Title:	Earthly Remains
	Author:	Donna Leon
	Published:	April 4, 2017, Atlantic Monthly Press
	No. of Pages:	308
	Cover Price:	$25.00 Hardcover, $16.00 Paperback, $9.00 Kindle

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Earthly Remains the 26th novel in Donna Leon’s celebrated Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery Series, begins when a young girl is given drugs at a party and later dies, and the man accused is one like we all know who refuses to take the blame and is arrogant enough to know that he won’t actually have to pay for his crime due to his social status. Brunetti has had it, and almost has a breakdown and it is decided that he needs a vacation. His wife, Paola, arranges for him to stay at the villa of one of her relatives. While on his “vacation,” Brunetti relaxes, gets into rowing, and then gets involved in what is most likely a murder.

Although this novel is well-written, as is typical for Leon, the story doesn’t grab and flow like some of the previous novels in the series. The story line isn’t as fascinating as some of those in Leon’s other books, and some of the characters aren’t as developed as would be expected. However, even though Earthly Remains isn’t the best in the series, it is much better than some in the same genre written by other less accomplished authors, and is, of course, worth reading by everyone who enjoys Commissario Guido Brunetti and the Venetian setting. Reading Leon’s books makes readers feel like they are in Venice. Leon has a way of familiarizing readers with Venice in all of her books, so that readers feel that they have actually visited Venice and can picture it in their minds.

Fans of the Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery Series, which most likely includes anyone who has read Leon’s novels, will want to pick this one up.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.