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Commissario Brunetti #26
Earthly Remains
Donna Leon’s bestselling mystery novels set in Venice have won a multitude of fans for their insider’s portrayal of La Serenissima. From family meals to coffee bars, and from vaporetti rides to the homes and apartments of Venetians, the details and rhythms of everyday life are an integral part of this beloved series. But so are the suffocating corruption, the never-ending influx of tourists, and crimes big and small. Through it all, Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti has been an enduring figure. A good man who loves his family and his city, Brunetti is relentless in his pursuit of truth and some measure of justice.
In Earthly Remains , the twenty-sixth novel in this series, Brunetti’s endurance is tested more than ever before. During an interrogation of an entitled, arrogant man suspected of giving drugs to a young girl who then died, Brunetti acts rashly, doing something he will quickly come to regret. In the fallout, he realizes that he needs a break, needs to get away from the stifling problems of his work.
When Brunetti is granted leave from the Questura, his wife, Paola, suggests he stay at the villa of a relative on Sant’Erasmo, one of the largest islands in the laguna . There he intends to pass his days rowing, and his nights reading Pliny’s Natural History . The recuperative stay goes according to plan until Davide Casati, the caretaker of the house on Sant’Erasmo, goes missing following a sudden storm. Now, Brunetti feels compelled to investigate, to set aside his leave of absence and understand what happened to the man who had become his friend.
Earthly Remains is quintessential Donna Leon, a powerful addition to this celebrated series.
In Earthly Remains , the twenty-sixth novel in this series, Brunetti’s endurance is tested more than ever before. During an interrogation of an entitled, arrogant man suspected of giving drugs to a young girl who then died, Brunetti acts rashly, doing something he will quickly come to regret. In the fallout, he realizes that he needs a break, needs to get away from the stifling problems of his work.
When Brunetti is granted leave from the Questura, his wife, Paola, suggests he stay at the villa of a relative on Sant’Erasmo, one of the largest islands in the laguna . There he intends to pass his days rowing, and his nights reading Pliny’s Natural History . The recuperative stay goes according to plan until Davide Casati, the caretaker of the house on Sant’Erasmo, goes missing following a sudden storm. Now, Brunetti feels compelled to investigate, to set aside his leave of absence and understand what happened to the man who had become his friend.
Earthly Remains is quintessential Donna Leon, a powerful addition to this celebrated series.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2017
1353 people are currently reading
2612 people want to read
About the author
Donna Leon
97 books2,907 followersDonna Leon (born September 29, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey) is an American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,072 reviews
April 20, 2017
Earthly Remains, the 26th novel in Donna Leon's Commissario Guido Brunetti Series, was a bit of a disappointment.
I have been a fan of this series since I read the 1st book years ago and Commissario Guido Brunetti has become one of my favorite book characters and of course the way that the author portrays the everyday life of Venice.
The story starts off really slow...nothing really happens for the first 100 or so pages. Brunetti has taken leave and is staying at his wife's family villa in one of the many islands in the laguna. He spends his days eating, sleeping, reading and rowing.
Davide Casati, the caretaker of the villa, who also happens to have been a rowing friend of Brunetti's father goes missing during a storm. His body is recovered and it becomes apparent that there is something sinister what seems like he had committed suicide.
Brunetti then spends his supposedly rest time trying to find out the mystery of his friend's death.
Corruption, poisoning of the Venice waters, secrets and of course Brunetti's quest for finding the truth and justice for the crimes committed.
The ending was so abrupt - I was left thinking...........is that it!!!!
I think I may just take a break from this series. The last two or three books have lacked the lustre I found in the start of the series.
However, if you are a fan of this series, then I suppose you should read this one.
I have been a fan of this series since I read the 1st book years ago and Commissario Guido Brunetti has become one of my favorite book characters and of course the way that the author portrays the everyday life of Venice.
The story starts off really slow...nothing really happens for the first 100 or so pages. Brunetti has taken leave and is staying at his wife's family villa in one of the many islands in the laguna. He spends his days eating, sleeping, reading and rowing.
Davide Casati, the caretaker of the villa, who also happens to have been a rowing friend of Brunetti's father goes missing during a storm. His body is recovered and it becomes apparent that there is something sinister what seems like he had committed suicide.
Brunetti then spends his supposedly rest time trying to find out the mystery of his friend's death.
Corruption, poisoning of the Venice waters, secrets and of course Brunetti's quest for finding the truth and justice for the crimes committed.
The ending was so abrupt - I was left thinking...........is that it!!!!
I think I may just take a break from this series. The last two or three books have lacked the lustre I found in the start of the series.
However, if you are a fan of this series, then I suppose you should read this one.
April 2, 2023
I’ve been reading Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti series for close to twenty years. At first it was my love of Venice that drew me to the books - Brunetti is a Commissario of Police, based in the The Floating City – and the descriptions of life (and death) in this unique environment have brought me back time and again. The nuances and customs of this city feel to me quite different to anything I've come across anywhere else. The very absence of roads make the whole place a maze that only the locals can effectively navigate. Mix into this the natural suspicion Italians have for all government bureaucracy and the tendency for native Venetians to always know somebody who knows somebody and the way has been paved for readers to enjoy not just a series of crime stories but an ongoing commentary on the lives of people who live in this wonderful place.
The cast is always kept small and the main players are ever present. From Guido’s pompous boss, Vice-Questore Patta, and his ever inventive and effective assistant, Signirina Electra, to Brunetti’s friend and colleague, Lorenzo Vianello, I’ve grown to love each and every one of them over the years. I’ve also grown up with Brunetti’s family (a university professor wife and two children) ageing at the same rate as me as I’ve waited each Spring for the next episode.
In this book the involvement of some of the cast has been limited, in fact it’s been pared back to focus mainly on Brunetti’s involvement with one man and the mysteries and tragedies that he uncovers as a result. After a strange incident when questioning a suspect in a drug related matter, our lead man finds himself in the local hospital, wondering if his job is something he's prepared to continue to countenance from this point on. As it happens, he's given the opportunity to withdraw to a small, seemingly idyllic, island situated in the Venetian Laguna for a period.
This is crime fiction so obviously there is a crime, but as is often the case in these books it takes quite a while for an incident to manifest. I've always thought that the crime itself is a secondary element in these books – Venetian life and the descriptions of the daily struggles, worries and challenges its people face is the primary reason I’ll always come back to this series. That and the people who have begun to feel like old friends - friends I wouldn't want to be absent from my life.
The crime element here is typically tragic and points to bigger, localised issues. Brunetti is an intelligent and thoughtful investigator, highly skilled in questioning suspects and witnesses. Don't expect this story to rush ahead with much shooting of guns and manic chases around the city's canals, that’s not the nature of these books. But do expect thoughtful reflection and a dawning realisation that something bigger may be at play. Seasoned readers of these books will know that endings are not always neat and tidy – something I really like! Whether you’re an existing fan of this author or if you’re a crime fiction fan looking for something a little different, I think you’ll find plenty to like here.
My thanks to a Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cast is always kept small and the main players are ever present. From Guido’s pompous boss, Vice-Questore Patta, and his ever inventive and effective assistant, Signirina Electra, to Brunetti’s friend and colleague, Lorenzo Vianello, I’ve grown to love each and every one of them over the years. I’ve also grown up with Brunetti’s family (a university professor wife and two children) ageing at the same rate as me as I’ve waited each Spring for the next episode.
In this book the involvement of some of the cast has been limited, in fact it’s been pared back to focus mainly on Brunetti’s involvement with one man and the mysteries and tragedies that he uncovers as a result. After a strange incident when questioning a suspect in a drug related matter, our lead man finds himself in the local hospital, wondering if his job is something he's prepared to continue to countenance from this point on. As it happens, he's given the opportunity to withdraw to a small, seemingly idyllic, island situated in the Venetian Laguna for a period.
This is crime fiction so obviously there is a crime, but as is often the case in these books it takes quite a while for an incident to manifest. I've always thought that the crime itself is a secondary element in these books – Venetian life and the descriptions of the daily struggles, worries and challenges its people face is the primary reason I’ll always come back to this series. That and the people who have begun to feel like old friends - friends I wouldn't want to be absent from my life.
The crime element here is typically tragic and points to bigger, localised issues. Brunetti is an intelligent and thoughtful investigator, highly skilled in questioning suspects and witnesses. Don't expect this story to rush ahead with much shooting of guns and manic chases around the city's canals, that’s not the nature of these books. But do expect thoughtful reflection and a dawning realisation that something bigger may be at play. Seasoned readers of these books will know that endings are not always neat and tidy – something I really like! Whether you’re an existing fan of this author or if you’re a crime fiction fan looking for something a little different, I think you’ll find plenty to like here.
My thanks to a Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2017
I requested this novel because Donna Leon is one of my mum’s favorite writers. She’s a crime novels addict and I remember her talking to me about this series a couple of times. Her love for the author made me curios and I jumped at the occasion to read the latest release, the 26th!!!! Installment in the Commissario Brunetti series. I was a bit worried that I will have some problems understanding the personal life of the main characters since I did not read the previous novels and I was partially right.
Donna Leon, the author of the series of novels that have as main character Guido Brunetti, a detective at the Police Headquarters in Venice, is an American of Irish and Spanish origins who’s lived in Venice for over 30 years. From the way she writes, we see that she is in love with the beauty and uniqueness of Venice and the nearby islands but also sees its darker side: environmental damage, pollution, crime, corruption. These latter issues are the subject of her newest novel.
Following an uncontrolled fit during an interrogation (a case of corruption in the high society of Venice) Brunetti realizes he needs a break and he gets nearly three weeks away from the office to recover. His wife Paula sends him to the villa of a rich aunt, on the secluded island Sant Erasmo, to relax and read. Here, he spent the days in the companionship of David Casati, the caretaker of the villa and an old friend of Brunetti' father. The two became friends and David helpes Brunetti to restart rowing, to rediscover the beauty of the lagoon and initiates him into the life of bees, which unfortunately, for some unknown reason, perished from the island. After a storm, David Casati disappears and Brunetti interrupts his vacation and starts his own investigation to discover the truth about the disappearance and, after the discovery of the corpse, about the death of David Casati.
About a third of the book covers the relationship between Brunetti and David Casati, the way they spend their time together in nature. Only later the conflict is triggered and the novel becomes a detective story.
I liked the book and the style in which it was written but the beginning was a bit boring. I discussed with my mum and she told me that her other novels are more action packed so I will probably read other Donna Leon books. In order to have a better reading experience, I should have started with the first books in the series to better understand Brunetti as a character, his spiritual conflicts, the other people from his life and circumstances that made him react like this at the beginning of the book. I would not recommend to start with this novel if you never read anything by Donna Leon before, it is more suitable for readers that already know and love these characters.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Donna Leon, the author of the series of novels that have as main character Guido Brunetti, a detective at the Police Headquarters in Venice, is an American of Irish and Spanish origins who’s lived in Venice for over 30 years. From the way she writes, we see that she is in love with the beauty and uniqueness of Venice and the nearby islands but also sees its darker side: environmental damage, pollution, crime, corruption. These latter issues are the subject of her newest novel.
Following an uncontrolled fit during an interrogation (a case of corruption in the high society of Venice) Brunetti realizes he needs a break and he gets nearly three weeks away from the office to recover. His wife Paula sends him to the villa of a rich aunt, on the secluded island Sant Erasmo, to relax and read. Here, he spent the days in the companionship of David Casati, the caretaker of the villa and an old friend of Brunetti' father. The two became friends and David helpes Brunetti to restart rowing, to rediscover the beauty of the lagoon and initiates him into the life of bees, which unfortunately, for some unknown reason, perished from the island. After a storm, David Casati disappears and Brunetti interrupts his vacation and starts his own investigation to discover the truth about the disappearance and, after the discovery of the corpse, about the death of David Casati.
About a third of the book covers the relationship between Brunetti and David Casati, the way they spend their time together in nature. Only later the conflict is triggered and the novel becomes a detective story.
I liked the book and the style in which it was written but the beginning was a bit boring. I discussed with my mum and she told me that her other novels are more action packed so I will probably read other Donna Leon books. In order to have a better reading experience, I should have started with the first books in the series to better understand Brunetti as a character, his spiritual conflicts, the other people from his life and circumstances that made him react like this at the beginning of the book. I would not recommend to start with this novel if you never read anything by Donna Leon before, it is more suitable for readers that already know and love these characters.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 10, 2017
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.
November 5, 2024
It's so welcome to be on the laguna with Guido for so many days. Rowing more than fishing, but still an experience. For me this series latest (#26) was a 3.5 star but I rounded it up for the strong Guido central core. At times other characters crowd the scene- but this one was nearly entirely Guido. A long married man having a respite under rather contradictory and strange conditions, but still a delicious spell of being in a outside isle on the peaks of the laguna villa. Singular and peaceful! Or not?
Paola and Elettra have their conversations, but this one was in great majority about the men of work- decades past and now. And also how that time past of industry has fall outs not only for those visibly afflicted.
Some of the quotes in this one were subtle and yet central Brunetti and Venetian calle prone pithy.
"They sat in silence for a moment, three Venetians, relatives at the wake of a city that had been an empire and was now selling off the coffee spoons to try to pay the heating bill."
As I have seen Chicago in the last 7 decades, I SO understand that quote.
But the sense of the dialect and the people on the small out islands and marsh barriers is outstanding in this one. The rest of it, especially in the Scarpa or Patta sense- not nearly as good as some other Brunetti. Foa steers us a few times, but I missed him too.
The Brunetti children are clearly off stage here as well- Raffi only getting one dinner conversation about his friend's birthday gift. And Chiara was off at the Lido. I miss the kids being in it more. They put another whole Italian level on it, IMHO. Opens the door beyond the stodginess of most of the old folk. And also Leon puts more than the average religious belief scoffing into this one (although she always gets at least a couple minor mocks in there within every novel in this series). One time for a quip in parallel to a Rosary recital which was especially obnoxious to me. And when people are crazed with grief, she doesn't omit a savage fling at their "weird" idea that any prayer could be meaningful. Really, such cheap shots. It's way beyond her writing ability to do these constantly- they are so banal compared to her literary comparisons or quips re Paola the most classically erudite.
Not the very best of the series, but far from the worst. And also holds a departure in that there are many more solitary Guido perceptions and moment to moment sensibilities than in the norm of the series. A good thing, for me.
Enjoy!
Almost forgot! There was a priceless couple of paragraphs in here that describe Paola and Guido negotiating a strident walk over the bridge to get home one night in the middle of July. It's cheek to jowl tourists and no one will move and all are standing in depth seeing "views". That one was EXCELLENT. 6 star. I've done that in huge crowds during ticker tape parade folly etc.- you look at the feet and MOVE. Never look up, pause or parry sideways to duck around or you will be "lost".
Paola and Elettra have their conversations, but this one was in great majority about the men of work- decades past and now. And also how that time past of industry has fall outs not only for those visibly afflicted.
Some of the quotes in this one were subtle and yet central Brunetti and Venetian calle prone pithy.
"They sat in silence for a moment, three Venetians, relatives at the wake of a city that had been an empire and was now selling off the coffee spoons to try to pay the heating bill."
As I have seen Chicago in the last 7 decades, I SO understand that quote.
But the sense of the dialect and the people on the small out islands and marsh barriers is outstanding in this one. The rest of it, especially in the Scarpa or Patta sense- not nearly as good as some other Brunetti. Foa steers us a few times, but I missed him too.
The Brunetti children are clearly off stage here as well- Raffi only getting one dinner conversation about his friend's birthday gift. And Chiara was off at the Lido. I miss the kids being in it more. They put another whole Italian level on it, IMHO. Opens the door beyond the stodginess of most of the old folk. And also Leon puts more than the average religious belief scoffing into this one (although she always gets at least a couple minor mocks in there within every novel in this series). One time for a quip in parallel to a Rosary recital which was especially obnoxious to me. And when people are crazed with grief, she doesn't omit a savage fling at their "weird" idea that any prayer could be meaningful. Really, such cheap shots. It's way beyond her writing ability to do these constantly- they are so banal compared to her literary comparisons or quips re Paola the most classically erudite.
Not the very best of the series, but far from the worst. And also holds a departure in that there are many more solitary Guido perceptions and moment to moment sensibilities than in the norm of the series. A good thing, for me.
Enjoy!
Almost forgot! There was a priceless couple of paragraphs in here that describe Paola and Guido negotiating a strident walk over the bridge to get home one night in the middle of July. It's cheek to jowl tourists and no one will move and all are standing in depth seeing "views". That one was EXCELLENT. 6 star. I've done that in huge crowds during ticker tape parade folly etc.- you look at the feet and MOVE. Never look up, pause or parry sideways to duck around or you will be "lost".
November 4, 2023
I’ve been reading Donna Leon from the first, since when she’s shown me Venice in many lights I had no idea about. Quite apart from the hook of crime and detection, Venice itself is a good part of the reason for returning time and again as each new book appears. As with Maigret and Paris, or Marlowe and LA, the pull is her detective’s inside track to the dark side the city, its high and low societies and their weaknesses that get exploited.
In Earthy Remains though, she steps outside the city boundaries, to take the stressed Commissario Brunetti on medical leave to the island of Sant’ Erasmo. Not the kind of break with the city I look for, at first glance. Not even the usual calm, dependable Brunetti. But of course Leon turns it around by weaving together some new land- and seascapes, a delicious central character (David Casati) and a view on the small hemmed-in fishing communities of the islands where there are no secrets. All this overlaid with the story of the disappearance of bees amid the ongoing poisoning of the lagoon.
Then of course, to sort out a murder, Brunetti goes back where he belongs - to the streets he inhabits, the people and politics he understands and the men and women who can steer him towards a solution. Which means - thank goodness - we’re in business as usual.
In Earthy Remains though, she steps outside the city boundaries, to take the stressed Commissario Brunetti on medical leave to the island of Sant’ Erasmo. Not the kind of break with the city I look for, at first glance. Not even the usual calm, dependable Brunetti. But of course Leon turns it around by weaving together some new land- and seascapes, a delicious central character (David Casati) and a view on the small hemmed-in fishing communities of the islands where there are no secrets. All this overlaid with the story of the disappearance of bees amid the ongoing poisoning of the lagoon.
Then of course, to sort out a murder, Brunetti goes back where he belongs - to the streets he inhabits, the people and politics he understands and the men and women who can steer him towards a solution. Which means - thank goodness - we’re in business as usual.
April 17, 2017
4.5. I really liked this one.
April 12, 2017
For some reason I cannot fathom, Marilyn Stasio raved about Earthly Remains. Stasio has been editing a column on crime fiction for the New York Times Book Review—forever, it seems. Her recommendations are often good. But this one wasn’t. She called this novel, the 26th in Donna Leon’s long-running Commissario Brunetti series, “one of her best.” I don’t agree.
Though there is a mystery underlying the action in Earthly Remains, it doesn’t even begin to surface until one-third of the way into the novel. And the investigation undertaken by Commissario Brunetti isn’t undertaken in earnest until more than two-thirds of the way.
Many of Leon’s signature themes are prominent in this curious book. She rhapsodizes about Venice, the surrounding communities, and the Laguna Veneta, the extension of the Adriatic Sea on which the islands of the city are located. In Earthly Remains, the romance of the Laguna comes in for special praise. Predictably, too, the corruption rampant in Italian society emerges clearly in the story. Brunetti’s boss, Vice-Questore Patta, is, as always, obsequious with authority and disdainful of those who report to him. If anyone in a position of power in Venice is under investigation by Brunetti or his colleagues, Patta will surely intervene in the suspect’s favor. And, once the plot of the novel finally becomes clear, Leon spotlights the illegal activity that has helped to poison the Laguna and surrounding territory. In Donna Leon’s Italy, corruption engulfs business as well as government, the police, and the Church.
One of Leon’s bad writing habits is to describe action in excruciating detail. I have no idea whether she picked up the habit writing for magazines that pay by the word, but Earthly Remains and many of her other novels read that way. Here’s a representative example from one of the first pages in the novel: “Brunetti had apologized for the heat in the room, explaining that the ongoing heatwave had forced the Questura to choose between using its reduced supply of energy for the computers or for air conditioning and had chosen the former. Ruggieri had been gracious and had said only that he’d remove his jacket if he might. Brunetti, who kept his jacket on, had begun by making it amply clear . . .” That was 68 words. How many words do you think Elmore Leonard might have used to convey the essential information in that passage? In fact, is there any essential information there?
If you are a die-hard Donna Leon fan, you might want to read Earthly Remains. If you’re not, be forewarned: not a lot happens in this novel. It’s very slow going.
Though there is a mystery underlying the action in Earthly Remains, it doesn’t even begin to surface until one-third of the way into the novel. And the investigation undertaken by Commissario Brunetti isn’t undertaken in earnest until more than two-thirds of the way.
Many of Leon’s signature themes are prominent in this curious book. She rhapsodizes about Venice, the surrounding communities, and the Laguna Veneta, the extension of the Adriatic Sea on which the islands of the city are located. In Earthly Remains, the romance of the Laguna comes in for special praise. Predictably, too, the corruption rampant in Italian society emerges clearly in the story. Brunetti’s boss, Vice-Questore Patta, is, as always, obsequious with authority and disdainful of those who report to him. If anyone in a position of power in Venice is under investigation by Brunetti or his colleagues, Patta will surely intervene in the suspect’s favor. And, once the plot of the novel finally becomes clear, Leon spotlights the illegal activity that has helped to poison the Laguna and surrounding territory. In Donna Leon’s Italy, corruption engulfs business as well as government, the police, and the Church.
One of Leon’s bad writing habits is to describe action in excruciating detail. I have no idea whether she picked up the habit writing for magazines that pay by the word, but Earthly Remains and many of her other novels read that way. Here’s a representative example from one of the first pages in the novel: “Brunetti had apologized for the heat in the room, explaining that the ongoing heatwave had forced the Questura to choose between using its reduced supply of energy for the computers or for air conditioning and had chosen the former. Ruggieri had been gracious and had said only that he’d remove his jacket if he might. Brunetti, who kept his jacket on, had begun by making it amply clear . . .” That was 68 words. How many words do you think Elmore Leonard might have used to convey the essential information in that passage? In fact, is there any essential information there?
If you are a die-hard Donna Leon fan, you might want to read Earthly Remains. If you’re not, be forewarned: not a lot happens in this novel. It’s very slow going.
July 8, 2018
The last Leon I read was in 2010 and I really thought I'd call it a day. It was Through a Glass, Darkly and was irritatingly thin on plot, but big on fillers - politics/environment. A couple of weeks ago, however, I spotted this for a couple of francs at a church sale and couldn't resist. Had things changed?
Well, yes and no. I can't even say this one's thin on plot. It has virtually no plot whatsoever. But it seems much less didactic than Through... It's a melancholy meander through what I think of as the outback of Venice, the islands and their lagoons, in the oppressive heat of summer. The environmental issues are the more effectively presented by being done in a gentler way.
If you are looking for a whodunnit or a police procedural that has your heart beat pumping away, this isn't it. But in the most quiet of ways, I did find this hard to put down. If you want an authentic slice of Venice with an environmental subplot that is, alas, entirely believable. Indeed, I wonder if the controversy over the poisoning of workers and lagoons which resulted in a not guilty verdict for the Porto Marghera plant, was the inspiration.
Well, yes and no. I can't even say this one's thin on plot. It has virtually no plot whatsoever. But it seems much less didactic than Through... It's a melancholy meander through what I think of as the outback of Venice, the islands and their lagoons, in the oppressive heat of summer. The environmental issues are the more effectively presented by being done in a gentler way.
If you are looking for a whodunnit or a police procedural that has your heart beat pumping away, this isn't it. But in the most quiet of ways, I did find this hard to put down. If you want an authentic slice of Venice with an environmental subplot that is, alas, entirely believable. Indeed, I wonder if the controversy over the poisoning of workers and lagoons which resulted in a not guilty verdict for the Porto Marghera plant, was the inspiration.
May 23, 2019
I read the first in the series, Death at La Fenice, nearly 4 years ago. I just looked at my 3-star review and see that I thought Brunetti is almost a real person. Ha! Recently, I've thought I wanted to spend more time with Guido Brunetti. Apparently Donna Leon has fleshed him out and I quite liked the time I spent with him in this novel. One of the things I remembered from that earlier read is how comfortable Brunetti and his wife are with one another. It seems authors are sometimes reluctant to have a good marriage hit the page. Without Paola, his life was not only bedraggled, but dull, humourless, cool, joyless.
Maybe that's not the stuff of a good mystery novel. I admit there was a lot more of Brunetti characterization than there was solving a mystery. It isn't that the mystery was easily solved here, but that I didn't really care about its solution. This was a different sort of book. I'm hard-pressed to explain that. I guess I was just as happy to be in and around Venice and to have Brunetti have his vacation from work. Of course, his vacation was cut short, but then there wouldn't be a novel with that, would there?
I feel bad giving this just 3-stars because I probably enjoyed it a bit more than that. But I've put restraints on myself for the genre, where 4-stars is the my top rating. And this just simply doesn't quite leap over the bar into that territory. Still, I'm glad I have a couple more of the series immediately available to me should the mood strike again.
Maybe that's not the stuff of a good mystery novel. I admit there was a lot more of Brunetti characterization than there was solving a mystery. It isn't that the mystery was easily solved here, but that I didn't really care about its solution. This was a different sort of book. I'm hard-pressed to explain that. I guess I was just as happy to be in and around Venice and to have Brunetti have his vacation from work. Of course, his vacation was cut short, but then there wouldn't be a novel with that, would there?
I feel bad giving this just 3-stars because I probably enjoyed it a bit more than that. But I've put restraints on myself for the genre, where 4-stars is the my top rating. And this just simply doesn't quite leap over the bar into that territory. Still, I'm glad I have a couple more of the series immediately available to me should the mood strike again.
March 8, 2017
Although I've come late to Leon's wonderful series, she's jumped straight into my list of go-to crime writers with her evocative portrait of Venice and her charming Brunetti family (and do Guido and Paola have one of the best marriages in fiction?). Here a stressed Brunetti leaves his family for a rest on an island in the lagoon where he plans to read Pliny and row - of course, he's soon involved in a murder and industrial corruption...
While Leon's writing is as sharp, smart and clear as always, taking Brunetti out of his usual environment didn't really work for me: I wanted more of his arrogant boss, more of his colleagues breaking the rules, more of Brunetti drinking coffee and wine in little Venetian bars, more of his boisterous, charming children, more of Paola's sharpness and wonderful cooking and thoughts on books - in short, I wanted all the things that make this series so redolent of Venetian life.
Leon's empathy for her characters is still working here and her ability to render the unexpected suddenly fascinating (the view inside a bee-hive) - so this is still a treat of a read, just not one of the best or most hard-hitting in this marvellous series.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
While Leon's writing is as sharp, smart and clear as always, taking Brunetti out of his usual environment didn't really work for me: I wanted more of his arrogant boss, more of his colleagues breaking the rules, more of Brunetti drinking coffee and wine in little Venetian bars, more of his boisterous, charming children, more of Paola's sharpness and wonderful cooking and thoughts on books - in short, I wanted all the things that make this series so redolent of Venetian life.
Leon's empathy for her characters is still working here and her ability to render the unexpected suddenly fascinating (the view inside a bee-hive) - so this is still a treat of a read, just not one of the best or most hard-hitting in this marvellous series.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
July 20, 2017
Great Start to book: "Brunetti surprised himself by saying, 'I had to fake all this and end up here in the hospital, with doctors prodding and poking at me, just because I have to protect the people I work with from reacting to the work they do.' He had never spoken this aloud never thought it out in this fashion before....'I've been thinking about it for a long time,' Brunetti continued discovering truth as he spoke it. 'I need not to have to do this work for a while. Not think about it and not do it and not end up in a hospital because a suspect said something offensive about a girl.'"
Brunetti is granted a two-week absence from work, but it will not be idyllic.
We learn of so many things that lead to murder and they are wondrous within a beautifully paced book that explores truths of nature's rules, juxtaposed with Brunetti's reading of Pliny during his hiatus: bees and their survival being one.
Can a murder mystery be poetry? In the case of this particular book, yes.
Brunetti is granted a two-week absence from work, but it will not be idyllic.
We learn of so many things that lead to murder and they are wondrous within a beautifully paced book that explores truths of nature's rules, juxtaposed with Brunetti's reading of Pliny during his hiatus: bees and their survival being one.
Can a murder mystery be poetry? In the case of this particular book, yes.
June 9, 2017
I very much enjoyed reading this latest installment in the Brunetti series -- for the first 80% of the book. The last 20%, in which the plot just dissipates to point of invisibility rather than actually ending coherently, revealed that Leon didn't have a first-rate story in mind here -- only her first-rate ensemble of characters. It's actually worse than "not having a first-rate story." She has more or less written this story before (the story of Italian manufacturers who don't dispose of their poisonous chemicals safely). I'm not completely sure, but I think it was in the novel About Face. Did anyone else notice that?
I have observed the same phenomenon with other series-detective novelists, most notably P. D. James. Let me know if you want to hear the rest of my rant on the subject.
I have observed the same phenomenon with other series-detective novelists, most notably P. D. James. Let me know if you want to hear the rest of my rant on the subject.
February 23, 2019
Solid, as always,well written,good plot. But.
I only read them occasionally, because there´s seldom "justice" so you end up with a bitter taste. Brunetti is a police officer, he has evidence of murder,no less,and corruption, and he does nothing? This happens in most of the books.
No real closure.
I only read them occasionally, because there´s seldom "justice" so you end up with a bitter taste. Brunetti is a police officer, he has evidence of murder,no less,and corruption, and he does nothing? This happens in most of the books.
No real closure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2023
Earthly remains—a cautionary tale!
A young girl has died in hospital. Antonio Ruggieri, aged Forty-two and a lawyer from an influential Venetian family, who gave the girl the pills, has come to the Questura for an interview. He’s slick, assured and speaks disrespectfully about the girl.
His assistant Pucetti is angered and makes a move he shouldn’t. Staging a heart attack to stop Pucetti brings about other problems that Brunetti hadn’t considered.
Brunetti takes time off and spends it out on the laguna at the end of Sant’Erasmo at a villa of Paola’s Aunt Costanza.
Caretaking the house is Davide Casati, a famous rower who rowed with Brunetti’s father. Casati takes Brunetti rowing and shows him his bees out beyond on the laguna. The bees are dying.
Not long after this Casati is found, in his boat dead presumably injured when caught in a storm
Brunetti investigates. Things are not as they seem, but where is the proof.
It seems to me Leon looks at the injustices perpetrated by the powerful and then continued by those who don’t look at the costs with this novel
A girl dies. Why?
Casati dies. Why?
Bees are dying. Why? This last very much defines the story as we look to the past, investigate the now and are fearful for the future!
A very different Brunetti tale. Brunetti is internalising things. He’s worn down and much given to philosophising about his beloved Vienna, the nature of man and consequences.
I found this Guido Brunetti story looks at who he is as a man, and in doing so, we learn more bout our favourite Venetian commissario.
A Grove Atlantic ARC via NetGalley.
A young girl has died in hospital. Antonio Ruggieri, aged Forty-two and a lawyer from an influential Venetian family, who gave the girl the pills, has come to the Questura for an interview. He’s slick, assured and speaks disrespectfully about the girl.
His assistant Pucetti is angered and makes a move he shouldn’t. Staging a heart attack to stop Pucetti brings about other problems that Brunetti hadn’t considered.
Brunetti takes time off and spends it out on the laguna at the end of Sant’Erasmo at a villa of Paola’s Aunt Costanza.
Caretaking the house is Davide Casati, a famous rower who rowed with Brunetti’s father. Casati takes Brunetti rowing and shows him his bees out beyond on the laguna. The bees are dying.
Not long after this Casati is found, in his boat dead presumably injured when caught in a storm
Brunetti investigates. Things are not as they seem, but where is the proof.
It seems to me Leon looks at the injustices perpetrated by the powerful and then continued by those who don’t look at the costs with this novel
A girl dies. Why?
Casati dies. Why?
Bees are dying. Why? This last very much defines the story as we look to the past, investigate the now and are fearful for the future!
A very different Brunetti tale. Brunetti is internalising things. He’s worn down and much given to philosophising about his beloved Vienna, the nature of man and consequences.
I found this Guido Brunetti story looks at who he is as a man, and in doing so, we learn more bout our favourite Venetian commissario.
A Grove Atlantic ARC via NetGalley.
October 12, 2017
I'm a total Donna Leon fan, and I'd usually give her 6 or 7 stars out of 5, that's how much I like the Commissario Brunetti series. This book, however, although very good, is not among my favorites.
For one, I think there were too many things going on. Some contemporary issues were recreated in the book and, for me at least, it was too much: we have both the death of bees and the hatred of Venetians for tourists.
We still have the amazing characters that we've met before: Brunetti, Paola, Patta, signorina Elettra, Brunelli, Pucetti.
This time, the book takes place near Venice, in Sant' Erasmo, in the middle of the laguna. Brunetti, suffering from burnout and a bit of depression from work, is spending a fortnight in a house belonging to one of Paola's wealthy relatives, in order to rest and recuperate.
There, he befriends the caretaker, who was also his father's rowing partner many years ago. When the old man is found drowned, Brunetti returns to work in order to find if it was an accident or murder.
And here we have the old Brunetti, somewhat disillusioned and wary of his work, but in top form when it comes to solving the case.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For one, I think there were too many things going on. Some contemporary issues were recreated in the book and, for me at least, it was too much: we have both the death of bees and the hatred of Venetians for tourists.
We still have the amazing characters that we've met before: Brunetti, Paola, Patta, signorina Elettra, Brunelli, Pucetti.
This time, the book takes place near Venice, in Sant' Erasmo, in the middle of the laguna. Brunetti, suffering from burnout and a bit of depression from work, is spending a fortnight in a house belonging to one of Paola's wealthy relatives, in order to rest and recuperate.
There, he befriends the caretaker, who was also his father's rowing partner many years ago. When the old man is found drowned, Brunetti returns to work in order to find if it was an accident or murder.
And here we have the old Brunetti, somewhat disillusioned and wary of his work, but in top form when it comes to solving the case.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2017
I love Brunetti, his colleagues and family, as well as the city of Venice depicted in her previous books so I I felt a bit sad they were neglected in this one. Didn't have the same warmth. The storyline was good but too similar to previous books. Venice must be incredibly crooked and polluted , which is horrific, but I can only read about it so many times. I would have preferred a storyline NOT about pollution or crowding yet again. Not my favorite.
April 30, 2018
Another Commissario Brunetti detective novel. This started slowly, but once the investigation starts it picks up the usual pace & rhythms of Venice police life. Brunetti is seasoned & wise, his wife Paola a calming presence & Signorina Elettra still my favourite. There is a wonderful sense of being in Venice, both the beauty, food & coffee and the seedy side: corruption & environmental disaster. Brunetti is good company; I enjoyed this.
March 18, 2018
Perfect snow weekend read
February 5, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of Earthly Remains, the 26th outing for Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice Carabiniere.
Brunetti is suffering from burnout or what he describes as a desire to run away from his job and never return, something we can all sympathise with. His wife, Paola, packs him off to a relative's house on a remote island on the Laguna to rest, read and think. Instead he meets an old friend of his father, Davide Casati, and spends his days rowing and looking at wildlife with him. When Davide disappears Brunetti first organises a search and then gets drawn into finding out what happened.
Earthly Remains is a gentle novel, full of charm. Although Brunetti is a policeman and uses police resources it is not a procedural, more a man trying to explain the death of a new friend. Venice and the Venetian way of life are very much at the forefront, food drink, customs, prejudices, secrets, pragmatism and ambiguity.
There is a dark tone to the novel in the underlying message that money and influence will win against the forces of law, order and justice so it's no wonder that Brunetti is disenchanted but his curiosity and humour go a long way to mitigating this tone.
I like the fact that Brunetti takes so much pleasure from his simple life on the island. It is a joy to read and contrasts so sharply with the sleaze of his everyday life, just as the weather while hot on the island is enjoyable but the same heat makes city life almost unbearable.
I thoroughly enjoyed Earthly Remains and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Brunetti is suffering from burnout or what he describes as a desire to run away from his job and never return, something we can all sympathise with. His wife, Paola, packs him off to a relative's house on a remote island on the Laguna to rest, read and think. Instead he meets an old friend of his father, Davide Casati, and spends his days rowing and looking at wildlife with him. When Davide disappears Brunetti first organises a search and then gets drawn into finding out what happened.
Earthly Remains is a gentle novel, full of charm. Although Brunetti is a policeman and uses police resources it is not a procedural, more a man trying to explain the death of a new friend. Venice and the Venetian way of life are very much at the forefront, food drink, customs, prejudices, secrets, pragmatism and ambiguity.
There is a dark tone to the novel in the underlying message that money and influence will win against the forces of law, order and justice so it's no wonder that Brunetti is disenchanted but his curiosity and humour go a long way to mitigating this tone.
I like the fact that Brunetti takes so much pleasure from his simple life on the island. It is a joy to read and contrasts so sharply with the sleaze of his everyday life, just as the weather while hot on the island is enjoyable but the same heat makes city life almost unbearable.
I thoroughly enjoyed Earthly Remains and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
February 20, 2017
A major fan of Leon's works, having read all including this, the latest in the long running series.
This one is the first that I feel let down. The first two-thirds sets well written at a leisurely pace, with Guido Brunetti just boating around on a forced leave of absence . It is the conclusion that I take exception with -- given the high moral and ethical standards of the Commassario throughout the entire series, I find it preposterous that he would just walk away from a potential murder.
Thanks to NetGalley for the electronic proof - very much appreciated.
This one is the first that I feel let down. The first two-thirds sets well written at a leisurely pace, with Guido Brunetti just boating around on a forced leave of absence . It is the conclusion that I take exception with -- given the high moral and ethical standards of the Commassario throughout the entire series, I find it preposterous that he would just walk away from a potential murder.
Thanks to NetGalley for the electronic proof - very much appreciated.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2017
I have read several Donna Leon books but this one was much more interesting set in the islands and lagoons of Venice,very well set in fog ,storms and in the heat of the islands. I grew up in Italy and Venice is a magic place despite the massive tourism toll ,it`s set in the two weeks that the main character the comissioner takes some time to himself to take a break from the police.,,there is only one Venice it is mysterious and ancient .. I found this new mystery at the library i will look for others and give them more of my time.
March 28, 2017
I've read or listened to a fair number of the Commissario Brunetti series, but I read them out of order. It's a bit of bad luck that both this and the one I listened to before it both deal with pollution. Yes, it's a topic Leon keeps coming back to, apparently a major issue in Venice, but usually it's spread out a little than it was for me this time. I would have liked a different topic, but that's more my fault than Leon's.
I liked that Brunetti gets out of town for a while this time around. I enjoy the early part of the story where he's relaxing and rowing; it's different than we usually see him. I like the people in the smaller towns, their relationships. I enjoyed the bees and how much they meant to David Casati. I missed his family a bit, but I'm sure they'll be in the next one.
The investigation was interesting, with it's digging into the present and the past. I was a bit disappointed, which I feel like I said about the last book of hers. I tend to want a little more resolution than she gives.
I liked that Brunetti gets out of town for a while this time around. I enjoy the early part of the story where he's relaxing and rowing; it's different than we usually see him. I like the people in the smaller towns, their relationships. I enjoyed the bees and how much they meant to David Casati. I missed his family a bit, but I'm sure they'll be in the next one.
The investigation was interesting, with it's digging into the present and the past. I was a bit disappointed, which I feel like I said about the last book of hers. I tend to want a little more resolution than she gives.
May 2, 2017
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!)
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!)
February 22, 2017
Donna Leon is a very well known mystery/thriller writer for a reason. She writes great books set in a great city, Venice, Italy. She writes wonderfully about the city and makes you feel as though you are there. This is the latest addition in her long running series about Commissario Guido Brunetti and while I enjoy her books at any time and this one included, I do think it can only be recommended to fans of her series. If you are new to the series I suggest an earlier book to start. :-)
And thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of a honest review.
And thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of a honest review.
October 30, 2017
Very Disappointing
Very contrived story . Too much detail on what everyone eats. Not up to Leon's usual standard. She should have written a piece about environmental issues and the laguna for a newspaper instead.
Very contrived story . Too much detail on what everyone eats. Not up to Leon's usual standard. She should have written a piece about environmental issues and the laguna for a newspaper instead.
September 10, 2021
Brunetti needs a break. When he acts impulsively on behalf of a colleague, he ends up at the hospital. The doctor prescribes two weeks off, renewable to a third. Paola knows the perfect place--in a family friend's home on an island in the laguna. Brunetti wants to row, and he discovers the caretaker once rowed with his father to win a championship. The caretaker takes him rowing as he sets out to take care of his bees. Much of the novel focuses on Brunetti's break, but when the caretaker doesn't return on a stormy night, concerns set it. Although ruled an accident, Brunetti automatically begins to investigate with the help of his colleagues. While it's light on mystery, it's strong on atmosphere. Ethical concerns, particularly relating to nature and the environment, are almost always a part of Leon's novels, and this one focuses more on that than the mystery. Fans of the series will enjoy it. Those seeking a stronger mystery element may be disappointed. I loved it, and David Colacci's narration always makes it better!
April 1, 2017
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.
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.
April 15, 2017
Donna Leon's Brunetti series appears to be coming back to form after a couple of truly halfhearted, lackluster outings.
To me, the series has reached a sad tipping point with its home city. Venice has long been depicted with all its wonders, idiosyncrasies and annoyances. Increasingly, the series has focused on the impact too many visitors have on the diminishing quality not just of daily life, but of the city's buildings and many sites with broad appeal. And in an often charming way, the series has shown the daily irritations visited on the city's residents by not just the vagaries of the weather but also its too many, largely cluefree tourists. Here, Leon appears to be writing about a city post-elegaically. The Murano glass adored by many is no longer a product of skilled craftspeople, but is imported - by the ton - from China. Its residents speak almost wistfully of wishing "acqua alta", formerly a dreaded event, upon the city to cleanse it.
Her description of Brunetti and Paolo (his wife) crossing the Rialto on the way home is just harrowing:
"When they arrived at the foot of the Rialto Bridge, they looked up, horrified. Anthills, termites, wasps. Ignoring these thoughts, they locked arms and started up, eyes on their feet and the area immediately in front of them. Up, up, up as feet descended towards them, but they ignored them and did not stop. Up, up, up and across the top, shoving their way through the motionless people, deaf to their cries of admiration. Then down, down, down, the momentum of their descent making them more formidable. They saw the feet of the people coming up towards them dance to the side at their approach, hardened their hearts to their protests, and plunged ahead. Then left and into the underpass, where they stopped. Brunetti's pulse raced and Paolo leaned helpless on his arm."
Somehow my commute from Berkeley to Palo Alto is being challenged for being simultaneously tedious and petrifying by this scary walk across a pedestrian bridge in Venice.
This story focuses on a burned-out Commissario Brunetti finding a work break at an estate (of a friend of Paolo's) which is out of the way. Paolo stays at home both to give her husband some space and to carve out some quiet reading time for herself. When he arrives, he quickly befriends the caretaker, Dave Casati. The two have a mutual love of rowing and quickly develop a daily routine of rowing and checking a number of bee colonies Casati has placed in obscure places. And they don't do sissy rowing in Venice like we Americans sitting down on our butts while we row. These men stand up. I admired the sportsmanship very much and hope never to experience it personally.
After 10 or so days, there is a storm from which Casati never returns. From there, the mystery has Brunetti and his team off on a hunt to discover the truth about Casati. And find out what happened many years ago in an accident,to Casati, his wife and his one friend, now estranged. One of the things I liked best about this book is how well Leon crafts layer upon layer upon layer. Although the reader will find many solutions to the mysteries, she has left open a number of questions in a very satisfying manner.
There are also some wonderful, almost whimsical touches. Casati's friend, Zeno Bianchi has lost his sight, the function and digits of one arm and many burns in the accident. So he is a man who lives in darkness. His dog is named Bardo.
All of this brings me to one of the things I like best about this work. Earthly Remains is a fine work of fiction that stands on its own as a book. But Leon's added theme of climate change vs. corporate interests means some pundits will write it off as a climate change potboiler as they did with Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior. Kingsolver's book was first-rate fiction and Earthly Remains appears to me to be some of the best writing Leon has done in the last couple of years. Beware of thinking you can marginalize these books by pigeonholing them. You do so at your peril and the potential loss of a deeply satisfying read. Unlike many in the Brunetti series, I will read this book again. I recommend it highly.
To me, the series has reached a sad tipping point with its home city. Venice has long been depicted with all its wonders, idiosyncrasies and annoyances. Increasingly, the series has focused on the impact too many visitors have on the diminishing quality not just of daily life, but of the city's buildings and many sites with broad appeal. And in an often charming way, the series has shown the daily irritations visited on the city's residents by not just the vagaries of the weather but also its too many, largely cluefree tourists. Here, Leon appears to be writing about a city post-elegaically. The Murano glass adored by many is no longer a product of skilled craftspeople, but is imported - by the ton - from China. Its residents speak almost wistfully of wishing "acqua alta", formerly a dreaded event, upon the city to cleanse it.
Her description of Brunetti and Paolo (his wife) crossing the Rialto on the way home is just harrowing:
"When they arrived at the foot of the Rialto Bridge, they looked up, horrified. Anthills, termites, wasps. Ignoring these thoughts, they locked arms and started up, eyes on their feet and the area immediately in front of them. Up, up, up as feet descended towards them, but they ignored them and did not stop. Up, up, up and across the top, shoving their way through the motionless people, deaf to their cries of admiration. Then down, down, down, the momentum of their descent making them more formidable. They saw the feet of the people coming up towards them dance to the side at their approach, hardened their hearts to their protests, and plunged ahead. Then left and into the underpass, where they stopped. Brunetti's pulse raced and Paolo leaned helpless on his arm."
Somehow my commute from Berkeley to Palo Alto is being challenged for being simultaneously tedious and petrifying by this scary walk across a pedestrian bridge in Venice.
This story focuses on a burned-out Commissario Brunetti finding a work break at an estate (of a friend of Paolo's) which is out of the way. Paolo stays at home both to give her husband some space and to carve out some quiet reading time for herself. When he arrives, he quickly befriends the caretaker, Dave Casati. The two have a mutual love of rowing and quickly develop a daily routine of rowing and checking a number of bee colonies Casati has placed in obscure places. And they don't do sissy rowing in Venice like we Americans sitting down on our butts while we row. These men stand up. I admired the sportsmanship very much and hope never to experience it personally.
After 10 or so days, there is a storm from which Casati never returns. From there, the mystery has Brunetti and his team off on a hunt to discover the truth about Casati. And find out what happened many years ago in an accident,to Casati, his wife and his one friend, now estranged. One of the things I liked best about this book is how well Leon crafts layer upon layer upon layer. Although the reader will find many solutions to the mysteries, she has left open a number of questions in a very satisfying manner.
There are also some wonderful, almost whimsical touches. Casati's friend, Zeno Bianchi has lost his sight, the function and digits of one arm and many burns in the accident. So he is a man who lives in darkness. His dog is named Bardo.
All of this brings me to one of the things I like best about this work. Earthly Remains is a fine work of fiction that stands on its own as a book. But Leon's added theme of climate change vs. corporate interests means some pundits will write it off as a climate change potboiler as they did with Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behavior. Kingsolver's book was first-rate fiction and Earthly Remains appears to me to be some of the best writing Leon has done in the last couple of years. Beware of thinking you can marginalize these books by pigeonholing them. You do so at your peril and the potential loss of a deeply satisfying read. Unlike many in the Brunetti series, I will read this book again. I recommend it highly.
April 18, 2017
Earthly Remains, Brunetti #26. Donna Leon. iBook. 18/4/2017. 5/5.
Pleasure being in the streets of wonderful Venice, the lagoons, islands with Brunetti, his family and colleagues. All of these I've enjoyed reading since the beginning in 1992!
This book, as with many the last years, deals with ecological, environmental issues and as always Brunetti is faced with humanity and the ethics of actions ....past and present and how his conscience will lead him. As always a very good read.
Pleasure being in the streets of wonderful Venice, the lagoons, islands with Brunetti, his family and colleagues. All of these I've enjoyed reading since the beginning in 1992!
This book, as with many the last years, deals with ecological, environmental issues and as always Brunetti is faced with humanity and the ethics of actions ....past and present and how his conscience will lead him. As always a very good read.
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