casati goes missing.

Donna Leon's Brunetti novels remain something of a hidden gem in the world of crime fiction, this is crime fiction which shows us societal change, the impact of globalisation, how wealth can lead to corruption and the politics of the world and of Brunetti's Venice. It is also crime fiction with a heart, at it's core is Brunetti and his family, and every year we are given the chance to enter their lives and enjoy their company.