Earthly Remains

Earthly Remains by Donna Leon 308 pp. 

Commissario Guido Brunetti returns in the 26th book in the series. During an interview of suspect, Brunetti does something completely out of character causing a medical incident. As a result Brunetti and the doctor decide he needs at least a two week break from his job. Through his wife's connections, Brunetti goes to stay in a small villa on an island at the outskirts of Venice. There he partakes of the three "Rs," Relaxation, Reading, and Rowing. The rowing leads to a developing friendship with Davide Casati, a man who knew and rowed with Brunetti's late father. The two become companions who enjoy their time paddling on the Laguna and visiting Casati's beehives scattered on small islands. Casati is concerned because his bees are dying and is trying to find the cause. One night Casati goes out alone in his small boat and is lost in a storm. Brunetti joins the search for the boat, hoping that Casati managed to make it to shore. Brunetti launches his own, unofficial investigation into his new friend's past in spite of his orders to be relaxing. Once again corruption is at the heart of story.