Review: Earthly Remains: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery (Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries) by Donna Leon

Earthly Remains: A Commissario Guido Brunetti Mystery by Donna Leon
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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.

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Review: Snapped (Tracers #4) by Laura Griffin (Goodreads Author)

Snapped by Laura Griffin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Snapped is the 4th book in Laura Griffin's Tracers Series and so far the one I have liked the most.

I've always had a soft spot for Sophie Barrett since she was introduced in Untraceable, the 1st book in the series. She's gorgeous, likeable and kicks ass....love the small gun she carries around when she goes off to one of her singing gigs.

In the previous book, Unforgivable, was the set up for Sophie's book and we know that, after the sizzling chemistry between her and the San Marcos detective, Jonah Macon, that these two would be the main characters for the next book.

The story starts off with a "bang" right from the first chapter. A sniper kills people randomly in a college campus. The scenes involving the senseless carnage is filled with tension and suspense.

It soon becomes apparent that the killings were not random and Sophie is in danger from unknown killers who believe she knows more than she actually does. And Jonah Macon goes all full out to keep Sophie safe.

I liked these two together. They have some really humorous and tender moments.....Sophie is an absolutely fabulous heroine....she's funny, independent, vulnerable, strong with some really good lines....

“I showered, shaved my legs, put on makeup, and returned two text messages in the time it took you to snoop around my kitchen. I’d say that’s pretty good.”

Great dialogue.

A good balance between romance, action and suspense, keeping you guessing who the baddies are until almost at the end.

Characters from previous books make an appearance and we are introduced to some interesting new ones....I wonder if the two characters, Gretchen and Sean will be paired off in future books.

This is so far, an interesting and enjoyable series.

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