Blood from a Stone

In the days leading up to Christmas, an African street vendor is murdered in a crowded street in front of multiple witnesses. It looks like a professional hit job to Commissario Brunetti, but why would a street vendor be a target for this type of murder? Might it have something to do with the knock-off products they’re selling? Or is the murder connected to the victim’s country of origin? Brunetti is up against a closed world of immigrants who operate under the radar. Establishing the victim’s identity won’t be easy, let alone finding the motive for the murder.

I found this series installment less satisfactory than most of the other books in the series. I’ve come to accept that the murderers will elude justice in this series, show more and that Brunetti (and the readers) have to be satisfied with the knowledge of the killer’s identity. However, this book ended with more loose ends than usual. Even the victim’s identity is still uncertain at the end of the book. The answer is hinted at, but Brunetti (and the readers) have to accept that the full story will never be known. show less

(Audiobook)
Donna Leon's books are more than just police procedurals books that take place in Venice. They always, in my experience, deal with an issue confronting Italy and there's always a sub-current of corruption. In this book, she tackles the difficult subject of street peddlers, quasi-immigrants from Africa who buy knock-off bags cheap and then resell them to tourists.

Two American tourists, both physicians, see an immigrant, ostensibly from Sierra Leone, assassinated in the square. The case, as you might suspect, revolves around the sale of "blood" diamonds. The characters, now familiar after having read at least 10 in the series, are used by Leon as springboards to focus on an issue in addition to the ubiquitous Italian show more corruption.

The Leon books will not please readers who prefer chases, gun shots, and action. If you like characterization, fine writing, and intriguing stories, I recommend this series highly. Well read by David Colacci although he will never replace Anna Fields, aka Kate Fleming. show less

This story turns a magnifying glass on the plight as well as the ethics of illegal immigration. A seemingly innocuous man from Senegal is gunned down while selling his knockoff hand bags in a public square. He is like a ghost because no one knows his name, or where he lives or what lead to his murder. Commissario Guido Brunetti probes into the man and his life but learns little that isn't conjecture or speculation.

The story takes place at Christmas time and the background of how this holiday is celebrated is interesting. There is a lot of discussions about the place for and the treatment of people who are strangers from another place. In this particular situation the Senegalese are polite well mannered street vendors for the most part show more and thus the authorities leave them alone. But there are strong feelings from those whose livelihood is threatened by those who peddle without paying taxes and all the other fees for a business. If it was a Venetian who was selling on the streets they would be arrested in a flash the the conundrum of the double standard is well explored. show less

I sometimes wonder how Commissario Brunetti doesn't end up in the loony bin, considering his frustrations with the corruption of his own country's police and government. This is one of those times when a failure to pursue a murder investigation ends up with a hidden reward. Quite compelling and a bit of a twisted trail.

#14 in the Commissario Brunetti series, set in Venice, Italy.

Illegal street vendors have long been a fixture in Venice’s Campo San Stefano. Over the years, different ethnic groups have sold various wares; in recent years, Africans have made up the ranks of the ambulanti, who usually sell imitation Gucci and other name brand handbags and similar merchandise. So when one is murdered, just before the Christmas holidays, in what is clearly a professional-style killing, Brunetti is surprised. Who would want to murder a vu cumprá, as they are known locally?

Brunetti’s investigation runs into one blind alley after another, as the near-impossibility of penetrating a closed community cuts him off from needed information. Then, in a search of show more the victim’s room, Brunetti finds millions of euros worth of uncut diamonds. His investigation takes an unexpected turn when his superior,Vice-Questore Patta, seriously warns him off the investigation, implying that it represents danger for Brunetti himself.

This is one of Leon’s strongest entries, with fine writing and her superb characterizations, again particularly of Brunetti’s family. She uses Chiara in particular to illuminate the kind of unconscious, thoughtless racism that exists at all levels of society, showing up even in a family as enlightened as Brunetti’s, with a strong mother possessed of a radical social conscience.

This book was written before the movie Blood Diamond, but has the same theme--the sale of illegally obtained diamonds for arms. The denouement is so dark that one is left, along with Brunetti, with feelings of rage and despair at the lengths to which governments--any government--will go to stay in power and to accumulate wealth for its richest citizens. International borders mean nothing, ideals mean nothing--all that matters is money.

Leon tells an absorbing but very grim story, an excellent police procedural that is in addition both an illumination of and a protest against that modern evil. Highly recommended. show less

It's Christmastime in Venice and Commissario Brunetti is investigating the assassination of an African street vendor in a public square. There's no apparent motive for the killing, but Brunetti's investigation is shut down by his superiors without explanation. It's a suspenseful story set against the atmospheric background of Venice in winter. As the story progresses Brunetti and those around him face personal jeopardy as he continues his investigation. It's an entertaining and informative story, with a frustrating conclusion, demonstrating that might makes right and that you cannot believe everything the news tells you. This is a solid addition to Donna Leon's Brunetti series of crime novels.

When an African street vendor selling counterfeit brand name bags dies, Brunetti gets called to the scene. With only American tourists as witnesses, he begins to reconstruct what happened and begins investigating the man's identity and residence. A search of the man's home reveals hidden gems of high value. However, Patta tells Brunetti to quit investigating. Two higher agencies take over the investigation. Brunetti smells something amiss. The reader is left asking questions as this one leaves many matters hanging or speculative. While I enjoyed the installment to an extent, the lack of answers left me slightly unsatisfied. I loved David Colacci's narration.