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Commissario Brunetti #14
Blood from a Stone
A pitch-perfect mystery, an alluring portrait of contemporary Venice, and an elucidating eye into the attitudes of a timeless place in the grip of change.
Donna Leon's international best-selling and award-winning Commissario Guido Brunetti novels have been praised for their ability to place their readers into the thick of contemporary Venetian life. Now Blood from a Stone brings Commissario Brunetti back on the scene: On a cold Venetian night shortly before Christmas, a street vendor is killed in a scuffle in Campo Santo Stefano. The closest witnesses to the event are the American tourists who had been browsing the man's wares—fake designer handbags—before his death. The dead man had been working as a vu cumpra, one of the many African immigrants peddling goods outside normal shop hours and trading without work permits.
Commissario Brunetti's response is that of everybody involved: Why would anyone kill an illegal immigrant? Because these workers have few social connections and little money, infighting seems to be the answer. And yet the killings have all the markings of a professional operation. Once Brunetti begins to investigate this unfamiliar Venetian underworld, he discovers that matters of great value are at stake within the secretive society.
While his wife, Paola, struggles to come to terms with their young daughter's prejudices about the immigrants, Brunetti finds that his own police force shares many of the same biases. Warned by Patta, his superior, to desist from further involvement in the case, Brunetti only becomes more determined to unearth the truth. How far will Brunetti be able to penetrate the murky subculture of Venice's illegal community? And how high does the corruption reach into the upper echelons of Brunetti's own world and the world at large?
By a confirmed master storyteller, Blood from a Stone is a pitch-perfect mystery, an alluring portrait of contemporary Venice, and an elucidating eye into the attitudes of a timeless place in the grip of change.
Donna Leon's international best-selling and award-winning Commissario Guido Brunetti novels have been praised for their ability to place their readers into the thick of contemporary Venetian life. Now Blood from a Stone brings Commissario Brunetti back on the scene: On a cold Venetian night shortly before Christmas, a street vendor is killed in a scuffle in Campo Santo Stefano. The closest witnesses to the event are the American tourists who had been browsing the man's wares—fake designer handbags—before his death. The dead man had been working as a vu cumpra, one of the many African immigrants peddling goods outside normal shop hours and trading without work permits.
Commissario Brunetti's response is that of everybody involved: Why would anyone kill an illegal immigrant? Because these workers have few social connections and little money, infighting seems to be the answer. And yet the killings have all the markings of a professional operation. Once Brunetti begins to investigate this unfamiliar Venetian underworld, he discovers that matters of great value are at stake within the secretive society.
While his wife, Paola, struggles to come to terms with their young daughter's prejudices about the immigrants, Brunetti finds that his own police force shares many of the same biases. Warned by Patta, his superior, to desist from further involvement in the case, Brunetti only becomes more determined to unearth the truth. How far will Brunetti be able to penetrate the murky subculture of Venice's illegal community? And how high does the corruption reach into the upper echelons of Brunetti's own world and the world at large?
By a confirmed master storyteller, Blood from a Stone is a pitch-perfect mystery, an alluring portrait of contemporary Venice, and an elucidating eye into the attitudes of a timeless place in the grip of change.
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Donna Leon
106 books2,919 followersDonna Leon (born September 29, 1942, in Montclair, New Jersey) is an American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice and featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
Donna Leon has lived in Venice for over twenty-five years. She has worked as a lecturer in English Literature for the University of Maryland University College - Europe (UMUC-Europe) in Italy, then as a Professor from 1981 to 1999 at the american military base of Vicenza (Italy) and a writer.
Her crime novels are all situated in or near Venice. They are written in English and translated into many foreign languages, although not, by her request, into Italian. Her ninth Brunetti novel, Friends in High Places, won the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2000.
Series:
* Commissario Brunetti
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 637 reviews
November 15, 2021
Each book in Donna Leon’s Commissario Brunetti series has a theme. Here, it’s prejudice. An African street vendor is killed in what appears to be a professional hit. The only ones that don’t disappear into the night are a few American tourists, and they’re not much help. The police have few clues and struggle to even discover his identity.
As always, Leon does a great job giving us a sense of the Venetian culture - their hatred of having to pay taxes, the food, the corruption on all levels. This time, another thing that comes to the forefront is the prejudice many have for these illegal immigrants. Even Paola is horrified to discover their daughter holds similar contempt.
The stories in this series are never fast paced, but this one seemed slower than the prior ones. It’s also a much darker tale and the ending is not one that wraps things up neatly. It’s left me curious as to how the next book will progress.
As always, Leon does a great job giving us a sense of the Venetian culture - their hatred of having to pay taxes, the food, the corruption on all levels. This time, another thing that comes to the forefront is the prejudice many have for these illegal immigrants. Even Paola is horrified to discover their daughter holds similar contempt.
The stories in this series are never fast paced, but this one seemed slower than the prior ones. It’s also a much darker tale and the ending is not one that wraps things up neatly. It’s left me curious as to how the next book will progress.
October 25, 2016
Blood From a Stone, Donna Leon’s 14th Guido Brunetti mystery novel deals with the problems Italy is facing with illegal immigrants.
Commissario Brunetti investigates the murder of an illegal African street vendor.
As always, we get to see Brunetti and his family and their interaction is once again, fantastic. We also see old characters we have come to know really well and some new characters are introduced that play a part in this case.
Not one of the best in the series. It was just okay!
Commissario Brunetti investigates the murder of an illegal African street vendor.
The story is set at Xmas time in Venice so we get a look into the local festivities and the local life during this period.
Once again, Brunetti is thrown into the middle of politics and corruption and intrigue. Despite the obstacles he faces in trying to solve this case, he does not give up that easily. He uses his contacts to finding the answers to the murder that no one seems to want solved.
As always, we get to see Brunetti and his family and their interaction is once again, fantastic. We also see old characters we have come to know really well and some new characters are introduced that play a part in this case.
Not one of the best in the series. It was just okay!
July 19, 2016
The second fun-fiction read on recent 2 week vacation in MN.
Pretty good addition to Leon's Brunetti series. I've only read a few, this probably the latest. I must have picked it up as a remainder a couple years ago.
Brunetti is a likeable Venetian police investigator, good at his job, has a part-time professor wife, at this stage in his life a couple teen aged kids whom he doesn't understand near as well as his spouse does. The family provides sometimes connected story lines which puts the whole series into more of a light mystery genre, certainly about as far as possible from the George Pelecanos hard, raw type common man's crime dramas (as Nick's Trip, the book I read before this one).
This particular story took unusual turns, and as it progressed took a tighter hold on me. I don't read "mysteries" much, and don't care much about trying to "solve" them as I read, I rather just let the story be told and enjoy it (if it's enjoyable). I was surprised at the way it turned out, many readers would probably label me simple-minded for that. So be it.
8 )
Pretty good addition to Leon's Brunetti series. I've only read a few, this probably the latest. I must have picked it up as a remainder a couple years ago.
Brunetti is a likeable Venetian police investigator, good at his job, has a part-time professor wife, at this stage in his life a couple teen aged kids whom he doesn't understand near as well as his spouse does. The family provides sometimes connected story lines which puts the whole series into more of a light mystery genre, certainly about as far as possible from the George Pelecanos hard, raw type common man's crime dramas (as Nick's Trip, the book I read before this one).
This particular story took unusual turns, and as it progressed took a tighter hold on me. I don't read "mysteries" much, and don't care much about trying to "solve" them as I read, I rather just let the story be told and enjoy it (if it's enjoyable). I was surprised at the way it turned out, many readers would probably label me simple-minded for that. So be it.
8 )
October 17, 2025
Probably my least favorite of the first 14 books. An African who is selling knockoff items is shot to death in the first few pages. Brunetti gets the call to investigate and the rest of the book leads us nowhere as to finding out the persons name nor who shot him. At the very end we get an explanation but again no idea who the person was or who shot him. Book is more about social issues than resolving a crime. Very well written but it left me wanting.
February 26, 2015
(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 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.
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 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.
February 12, 2013
The last Brunetti mystery I read (Doctored Evidence) left me feeling mostly cold - by then, I had read several of Leon's mysteries in rapid succession and was tired of her formula. But when I was in the library last week, browsing through the mystery section, I decided to revisit the Brunetti series. Even when the mysteries themselves aren't thrilling, I always enjoy reading about Leon's non-tourist view of Venice.
Another factor that made me choose this particular book (which, apparently, comes right after Doctored Evidence in the series, something I just learned now) was the intriguing setup: the mystery centers on the immigrant African men who can be seen selling knockoff handbags in every major Italian city (Brunetti & Co. refer to them as the vu cumpra). When one of them is shot dead by professional killers in the middle of the street while selling his bags, Commissario Brunetti is on the case.
I wanted to read this particular book because the world of the vu cumpra sounded like such a fascinating and unexplored subject for a mystery novel. Brunetti and his colleagues know almost nothing about the men who live illegally in Venice, selling counterfeit bags and vanishing at the first sight of police. What, I wondered, would come to light about these men over the course of the investigation? I was excited to learn more about the lives of this overlooked community.
And that's the first problem we run into. Throughout the story, the vu cumpra remain distinctly foreign, and their Otherness is remarked upon constantly. There's a sense that Leon wanted to prove a point about unfair prejudices shown towards these men, but she's wildly inconsistent in this regard. Early on, there's a scene where Brunetti's daughter comments that her father shouldn't be wasting so much time on the murder investigation because the dead man is "only a vu cumpra." Brunetti's wife freaks out, understandably, and she and Brunetti spend a lot of time discussing how their daughter could have become so bigoted. So that was fine, and I was glad that Leon was addressing the attitude towards the vendors, but at the same time there's this constant fetishization of the vu cumpra (Brunetti is constantly marveling at how goddamn black they are, and another character, in what I'm sure was supposed to be a positive moment, gushes about how "beautiful" the men are) and remarks like "they all look the same, don't they?" pass without comment by any other characters.
We never even learn anything about the inner world of the vu cumpra. Brunetti interviews the victim's colleagues one time, and they never get be heard from again. Also, notice how I keep referring to the dead man as "the victim"? That's because, for the duration of the 276-page book, we never learn his name. I'm sure there was a reason for this - maybe Leon was trying to make a point about the anonymity of the men - but if you're trying to show often-overlooked and misunderstood characters in a new and sympathetic light, giving them names is a good start. It was disheartening to watch Brunetti investigate the murder and keep referring to the victim as "the black man."
Perhaps worst of all, halfway through the book Brunetti's daughter shows up with her new Iranian friend who conveniently just moved to Venice with her family, and the girl is invited over for lunch so we can watch everyone being all racially sensitive. It's the equivalent of "I'm not racist - see, I have a black friend!" and fifty bucks says that we will never see the daughter's Iranian friend in another book.
I could forgive all of this (probably) if the mystery was at all compelling, but it isn't. Over the course of the investigation, Brunetti discovers that the killing goes much higher than he could have ever imagined (blood diamonds and the Mafia are involved, because why the fuck not) and is quickly shut out of the case. He keeps poking around, of course, but the problem is that he never even gets close to the truth, and is left to just be told how everything fit together later by another character. In fact, the eventual solution made no sense and was, ultimately, kind of stupid.
It's disappointing, because I loved Death at La Fenice so much. Maybe I need to try looking up some earlier Brunetti mysteries - they seem to be getting worse as the series progresses.
Another factor that made me choose this particular book (which, apparently, comes right after Doctored Evidence in the series, something I just learned now) was the intriguing setup: the mystery centers on the immigrant African men who can be seen selling knockoff handbags in every major Italian city (Brunetti & Co. refer to them as the vu cumpra). When one of them is shot dead by professional killers in the middle of the street while selling his bags, Commissario Brunetti is on the case.
I wanted to read this particular book because the world of the vu cumpra sounded like such a fascinating and unexplored subject for a mystery novel. Brunetti and his colleagues know almost nothing about the men who live illegally in Venice, selling counterfeit bags and vanishing at the first sight of police. What, I wondered, would come to light about these men over the course of the investigation? I was excited to learn more about the lives of this overlooked community.
And that's the first problem we run into. Throughout the story, the vu cumpra remain distinctly foreign, and their Otherness is remarked upon constantly. There's a sense that Leon wanted to prove a point about unfair prejudices shown towards these men, but she's wildly inconsistent in this regard. Early on, there's a scene where Brunetti's daughter comments that her father shouldn't be wasting so much time on the murder investigation because the dead man is "only a vu cumpra." Brunetti's wife freaks out, understandably, and she and Brunetti spend a lot of time discussing how their daughter could have become so bigoted. So that was fine, and I was glad that Leon was addressing the attitude towards the vendors, but at the same time there's this constant fetishization of the vu cumpra (Brunetti is constantly marveling at how goddamn black they are, and another character, in what I'm sure was supposed to be a positive moment, gushes about how "beautiful" the men are) and remarks like "they all look the same, don't they?" pass without comment by any other characters.
We never even learn anything about the inner world of the vu cumpra. Brunetti interviews the victim's colleagues one time, and they never get be heard from again. Also, notice how I keep referring to the dead man as "the victim"? That's because, for the duration of the 276-page book, we never learn his name. I'm sure there was a reason for this - maybe Leon was trying to make a point about the anonymity of the men - but if you're trying to show often-overlooked and misunderstood characters in a new and sympathetic light, giving them names is a good start. It was disheartening to watch Brunetti investigate the murder and keep referring to the victim as "the black man."
Perhaps worst of all, halfway through the book Brunetti's daughter shows up with her new Iranian friend who conveniently just moved to Venice with her family, and the girl is invited over for lunch so we can watch everyone being all racially sensitive. It's the equivalent of "I'm not racist - see, I have a black friend!" and fifty bucks says that we will never see the daughter's Iranian friend in another book.
I could forgive all of this (probably) if the mystery was at all compelling, but it isn't. Over the course of the investigation, Brunetti discovers that the killing goes much higher than he could have ever imagined (blood diamonds and the Mafia are involved, because why the fuck not) and is quickly shut out of the case. He keeps poking around, of course, but the problem is that he never even gets close to the truth, and is left to just be told how everything fit together later by another character. In fact, the eventual solution made no sense and was, ultimately, kind of stupid.
It's disappointing, because I loved Death at La Fenice so much. Maybe I need to try looking up some earlier Brunetti mysteries - they seem to be getting worse as the series progresses.
April 3, 2022
Well, that was embarrassing! Leon, we know, is not the most subtle of writers when it comes to unwinding a theme and, to be fair, she has to balance her political points with the frame of a murder mystery and the Brunetti formula of Venetian colour + Brunetti family charm + Guido milking all his contacts + Signorina Elettra doing her techie thing + Italian corruption and Mafia crime.
All the same, this seems particularly tone-deaf when it comes to dealing with the topic of race and immigrants: while Guido and Paola express their horror at Chiara's dismissal of an immigrant death, they also never stop 'othering' the 'Senegalese', making much of their blackness, their tribal markings, and everything that keeps them alien from Italians/Europeans, despite many people agreeing that they're polite, quiet and speak good Italian, albeit with an accent. Because yes, they turn out not to be from Senegal at all, but from Angola, a former Portuguese colony - but, then, as many people imply, including Guido, Africa is Africa and the book isn't interested in the numerous countries and cultures which make up that vast continent.
Throughout, the murdered man is just 'the black man' - nameless, dead, silenced - and it's rare that any of his companions actually speak, keeping them at arms distance and 'different' from both the characters and reader.
On top of the clumsy race narrative (and I'm guessing Leon thought she was being empathetic and highlighting a problem in Italy), Guido - that well-informed and well-read man - doesn't see the clues to this mystery which are right in front of his eyes so that the reader has guessed the plot well ahead of him. Oh, and there's a particularly obvious little scene where Chiara brings an Iranian girl home for lunch just so we can be reassured that the Brunettis can welcome 'foreigners' into their midst.
If this had been written in the 1970s-80s, it might have been indicative of social mores - but for something published in 2005, this feels dated and uncomfortable.
All the same, this seems particularly tone-deaf when it comes to dealing with the topic of race and immigrants: while Guido and Paola express their horror at Chiara's dismissal of an immigrant death, they also never stop 'othering' the 'Senegalese', making much of their blackness, their tribal markings, and everything that keeps them alien from Italians/Europeans, despite many people agreeing that they're polite, quiet and speak good Italian, albeit with an accent. Because yes, they turn out not to be from Senegal at all, but from Angola, a former Portuguese colony - but, then, as many people imply, including Guido, Africa is Africa and the book isn't interested in the numerous countries and cultures which make up that vast continent.
Throughout, the murdered man is just 'the black man' - nameless, dead, silenced - and it's rare that any of his companions actually speak, keeping them at arms distance and 'different' from both the characters and reader.
On top of the clumsy race narrative (and I'm guessing Leon thought she was being empathetic and highlighting a problem in Italy), Guido - that well-informed and well-read man - doesn't see the clues to this mystery which are right in front of his eyes so that the reader has guessed the plot well ahead of him. Oh, and there's a particularly obvious little scene where Chiara brings an Iranian girl home for lunch just so we can be reassured that the Brunettis can welcome 'foreigners' into their midst.
If this had been written in the 1970s-80s, it might have been indicative of social mores - but for something published in 2005, this feels dated and uncomfortable.
February 4, 2017
Ah, Brunetti. There was much to enjoy in this installment (fights over fettucine! finding out that Brunetti's favorite emperor is, of course, Julian!), but the overall mystery was a big ol' racist mess. Whenever Donna Leon finds a Message that she wants to impart, she does so without any pretense of subtlety whatsoever. It's hard to tell if this novel accurately represents racial tensions in Venice, represents a caricature of racial tensions in Venice, or represents Donna Leon's personal feelings about racial tensions in Venice. Whichever it is, it's pretty unsatisfying, all the way up to . Alas.
Happily, I do not read these books for their plots. Here are some high points:
- Endless tourist commentary, as usual, including the gem "They had to be Americans. They wore white shoes and were very loud"
- Paola and Brunetti buying vegetables for dinner while casually discussing a murder case
- Patta trying to have a serious conversation with Brunetti, but first ensuring that his expensive coat label is sufficiently on display
- Paola representing for Jane Austen ("Everyone should have a set. If I thought you'd read them, I'd buy a set for you too")
- Bocchese develops a personality in this book! Unlike any other author, Leon devotes 2 pages to the miniatures that he collects
- Brunetti realizing, finally, that he loves Signorina Elettra and Vianello (insert heart eyes gif here)
The food is sufficiently described, but I could have done with a couple more pages on the dinner that Paola has at Aunt Federica's, a scene in which Azir and Paola actually cook lamb together, and more afternoon wine breaks. And of course, more Raffi please!! Is he still with the girlfriend downstairs? Inquiring minds need to know.
Happily, I do not read these books for their plots. Here are some high points:
- Endless tourist commentary, as usual, including the gem "They had to be Americans. They wore white shoes and were very loud"
- Paola and Brunetti buying vegetables for dinner while casually discussing a murder case
- Patta trying to have a serious conversation with Brunetti, but first ensuring that his expensive coat label is sufficiently on display
- Paola representing for Jane Austen ("Everyone should have a set. If I thought you'd read them, I'd buy a set for you too")
- Bocchese develops a personality in this book! Unlike any other author, Leon devotes 2 pages to the miniatures that he collects
- Brunetti realizing, finally, that he loves Signorina Elettra and Vianello (insert heart eyes gif here)
The food is sufficiently described, but I could have done with a couple more pages on the dinner that Paola has at Aunt Federica's, a scene in which Azir and Paola actually cook lamb together, and more afternoon wine breaks. And of course, more Raffi please!! Is he still with the girlfriend downstairs? Inquiring minds need to know.
December 28, 2019
Corruption is rampant in Donna Leon's Venice. Venetians might have invented quid pro quo. It seems impossible to get anything done there without one hand washing the other, so to speak.
That holds true for the police as well. That is the milieu in which Commissario Guido Brunetti must operate. It's what he must deal with to extract information, investigate crimes, and achieve justice for the victims. In fact, in these dark stories, there is very little justice achieved.
Leon always manages to bring a bit of current-day politics into her tales which contributes to their feeling of verisimilitude. In this case, her reference is to refugees and immigrants from Africa that are coming into Italy, some legally and some illegally. Some of the men work as street vendors. They buy knock-off handbags and then resell them to customers on the streets after shops are closed for the day. The community is tolerant toward them. They seem harmless and don't cause any trouble.
Then one of the men is assassinated while standing next to his wares and in the company of his fellow vendors. The time is just before Christmas and the streets are crowded but no one seems to have seen clearly what happened. Two American tourists were standing nearby and saw two men who, in retrospect, were clearly the assassins, but they are not able to give good descriptions.
Brunetti and his sidekick Vianelli investigate and, as usual, are aided by the computer-savvy Signorina Elettra. (Computers are still a mystery to Brunetti in this book first published in 2005. At some point, he's going to have to get a clue!) But soon Brunetti is warned off the case by his boss. No reason is given but Brunetti understands the exigencies of Venetian politics and how they affect the police. Especially his very politically sensitive boss.
Of course, he continues his investigation on the down-low and when he and Vianelli go to the man's apartment to search it, in a container of salt they find a hundred or more diamonds. Brunetti calls on outside experts to try to determine where the diamonds are from and learns that they are likely "blood diamonds". What to do with them?
Leon attempts to address a number of social issues in this one, including treatment of refugees and immigrants, incipient racism in Italian society, the disruptions to society as a result of a flood of immigrants from Africa, as well as the everyday tension between the honest cops and the corruption in government which they have to navigate. It's a lot to try to cover. Maybe too much. Sadly, I felt that the problems she was describing were very familiar because they have their counterparts in current American society.
That holds true for the police as well. That is the milieu in which Commissario Guido Brunetti must operate. It's what he must deal with to extract information, investigate crimes, and achieve justice for the victims. In fact, in these dark stories, there is very little justice achieved.
Leon always manages to bring a bit of current-day politics into her tales which contributes to their feeling of verisimilitude. In this case, her reference is to refugees and immigrants from Africa that are coming into Italy, some legally and some illegally. Some of the men work as street vendors. They buy knock-off handbags and then resell them to customers on the streets after shops are closed for the day. The community is tolerant toward them. They seem harmless and don't cause any trouble.
Then one of the men is assassinated while standing next to his wares and in the company of his fellow vendors. The time is just before Christmas and the streets are crowded but no one seems to have seen clearly what happened. Two American tourists were standing nearby and saw two men who, in retrospect, were clearly the assassins, but they are not able to give good descriptions.
Brunetti and his sidekick Vianelli investigate and, as usual, are aided by the computer-savvy Signorina Elettra. (Computers are still a mystery to Brunetti in this book first published in 2005. At some point, he's going to have to get a clue!) But soon Brunetti is warned off the case by his boss. No reason is given but Brunetti understands the exigencies of Venetian politics and how they affect the police. Especially his very politically sensitive boss.
Of course, he continues his investigation on the down-low and when he and Vianelli go to the man's apartment to search it, in a container of salt they find a hundred or more diamonds. Brunetti calls on outside experts to try to determine where the diamonds are from and learns that they are likely "blood diamonds". What to do with them?
Leon attempts to address a number of social issues in this one, including treatment of refugees and immigrants, incipient racism in Italian society, the disruptions to society as a result of a flood of immigrants from Africa, as well as the everyday tension between the honest cops and the corruption in government which they have to navigate. It's a lot to try to cover. Maybe too much. Sadly, I felt that the problems she was describing were very familiar because they have their counterparts in current American society.
November 19, 2024
The novel opens with some men spreading out sheets on Venetian sidewalks and placing (fake) name brand leather bags on them ready for sale to tourists. At the same time are two men, well covered in coats, hats, gloves and scarves. The larger of these two signals to the other. The men selling the bags are African, the other two are white. And then one of the Africans is shot.
I like it when a murder mystery opens with the murder. This has all the earmarks of being an assassination. Why would anyone want to assassinate what many Venetians refer to as vu cumprà, which means street seller? It is somewhat derogatory and came about because the first of these illegal immigrants came from French speaking Algeria and Morocco. (As an aside, this novel was first published in 2004. I noted the subject/murder centered on illegal immigration which has been a hot topic in the US, especially the last couple of years.)
In this, the murder victim carried no ID and only some keys were found in his possession. If you don't know who was murdered, how are you to find the perpetrator? This, then, was the problem. And the plot thickened, I might add. More than many of the mysteries I've read, this one had many layers needing to be pulled away. On the surface, early on the title seems to be explained. But, for me, it wasn't until nearly then end when I understood how brilliant it was that that title phrase was applied to this novel.
I think I tend to give 4-stars to most of this series. Obviously, I turn to it again and again. Because this one had me thinking of the world outside its pages, I think it deserves all of those 4-stars. And maybe, just maybe, they light up and point to a 5th star.
I like it when a murder mystery opens with the murder. This has all the earmarks of being an assassination. Why would anyone want to assassinate what many Venetians refer to as vu cumprà, which means street seller? It is somewhat derogatory and came about because the first of these illegal immigrants came from French speaking Algeria and Morocco. (As an aside, this novel was first published in 2004. I noted the subject/murder centered on illegal immigration which has been a hot topic in the US, especially the last couple of years.)
In this, the murder victim carried no ID and only some keys were found in his possession. If you don't know who was murdered, how are you to find the perpetrator? This, then, was the problem. And the plot thickened, I might add. More than many of the mysteries I've read, this one had many layers needing to be pulled away. On the surface, early on the title seems to be explained. But, for me, it wasn't until nearly then end when I understood how brilliant it was that that title phrase was applied to this novel.
I think I tend to give 4-stars to most of this series. Obviously, I turn to it again and again. Because this one had me thinking of the world outside its pages, I think it deserves all of those 4-stars. And maybe, just maybe, they light up and point to a 5th star.
September 21, 2024
Eindeutig 5 Sterne :)
✨💍🔎✨
✨💍🔎✨
December 23, 2022
I have a love/hate relationship with Donna Leon. She’s created one of my favorite characters (Commissario Brunetti) and she writes a well-plotted mystery. This one was quite good. To paraphrase one of her lines: People who sell weapons aren’t usually killers. In context this is a completely plausible sentence. This book is full of dichotomy. So much of a good story to love.
The hate part is the slightly superior attitude (of Leon) that seeps through into her story lines and some of her characters. It’s annoying as I read (or more precisely listen - David Colcacci IS Brunetti. He’s a fantastic reader. )
But there is no way my annoyance will keep me from reading more Brunetti.
This is a particularly good one.
The hate part is the slightly superior attitude (of Leon) that seeps through into her story lines and some of her characters. It’s annoying as I read (or more precisely listen - David Colcacci IS Brunetti. He’s a fantastic reader. )
But there is no way my annoyance will keep me from reading more Brunetti.
This is a particularly good one.
July 27, 2017
Brunetti is by now a vehicle for the author to discuss aspects of corruption. Venice is a metaphor for Italy as a whole. We also see that Italy is part of Europe, and the rest of us around the EU will feel outraged at the casual and corrupt way in which undocumented African economic migrants are allowed into Italy illegally.
Standing in the cold selling knockoff bags in the street, the Senegalese men in this story are presumed by one and all to be acting for the mafia. The bags are made in the same factories as the real ones, just at night. Italian fake bag sellers would be jailed but there is held to be little point in arresting these men; they are handed a letter telling them to leave Italy. They don't. Their bags are confiscated and shredded, by the tens of thousands, but they are back next day with more, selling to tourists, untaxed. Then one day one of the Senegalese men is shot dead on the street.
Now, from then on Brunetti does a lot of talking to respected figures, dodging his own boss and getting lectures from his wife, intruding on the migrants' less than cosy quarters and feeling the chill of the silent security services. How can he solve a death that nobody wants solved? You may lose patience with the continuous removal of evidence and jurisdiction, but we get the feeling that the author has also lost patience, and has widened the horizons of the provincial policeman to show that the world is large, interconnected, and violent.
I see that this was published in 2005 so I imagine today's migrant influx has only added to Italy's troubles. It's worth a read to gain a new perspective. If you have not read any Leon, you'll be astounded at the all-pervasive acceptance of corruption.
Standing in the cold selling knockoff bags in the street, the Senegalese men in this story are presumed by one and all to be acting for the mafia. The bags are made in the same factories as the real ones, just at night. Italian fake bag sellers would be jailed but there is held to be little point in arresting these men; they are handed a letter telling them to leave Italy. They don't. Their bags are confiscated and shredded, by the tens of thousands, but they are back next day with more, selling to tourists, untaxed. Then one day one of the Senegalese men is shot dead on the street.
Now, from then on Brunetti does a lot of talking to respected figures, dodging his own boss and getting lectures from his wife, intruding on the migrants' less than cosy quarters and feeling the chill of the silent security services. How can he solve a death that nobody wants solved? You may lose patience with the continuous removal of evidence and jurisdiction, but we get the feeling that the author has also lost patience, and has widened the horizons of the provincial policeman to show that the world is large, interconnected, and violent.
I see that this was published in 2005 so I imagine today's migrant influx has only added to Italy's troubles. It's worth a read to gain a new perspective. If you have not read any Leon, you'll be astounded at the all-pervasive acceptance of corruption.
March 19, 2021
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love the Inspector Brunetti mystery series, set in Venice, by Donna Leon. Blood from a Stone is no exception. It contains the best features of all of the books I've read in the series, great food, a loving family, Brunetti's fantastic assistants and political intrigue.
The basic story is the murder of an African refugee by unknown assailants while he sells fake purses along with other refugees in Venice. The murder is witnessed by a group of American tourists and they provide the initial information to Brunetti. Brunetti and his capable assistant, Vianelli, begin to investigate this mysterious group and discover the dead man has a cache of diamonds. Brunetti's boss, Patta, tells him to cease his investigation and all of the files are taken by the Ministry of the Interior. However, neither Brunetti and Vianelli, along with Patta's assistant, Signora Elettra (a favorite character of mine) follow the instructions but continue the investigation surreptitiously.
Why did this man have the diamonds, what were they for, and why are the Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry involved. Brunetti and his team must tread carefully as they seem to be under threat from these mysterious government sources.
It's a fascinating story with many sub-plots. As always there is the wonderful family dynamic. In this story, daughter Chiara surprises both Guido and his wife, Paola, when she talks about the murdered African and complaining about her father's lateness for dinner, saying ' Yes but it's only a vu cumpra (Italian for the African refugees)'. Paola is shocked and this is an ongoing sub-theme in the story.
The story is complex and rich, filled with fascinating characters. I can't say enough about this excellent series. If you try it, I'm sure you'll fall in love with Venice, the wonderful food and the great characters.. Oh, yes, and the mysteries themselves. (4 stars)
The basic story is the murder of an African refugee by unknown assailants while he sells fake purses along with other refugees in Venice. The murder is witnessed by a group of American tourists and they provide the initial information to Brunetti. Brunetti and his capable assistant, Vianelli, begin to investigate this mysterious group and discover the dead man has a cache of diamonds. Brunetti's boss, Patta, tells him to cease his investigation and all of the files are taken by the Ministry of the Interior. However, neither Brunetti and Vianelli, along with Patta's assistant, Signora Elettra (a favorite character of mine) follow the instructions but continue the investigation surreptitiously.
Why did this man have the diamonds, what were they for, and why are the Interior Ministry and Foreign Ministry involved. Brunetti and his team must tread carefully as they seem to be under threat from these mysterious government sources.
It's a fascinating story with many sub-plots. As always there is the wonderful family dynamic. In this story, daughter Chiara surprises both Guido and his wife, Paola, when she talks about the murdered African and complaining about her father's lateness for dinner, saying ' Yes but it's only a vu cumpra (Italian for the African refugees)'. Paola is shocked and this is an ongoing sub-theme in the story.
The story is complex and rich, filled with fascinating characters. I can't say enough about this excellent series. If you try it, I'm sure you'll fall in love with Venice, the wonderful food and the great characters.. Oh, yes, and the mysteries themselves. (4 stars)
February 13, 2020
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.
August 22, 2021
Interesting characters and setting, but I found the story itself dull. My first Donna Leon, I should have checked the reviews before picking this one. I might sample again at a later time.
September 10, 2023
One of my favorites so far. An African street vendor is murdered assassination style, and Brunetti uncovers the world of blood diamonds as he investigates. Leon doesn’t pull any punches, as you’re left wondering if there is any solution to African exploitation by those more powerful.
September 7, 2021
Commissario Guido Brunetti has a wonderful family life (Paopa, Raffi, & Chiara.) His professional life includes Signorina Elettra; Inspector Lorenzo Vianell0 & Junior Officer Pucetti. I include their names in my review as I think they play an important part of story. Places - Grand Canal, & Murano ( I have been on the Grand Canal). Besides writing about the illegal immigrants & politics in Venice Commissario really enjoys eating Italian food!
October 8, 2021
The fifth book I've read in the series, all in the last two months. My favorite so far. It could be that with successive reads in the series, the last one finished is the best because it's the fullest-yet portrait of Brunetti, his family, colleagues, associates and of course, Venice. This one shows us more of the remarkable Paola as mother and psychologist and broadens our understanding of the Commissario's investigative methods.
This is also the first Leon novel that made me ask “Where do the Commissario and his family live?” From the other books, I had put their apartment in the San Polo sestiere. The Commissario’s usual stop on the vaporetto is San Silvestre. This book gave more specific hints than others, or maybe I had just failed to pick them up earlier. Brunetti looks up the address of someone he wants to talk (p. 91). “He found it on the other side of the Rio dei Meloni, literally the building next but one to his own, though getting there would require walking up to Campo Sant’ Aponal, then turning backwards towards the water.” On p. 96, to reach Cuzzoni’s apartment building [he] “walked up to Sant’ Aponal then back towards Fondamenta Businello.” That would be toward the Grand Canal. The Palazzo Businello stands on the corner of the Rio dei Meloni and the Grand Canal on the side closer to the San Silvestro vaporetto stop. Across the rio is the Palazzo Papadapolo.
The most precise hint (p 208) is that one afternoon when it’s raining hard and the Commissario heads home for lunch, a police launch courteously takes him right to Calle Tiepolo. That narrow street parallels the Rio dei Meloni a short distance further down the Grand Canal, giving upon il Canalazzo between the Palazzo Papadapoli and the Palazzo Dona. I surmise the family lives near the other end of Calle Tiepolo, perhaps close to the bridge that spans the Rio dei Meloni, which Brunetti would have had to cross to reach Sant’ Aponal. Other opinions and corrections are most welcome as comments to this review.
If you are just getting to know Venice and want to join in this hunt, you'll find that maps from the internet are hard to read and confusing. To see the neighborhood mentioned above, start with the Rialto Bridge, go down the Grand Canal to the San Silvestre vaporetto stop on the Right Bank. About sixty meters further down the Grand Canal is the Rio dei Meloni.
This is also the first Leon novel that made me ask “Where do the Commissario and his family live?” From the other books, I had put their apartment in the San Polo sestiere. The Commissario’s usual stop on the vaporetto is San Silvestre. This book gave more specific hints than others, or maybe I had just failed to pick them up earlier. Brunetti looks up the address of someone he wants to talk (p. 91). “He found it on the other side of the Rio dei Meloni, literally the building next but one to his own, though getting there would require walking up to Campo Sant’ Aponal, then turning backwards towards the water.” On p. 96, to reach Cuzzoni’s apartment building [he] “walked up to Sant’ Aponal then back towards Fondamenta Businello.” That would be toward the Grand Canal. The Palazzo Businello stands on the corner of the Rio dei Meloni and the Grand Canal on the side closer to the San Silvestro vaporetto stop. Across the rio is the Palazzo Papadapolo.
The most precise hint (p 208) is that one afternoon when it’s raining hard and the Commissario heads home for lunch, a police launch courteously takes him right to Calle Tiepolo. That narrow street parallels the Rio dei Meloni a short distance further down the Grand Canal, giving upon il Canalazzo between the Palazzo Papadapoli and the Palazzo Dona. I surmise the family lives near the other end of Calle Tiepolo, perhaps close to the bridge that spans the Rio dei Meloni, which Brunetti would have had to cross to reach Sant’ Aponal. Other opinions and corrections are most welcome as comments to this review.
If you are just getting to know Venice and want to join in this hunt, you'll find that maps from the internet are hard to read and confusing. To see the neighborhood mentioned above, start with the Rialto Bridge, go down the Grand Canal to the San Silvestre vaporetto stop on the Right Bank. About sixty meters further down the Grand Canal is the Rio dei Meloni.
August 9, 2012
Coming highly recommended by several friends and fellow bloggers I found both of these 'Brunetti' books (numbers 10 and 14 in the series) to be everything they said they'd be ...... and more. And having seen the characters develop over these two books fully intend to read the other books in chronological order.
Crime capers set in exquisitely described Venice, I found both A Sea Of Troubles (book 10) and, Blood From A Stone (book 14) to be a bit more relaxed and less graphic, one could almost say more gentle, than the vast majority of other crime books on the market.
Perhaps concentrating on family/working/community relationships and issues of a somewhat moral and/or political nature (amongst other things police bureaucracy and pollution in A Sea Of Troubles and racism and the counterfeiting of branded goods in Blood From A Stone) as much as the crime itself, I really found these novels a refreshing change.
Though I did enjoy A Sea Of Troubles finding Brunetti's relationship with P.A., Elettra, fascinating reading and the 'locals' reaction to the police interesting, I did find the plot a bit implausible, Elettra' role as an undercover officer perhaps a little far fetched.
In my opinion Blood From A Stone was a better though in many ways more disturbing read. Though enjoyable from the point of view that many aspects of the story will be familiar to those of us lucky enough to have visited Venice, with an underlying theme of (largely disliked) immigrants and racism this did at times make for uncomfortable reading.
Perhaps at times guilty of being a tad over-zealous in her desire to make us, the reader, more socially and environmentally aware, I can't help but wonder if Paola (Brunetti's wife) is in fact Donna Leon.
A long time since I read two books by the same author back to back, I recommend these two books as a great alternative to the positively gory crime thrillers I seem to have been reading of late.
Crime capers set in exquisitely described Venice, I found both A Sea Of Troubles (book 10) and, Blood From A Stone (book 14) to be a bit more relaxed and less graphic, one could almost say more gentle, than the vast majority of other crime books on the market.
Perhaps concentrating on family/working/community relationships and issues of a somewhat moral and/or political nature (amongst other things police bureaucracy and pollution in A Sea Of Troubles and racism and the counterfeiting of branded goods in Blood From A Stone) as much as the crime itself, I really found these novels a refreshing change.
Though I did enjoy A Sea Of Troubles finding Brunetti's relationship with P.A., Elettra, fascinating reading and the 'locals' reaction to the police interesting, I did find the plot a bit implausible, Elettra' role as an undercover officer perhaps a little far fetched.
In my opinion Blood From A Stone was a better though in many ways more disturbing read. Though enjoyable from the point of view that many aspects of the story will be familiar to those of us lucky enough to have visited Venice, with an underlying theme of (largely disliked) immigrants and racism this did at times make for uncomfortable reading.
Perhaps at times guilty of being a tad over-zealous in her desire to make us, the reader, more socially and environmentally aware, I can't help but wonder if Paola (Brunetti's wife) is in fact Donna Leon.
A long time since I read two books by the same author back to back, I recommend these two books as a great alternative to the positively gory crime thrillers I seem to have been reading of late.
July 8, 2017
I am very much a Donna Leon and Commissario Brunetti fan, having read many of the books in the series at this point and having rated most of them 5 stars. But this particular novel seemed to drag, partly because of several two long, repetitious dialogues between Guido and wife Paola concerning their adolescent daughter. As in every novel in the series, a social issue is at the center of the plot and Blood from a Stone deals with African immigrants come to Venice to sell knock-off merchandise when the shops are closed in the afternoons (for siesta) and at night. The "stones' in this case are African diamonds found in the possession of a murdered African, but it takes quite a while in the book to get around to the stones. The plot definitely could have been tighter. I still found much to like in the book: the portrayal of the interactions between husband and wife, between Brunetti and his boss and co-workers, between Brunetti and his go-to sources of information when he's trying to solve a crime; all were as nuanced and subtly described as ever. And I never tire of the descriptions of life in Venice, so for those reasons, I would still recommend this book, but found that it didn't quite measure up to the others in this series.
October 17, 2019
I finally noticed after reading the 9th Brunetti book that the titles always give a hint as to what every murder or death is about, whether a thing or something closely related to the murder or the murderer. This one concerns a hit put on an itinerant vendor from Africa and a refugee among thousands of other refugees ever since Europe became the EU and borders between countries have been opened. As temporary denizens of Venice, the refugees from the Dark Continent have for the most part been polite and respectful to the country and its citizens who have opened their borders to them... hence, the puzzle WHY a lowly 'vu compra' was gunned down amid a group of senior American tourists. What Brunetti found hidden mixed with the salt in his cold attic bolt hole could very well be the reason for his execution and to his identity and the reason for his presence in Italy... also why the Ministry of the Interior took over the case from Brunetti's team.
July 25, 2022
Another nice book in the series. His family life, the city of Venice, the politics, the food and drink and a crime to solve while trying to work around corruption and incompetence: it is more of the same, but in a good way. The nice thing about the Brunetti series is that everything doesn't always wrap up as nicely as you get in some other police procedure series.
April 27, 2013
Another very enjoyable outing to Venice. I find Commissario Guido Brunetti to be such an interesting and empathetic character, and I really love reading about him. The ethical dilemmas are fascinating, as are the supporting characters.
October 14, 2009
If you like Venice, murder mysteries and don't care if the writing is interesting, you might enjoy this book.
October 13, 2021
O início é um bocado lento, só a partir de cerca de um terço do livro a estória se torna realmente interessante.
March 10, 2022
Commissario Brunetti investigates the brutal murder of an itinerant African street vendor, one of the so-called vu cumprá who sell fake designer goods to Venice’s tourists. Brunetti’s early investigations puzzle him - witnesses suggest the killer was a white man, and there seems to be no reason to kill a poor immigrant so brutally. Then Brunetti begins to uncover troubling indications of an international concern, and when he is warned off the case, he becomes more determined to get to the bottom of the crime.
I enjoyed the plot of this crime novel, finding it much stronger than some of the previous ones. Leon really gets her teeth into a global crime scenario and its impact on the political machinery of Italy. Brunetti has to work really hard to make any progress, calling in favours from friends and colleagues, and becoming increasingly aware of real danger in his investigation. As always, Vianello and Signorina Elettra provide loyal assistance, and the slimy Vice Questore Patta intervenes to obstruct progress.
I was less convinced by the way Leon uses her plot to deal with the topic of racism. It felt too big and complex an issue to be tackled alongside the mystery aspect, and Brunetti’s discussions about his own daughter’s inconsistent attitudes to race were superficial and felt forced. I generally enjoy the time spent with the family, but this time it didn’t work for me.
Overall, an interesting and unusual departure for Brunetti, in an intelligent and engaging series.
I enjoyed the plot of this crime novel, finding it much stronger than some of the previous ones. Leon really gets her teeth into a global crime scenario and its impact on the political machinery of Italy. Brunetti has to work really hard to make any progress, calling in favours from friends and colleagues, and becoming increasingly aware of real danger in his investigation. As always, Vianello and Signorina Elettra provide loyal assistance, and the slimy Vice Questore Patta intervenes to obstruct progress.
I was less convinced by the way Leon uses her plot to deal with the topic of racism. It felt too big and complex an issue to be tackled alongside the mystery aspect, and Brunetti’s discussions about his own daughter’s inconsistent attitudes to race were superficial and felt forced. I generally enjoy the time spent with the family, but this time it didn’t work for me.
Overall, an interesting and unusual departure for Brunetti, in an intelligent and engaging series.
January 25, 2022
Another morality tale from the pen of Donna Leon. This one highlights the problems of the Africans who come to Venice to make a bit of money on the illegal side and the conundrum this poses to real law enforcement. There is also the family problem of teenagers who view the people who are so different from their own as *disposable or meaningless* while spouting *save the whales* and encouraging veganism. Good story and relatable.
The audio is performed by David Colacci as were all the others I've read. His rendering id remarkably in that he never overplays the roles.
The audio is performed by David Colacci as were all the others I've read. His rendering id remarkably in that he never overplays the roles.
June 5, 2018
I've always enjoyed Ms. Leon's Brunetti series. I feel as if I'm in the middle of Venice, enjoying the foods, sounds, and people. This one doesn't disappoint in that manner.
This mystery was darker than other Brunetti mysteries I've read. The murder of a vu cumpra and the politics that come with investigating a murder no one seems to care about (except for Brunetti) seems incredibly relevant in today's political climate. The vu cumpra's are masters at being invisible during the day and disappearing into the night when need be. When one is killed point blank, it seems implausible that he was targeted for any other reason than the fact that he's a vu cumpra.
Uncovering the secret behind the man's identity was interesting. But I found the pace a little uneven and felt it could have been wrapped up a little quicker. As always, I do enjoy Ms. Leon's novels and will continue to read more in the series.
This mystery was darker than other Brunetti mysteries I've read. The murder of a vu cumpra and the politics that come with investigating a murder no one seems to care about (except for Brunetti) seems incredibly relevant in today's political climate. The vu cumpra's are masters at being invisible during the day and disappearing into the night when need be. When one is killed point blank, it seems implausible that he was targeted for any other reason than the fact that he's a vu cumpra.
Uncovering the secret behind the man's identity was interesting. But I found the pace a little uneven and felt it could have been wrapped up a little quicker. As always, I do enjoy Ms. Leon's novels and will continue to read more in the series.
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December 30, 2020I think part of the appeal to me of this series is the similarity of its sleuth to my favourite sleuth Philip Marlowe had he been raised Venetian, Marlowe with bellezza. In this book Brunetti looks into the death, the life and origins of one of Venice’s African street pedlars
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