Download Blood from a Stone Audiobook

" See my other Donna Leon reviews. Love the series. Only problem is wanting to read them in order, but not knowing what that order is. "

" In the second, the title refers to conflict diamonds but also to people who are living on the margins. Both very good." "

" Once again, Brunetti is caught up in the globalization of crime and the trauma of developing nations at war with themselves. An illegal Congonese immigrant, hiding among the Senegalisi who sell copycat goods on the streets of Venice, has a deadly secret. Blood diamonds, uncut and raw, surface after his murder. As the mystery unravels, the Italian ministries for foreign affairs and the interior travel to Venice and erase the murder evidence from Brunetti and the Questera. Brunetti doesn't give up and discovers slowly the ties that link illegal immigration, blood diamonds, international arms deals, and the winners and losers in African civil wars. "

" This is one of my favorite mystery series and each book gets better and better. They all take place in Venice with a police officer who has a family and the characters just keep developing book by book. Beautifully written, gentle humor and characters more complex than most mysteries. Great series. "

" --probably my favorite of those I've read thus far, but just because of byplay between Guido and his wife and other, funny little bits. "

" Enjoyable though a bit lacking in depth. Maybe too many half-explored political issues instead of plot. Fun though. "

" I think this might have been my favorite so far. Very thoughtful. "

" I just couldn't finish this book. Every time I thought about reading this I was depressed. Finally, I gave up. I was sad because I loved the first one. Sigh. "

" I just love Commissario Brunetti and his wife, her cooking, Brunetti's walks around Venice . . .and naturally, Signorina Elettra is superb! "

" Not my favorite of the series. A lot of build up but I was disappointed with the resolution. I really enjoy the characters though, especially Guido and his family. "

" African street vendors, political intrigue, police corruption, and diamonds make a twisted tale, with some views on racial prejudice and "otherness." "

" Venice, murder and corporate corruption. A police commissioner investigates the death of an African immigrant which is sabotaged by the Italian Ministery of the Interior. The author veered off the path of the storyline with a lot of social commentary. "

" As usual, a very good detective story, with sensitive and touching handling of death, scathing analysis of geo-political corruption, brilliant family relationships, and venetian background. "

" This was a more comlicated story but felt like something that Leon cared a bit about telling. Ending felt rushed. Still well worth reading for character development. "

" Huh. Puply fiction that isn't crap. Who knew? A fun read--so much that I might pick up the other ones in the series for flights and waiting rooms. "

" I think this is one of Donna Leon's best. Our hero, Guido Brunetti, dances around the murder involving conflict diamonds, never really solving the crime, but confronted with the cross currents of power in Italy. "

" I've never read anything by here that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. Love all the Italian-named characters. "

" Fun and fascinating glimpses of la vita Veneziana, as seen through the eyes of a Venice police detective. The story rather lumbers along from the standpoint of pure narrative, but the portrait of life in this unique city holds and retains your interest when the story seems to flag. "

" Brunetti faces forces he cannot subdue, anyway he keeps his moral high. "

" A great read and another crime illustrating the levels of corruption in government and justice in Venice. A death on the streets of Venice draws Brunetti into the edges of Angolan civil war and international machinations for mineral rights. There are fascinating scenes of his family life too. "

" * * * * * I love Donna Leon and will never get enough of the marvelous Commissario Guido Brunetti and his compatriots/family. "

" Good mystery, good police work "

" Since we are going to Italy in October, I thought I would start on the Donna Leon series with Commissario Guido Brunetti and compare it with the Scandinavian crime fiction. Also, Italian words are sprinkled throughout. It is a good read. "

" I love the Italian culture that hosts this story. very well written, enjoyed it very much.
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" I always enjoy Donna Leon. This book went more deeply into the relationship between Brunetti and his wife, Paola, which was nice. "

" 3 1/2 stars actually. Interesting and well written, but I sensed how it was going to end at different points throughout the book. "

" A detective who is just as interested in lunch as he is in solving the crime, gotta love those Italians. So things are just the same all over, greed, corruption, bureaucratic ineptitude and a governmental cover up. As long as the stomach is content, life is good. "

" See my other Donna Leon reviews. Love the series. Only problem is wanting to read them in order, but not knowing what that order is. "

" Good book: very interesting plot and not far at all from reality, especially if you have been to Italy in the past few years. "

" I learned that I prefer reading Leon's books to listening to them. The pace seemed very slow, and I kept dozing off. I'll go back to reading about Commissario Brunetti, which I've always found quite enjoyable. "

" Another good Brunetti in Venice story regarding the murder of a black street vendor. Interesting picture of racism also. My first time with an audio book and don't believe I like it as well as visual; however, for travelling it may be a good option. "

" With Donna Leon, you always know what you get, you walk with Brunetti through one of the most beautiful cities of the world,Venice, smell the fresh coffee in the bars, participate in his family life and oh yes, I almost forgot, there's also some crime mystery in it, lol. Love me some commissario. "