Blood from a Stone

Commissario Guido Brunetti of the Venice Police makes his 14th appearance in BLOOD FROM A STONE. Donna Leon takes listeners into the Venice underworld this time. It's Christmas, and Brunetti is called to investigate the death of an African street vendor. Brunetti and his faithful sidekicks, Signorina Ellatra and Sergeant Vianello, discover illegal immigrants, drugs, and political corruption. David Colacci's narration adds nuance to Leon's subtlest textual hints. Colacci changes voices, accents, and rhythm with a master's ease. He turns Brunetti into a diligent detective still able to have a believable family life. Contemporary Italy, holiday time, violence, and crime all blend to make this a sure win for new Brunetti fans and a must for old friends. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 21, 2005
In this stunning novel, the 14th to feature the dogged, intuitive Venetian police detective Guido Brunetti (after 2004's Doctored Evidence
), Leon combines an engrossing, complex plot with an indictment of the corruption endemic to Italian society. The murder of an anonymous African street vendor, an inoffensive, possibly illegal Senegalese immigrant, explodes into a many-layered conundrum. Italian attitudes toward "Senegali" range from the bargain shoppers' approval of their harmless efforts to earn money selling knock-off accessories to legitimate merchants' outrage at competition from the cheaper goods. After Brunetti discovers uncut diamonds hidden in the victim's spartan room and evidence the room was searched, the Interior and Foreign Affairs Ministries take over the case and all of Brunetti's pertinent files, papers and computer disappear. Enraged, Brunetti sidesteps normal police procedures and taps into personal and professional sources, uncovering evidence linking the victim, the Angolan civil war, the Italian secret service and an industrial giant with government connections. Many of Leon's favorite characters appear, including the gourmand Brunetti's family, the obsequious Vice-Questore Giuseppe Patta and Patta's irreverent secretary, Signorina Elletra. They balance this dark, cynical tale of widespread secrecy, violence and corruption. Agent, Susanne Bauknecht, Diogenes Verlag (Switzerland).

Starred review from March 1, 2006
In her latest Guido Brunetti mystery, Leon explores the netherworld of illegal African immigrants who sell knockoff merchandise to the tourists in Venice. When two professional killers attack one of these transients, Guido is perplexed by the incongruity of the crime. His interest is piqued once again when his officious supervisor strongly encourages him to drop his investigation and his evidence disappears. Despite these setbacks, Guido pursues the murderer only to discover that the cold-blooded killers were motivated by reasons far removed from Venice. Leon's ability to weave multiple story elements into a stunning dénouement is as impressive as ever. David Colacci's masterful narration is rich with Italian ambiance and eminently listenable. Highly recommended.Ray Vignovich, West Des Moines P.L.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.