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Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City by [Christine Evelyn Volker]

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Christine Evelyn Volker

Venetian Blood: Murder in a Sensuous City Kindle Edition

by Christine Evelyn Volker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Struggling to forget a crumbling marriage, forty-year-old Anna Lucia Lottol comes to Venice to visit an old friend—but instead of finding solace, she is dragged into the police station and accused of murdering a money-laundering count with whom she had a brief affair. A US Treasury officer with brains and athleticism, Anna fights to clear her name in a seductive city full of watery illusions. As she works to pry information from a cast of recalcitrant characters sometimes denying what she sees and hears, she succeeds in unleashing a powerful foe bent on destroying her. Will she save herself and vanquish her enemies, including her darkest fears?

A mysterious tapestry of murder, betrayal, and family, Venetian Blood is a story of one woman’s brave quest for the truth —before it’s too late.

Length: 345 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Page Flip: Enabled

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Review

2017-2018 Sarton Women’s Book Awards Winner: Contemporary Fiction 2018 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner: International Mystery 2019 Independent Press Award Winner: Mystery, and First Time Published Fiction 2019 New York City Big Book Award Winner: New Fiction "In Volker’s debut mystery, an American financial expert unravels a web of mystery, corruption, and danger hidden in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. But as she gets closer to the truth, she repeatedly finds herself in mortal danger. The subtitle of Volker’s novel signals the importance of the Venetian setting to her compelling, intricate narrative. Her lush descriptions evoke the city’s glories…while skillfully building an ominous tone. A riveting whodunit that makes full use of its dramatic setting."
―Kirkus Reviews

“With lush language, Volker transports us to Venice, Italy, and the murder of Count Sergio Corrin. From the opening pages, we are swept up by language, intrigue, and a tantalizing mystery. Volker reaffirms the abiding adage: describe a world well enough and the reader is fully contained in it.”
―Nina Schuyler, author of the award-winning book The Translator

"Volker’s Venetian Blood weaves alluring language, seductive setting, the charm of shadowed history, and cunning intrigue into a (modern) historical mystery so tantalizing you will be swept away from word one. Anna Lucia Lottol, a financial investigator for the US Department of Treasury, falls under suspicion by Italian officials in the death of one Count Sergio Corrin whilst visiting that most beautiful of riparian cities, Venice. This story drew me in straightaway, and I was loathe to stop, to leave the wind―and water―swept lure of an ancient city with a modern puzzle. The language and phrasing are delicious, pure poetry. Highly recommended!"
―Manhattan Book Review

"Venetian Blood was a beautifully, if not deliciously, described story. The author has a real talent for transporting the reader right into the heart of Venice and its mesmerizing canals, palazzos, and restaurants, exposing all our senses to a magical treat. In fact, the scenery often nearly jumps off the page... I thought the attention to detail throughout this book was superb. The story was also absorbing, and I felt drawn into Anna’s life almost immediately. Overall, there were more than enough twists and turns to heighten the suspense and keep me turning pages. The ending was one I hadn’t anticipated until I was near the end."
―San Francisco Book Review --This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Christine Evelyn Volker became intrigued by foreign cultures at an early age, which propelled her to study Spanish, German, and Italian. After pursuing an MLS and an MBA, she was drawn to international banking and became a senior vice president at a global financial institution. Her career brought her to Italy, where she immersed herself in the language and made frequent visits to Venice. Venetian Blood marks a return to her roots in the humanities. A native New Yorker, she resides with her husband in Northern California. Venetian Blood has won five book awards and was a finalist/semi-finalist in six others. Her second international mystery, an unpublished manuscript entitled Jaguar Moon, set in the rainforest of Peru, was a finalist in the San Francisco Writers Conference Contest. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN : B07412V2FC
Publisher : She Writes Press (Aug. 8 2017)
Language : English
File size : 2742 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 345 pages
Page numbers source ISBN : 1631523104

Best Sellers Rank: #701,758 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #6,852 in Amateur Sleuths
- #7,347 in International Mystery & Crime (Books)
- #18,770 in Suspense (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
25 ratings

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5 star		48%
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3 star		7%
2 star		7%
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

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Top reviews from Canada

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Namita Murti

Fantastic Read!!

Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2020

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This is the first time, I'm reading this author and I must say, I really enjoyed the book. The slow and treacherous story had me hooked.
The descriptions of Venice is simply phenomenal. It felt like I was there and experiencing it all.
Apart from the mystery/suspense factor, I loved the fact that the heroine is a 40 year old woman. It's so good to read about women in their late 30s or 40s. Anna was a good heroine and she tackled everything with a grace. Really enjoyed this book.

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Marilyn R Wilson

Filled with twists, turns and suspense.

Reviewed in Canada on October 28, 2017

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Venetian Blood is a fast paced international thriller that starts with a murder and never slows down.

Anna is all set to vacation with her friend living in Venice, but secretly arrives a day early. Why? To try to deal with a blackmailer who could threaten her very livelihood. The hope is that he has had a change of heart, but that was far from what he had planned for this meeting. In desperation she decides to try to connect with him at a large gala that night, but chickens out - hiding in the bushes as he passes by. Unknown to her, he is murdered shortly after passing her, and someone remembers seeing her leave. Arrested the next day by the police, it is clear she is one of their prime suspects.

What follows is an intriguing tale of suspense, history and romance all unfolding while being introduced to the wonders of Venice. People's connections to the deceased are slowly revealed. Past deaths that might be connected come to light. Anna, along with the help of her friend Margo, have little faith in the police and search together for clues to who the real murderer could be. Anna is followed and attempts are made on her life, yet the police seem to be convinced she guilty.

Filled with twists, turns and suspense it's a great read and be assured, the final chapter holds several surprises.

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Melissa Wiebe

It was okay.

Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2017

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I really enjoyed the engrossing nature of the book, but for whatever reason I just was unable to connect with the book in a way that I really wanted to. Partly I think it was that I felt that the beginning of the book happened a little too quick for my liking and I didn't like that there wasn't a set up for the murder. As a result, I felt lost from the get go, even though by the end of the book I was able to connect better with the story.

As I read the book, I really struggled to understand what was going on and therefore I struggled at time to get through it.

Part of the reason that I disappointed with the book and had frustrations with reading it was that I had different expectations of the story that were clearly not there.

But I did enjoy the description of Venice itself and felt as though I was there in the city myself, even though I have never been to Venice myself. I also liked that it wasn't just your standard mystery; there was emotional depth to the book and created empathy for Anna and how she wanted to move on with her life and have the ghosts of her past disappear.

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LAWonder10

This was a fairky interesting mystery

Reviewed in Canada on September 27, 2017

What Anna thought would be a relaxing getaway, turned out to be a living nightmare! Anna's "roots" were from Italy and she only had vague memories of living there. After her grandparents deaths, she felt she needed to re-connect with those early "roots". Her marriage had failed and a trip to Italy with a cousin seemed to be the very thing she needed. There was one other reason she needed to go to Italy, one she could yell nobody about. However, soon she was desperate to prove her innocence of a crime she did not commit. Her life, her job and her reputation were on the line. Who could help her?
Because of her unique job skills and connections, there were a few things she could do if she could get a couple of crucial pieces of information.
As she tries to prove her innocence, things increasingly get worse and she stands to lose everything!
The characters are well defined but lacks in creating a feeling of the reader being personally connected to them. The scenes are portrayed in a way the reader can visualize them, but not clearly. The story's "flow" at the beginning is not smooth but improves and "flows" well as the tale progresses. There is a slight ouch of romance and the action is steady, yet, I found it to be quite predictable.
It successfully keeps the reader's attention and each chapter ends in a way which causes the reader to not want to put it down until the last page.
*Reader beware: There is some profanity and sexual situations.

The book was gifted to me with no urging for a positive review. This is my honest review.

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Fuzzy's Mom

Was not invested in any of the characters

Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2017

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Momma and I really wanted to like this book. She loves Venice and figured any story that was centred around that magical city would be fun. We are not saying this is a bad book. It is not. The story was interesting if somewhat oonvoluted but we never became invested in any of the characters.
That is a shame as it can mean the difference between reading a book and experiencing a book. I felt we just read it.
It does have it moments including a rather huge surprise at the end of the story. Perhaps I should have seen it coming, but I did not.
Still, I will give it a lukewarm three purrs and one paw up.

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Top reviews from other countries

WhatCathyReadNext

Atmospheric, suspenseful, mystery set in Venice

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2017

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A few months ago I spent a few wonderful days in Venice so when I saw this book I was immediately attracted by its setting. Having wandered along some of its streets and beside its canals (staying off the main tourist drag and once all the cruise ships have departed for the evening), I can certainly understand why the author hit upon Venice as a suitable location for murder!

The atmosphere of this wonderful city is convincingly evoked. From its network of narrow streets, punctuated every now and again by small bridges over quiet canals with the occasional gondola passing by, to the hustle and bustle of the main piazzas, to the Grand Canal with its constant stream of vaporettos and ferries, to the faded grandeur of its palazzos and the very different atmosphere of the outlying islands.

The author creates a picture of an insular, closely connected community where just about everyone seems to know everyone else’s goings on, including relationships of a financial and (often illicit) romantic nature – the book’s subtitle Murder in a Sensuous City is well-earned. However this does mean there is only a small cast of characters for the reader to get to know – and suspect!

Initially suspected of the murder of the Count, Anna sets out to clear her name but, as she gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in danger. Furthermore, traumatic memories from her past start to surface, threatening her hold on reality. Soon Anna finds herself in the centre of a complex web of intrigue, wondering who she can really trust.

As the book progresses, it becomes clear that the murder of the Count may be rooted in past secrets, family tragedies and a desire for revenge as well as more modern day concerns. Like the doges of old, Venetians such as Alessando, descended from the noble families of earlier times, seek to exert power and influence just as eagerly as they seek to restore and preserve ancient Venice. This provides an interesting contrast of past and present, sacred and profane.

The plot is as labyrinthine as the back streets of Venice and at points I found myself wishing for a whiteboard like the one used by our heroine, Anna, to map out the financial connections that form part of the story. I will admit to getting slightly lost with the latter (as unlike the author I don’t have a background in international banking). I suspected just about everyone at some point and willingly admit I did not unravel the solution before it was revealed.

If you know Venice and enjoy a deliciously intricate murder mystery, then this is the book for you. I loved spotting places I’d visited and I was thrilled when at one point something happened very near the hotel where I stayed. If you’ve never visited Venice, Venetian Blood would be the perfect introduction to the city – or, even better, the perfect excuse to plan a visit.

One person found this helpful

Stephanie Jane (Literary Flits)

Great descriptions of Venice

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2017

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I've done well for Venice-set novels recently and I enjoyed Christine Evelyn Volker's addition to their ranks, Venetian Blood. The story plays itself out in the present day and I recognised several of its locations from my own brief visit to the city. Volker also takes us behind the scenes so to speak. We see into affluent homes and their courtyards as well as atmospherically exploring its narrow streets and alleys by night. I felt this author has a real affinity for Venice and appreciated her attention to detail in its presentation. Scenes such as a night-time chase came vividly to life as I read.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this story, but once this happened I was keen to keep reading. Anna is an interesting person to follow although I thought she was lucky that so much of her private investigation just happened to fall into her area of particular expertise! I felt the supporting characters needed stronger portrayals because I sometimes struggled to remember who was who. Similarities in name added to this confusion - Anna, Angela and Agatha all having important parts to play. However the intricacies of the whodunnit are nicely engrossing with the denouement being suitably unexpected and satisfying.

One person found this helpful

LegitReviews

Don’t pass this one up!

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020

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Talk about a book that you can’t put down. I have never read this author before, but when I came across this book, I had to read it. It sucks you right in from chapter 1. I enjoy audiobooks more, so I opted to listen to this book instead but just a few chapters in, I knew I had to read it so I could go faster!
Everything about this book is perfect. The pace, the story, the history and above all, the way it describes Venice. It’s like you’re actually there when you read the details that the author went into to explain it.
The book is set in 1992, so you will ask yourself “why are people leaving messages, why can’t they just text or call?”, “why’s she not using her phone camera?”, “what undeveloped film?”. For anyone born after 1999, this book might offer you a bit of history of humans living before the smartphone era.
Now on to the murder. I won’t say you won’t decipher it, I’d say about the halfway-ish youl start to put the pieces together, and even if you don’t know the killer, you’ve narrowed it down to two. I was more intrigued about the underlying storyline, that you will come to read and this will become even more of a special story. You will make sense of this way befor youl narrow down your killer. Personally, it was that story that had me hooked more then the actual murder plot.

I do have one question tho. Who was responsible for the gondola murders? Did I read it too fast and miss it, or do we never actually get the answer and it’s pure speculation?

All in all, excellent book. I’d you like murder mysteries, history, non-tech world and a little bit of financial crime world, this book is for you. Definitely recommend this book and author. I’d love to read more of her work!

Oh also side note, my Italian is like 0, but the way the author wrote it, I pretty much glanced over it cause it makes no sense to me, but I’ve read some other reviews and the Italian people say that the translations are spot on so I think kudos to that - generally that’s not the case.
She does a really good job to talk in Italian and then immediately translate to English, without it seeming repetitive.

Extra special browny points to the narrator for audible, Gabrielle De Cuir who was absolutely fantastic. She perfected the voices of the different characters and brought so much emotion to the story!

Stephanie

Venetian Blood

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2017

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Anna decides to take a trip to Venice and visit her friend Margo in order to get her mind off of her impending divorce back in the states. Instead, Anna finds herself in a romantic entanglement with serious complications; furthermore, she is the prime suspect in a murder when the man she slept with is found murdered. Anna's job at the US Treasury is put in danger when she begins to look into the life of Count Sergio Corrin, Anna finds a sordid past entangled with many other Venetians who just may want to kill the man. While Anna desperately searches to uncover any information to clear her name, she reveals some other secrets of the closely-knit Venetian people. Meanwhile, the person who murdered Sergio is still on the loose and is attempting to throw Anna off the trail.

An exciting and suspenseful murder mystery set in the sensuous and mysterious island of Venice. Immediately, I was pulled in by the murder scene, a gruesome murder committed by someone who appears to be female. Then, I was connected to Anna's character. Anna is intelligent and resourceful but has been handed a difficult lot in life, her parents died when she was younger, she has had a miscarriage and her marriage has fallen apart. Venice was made into a sumptuous setting, I could easily image the aging but descendant buildings, the murky canals and small passageways. The suspense grew for me as Anna started digging up the past. Most interestingly, I began to question Anna's reliability as a narrator even as she began to uncover other's motives. Overall, a uniquely woven murder mystery with intricate twists and turns.

Shree Janani

Interesting Read

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2017

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Any story with a premise set in Venice should make for an interesting read. That city has so much to offer in terms of rich history and culture. A perfect setting for a murder. The protagonist, Ana Lucia is a investigator with the American IRS with an Italian heritage. She has an affair with Count Sergio whom she later investigates for money laundering. He is murdered and the police suspect Ana of committing the crime as she is seen fleeing the scene of crime. With her friend Margo in tow, Ana embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover the murder in the process of which she is subjected to grave danger.

The setting and the summary sounds very enticing. With all that art and rich history, Venice offers a perfect backdrop for a passionate and intense story. The writer hasn't really capitalized on this fully. The romance angle or a rebound kind of a story line I expected for Ana was kind of lacking. However, the mystery and the crime by itself compensated well for the lack of this. The whole part of the story where the murder is investigated piece by piece is just perfect. It is a slowly peeled mystery with a bang of an ending to go with.

The narration and the characterization was just perfect. Personally, I would have preferred a bit more intense romance than what was there in the book. Venice tends to bring out that romantic side in you!

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