Blood from a stone by Donna Leon
Date: 19 August 2009
The story begins with the murder of an illegal African street vendor in a busy Venetian campo while he was attempting to sell his fake designer handbags to a group of American tourists.This book deals with issues surrounding immigrants, race and immigrant labour. The detective Guido Brunetti must fight the racism and corruption in the police, judicial and political system in Venice as he works towards solving the murder of a vu cumpra (street vendor).
An engrossing read. The characters are wonderfully depicted, such as Vice Questore Patta, Brunetti’s slow-witted boss, and his (Patta's) secretary, the computer-wise Signorina Elettra, who helps Brunetti without Patta's knowledge. Much of the novel’s appeal for me was in the details of Brunetti’s personal life. His relationship with his children, his wife Paola's delicious meals, that he dislikes Christmas shopping and the way he admires the beautiful architecture of his city as he goes about his police business. I also enjoyed the glimpses into another culture.
This was my first Donna Leon novel, but definitely not my last. Highly Recommended.
LT