Blood from a Stone — Donna Leon

Shortly before Christmas a man is killed in Venice's Campo Santo Stefano. An illegal immigrant from Senegal, he is one of the vu cumpra who sells fake fashion accessories while trying to stay ahead of the law. At first the crime seems like a simple clash between rival vendors, but as Commissario Guido Brunetti probes more deeply, he begins to suspect that the murder was the work of a professional. And why does his boss want him off the case? A compelling portrait of Venice's immigrant society and a riveting tale of suspense, Blood from a Stone is a welcome addition to Donna Leon's bestselling mystery series.