I've read all of Donna Leon's books and this latest has a too graphic description of the body in the mortuary and far too many pages devoted to the slaughterhouse. I read it to the end and at almost every page missed the devious but clever accomplishments of Signorina Elettra, Paola's home cooking and references to her teaching subjects. It was all too much of Mestre and too little Venetian. Well written as your would expect but just too much beast in " Beastly things."