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Commissario Montalbano #9
La luna di carta
Tra due donne forti e insidiose deve industriarsi il commissario Montalbano: una estroversa, e di franca sensualità; l'altra segreta, e di morbosi ardori, capace di tutto intraprendere e di tutto nascondere. Si sgambettano a vicenda, le due donne, su scivolosi precedenti: che sono esche e trappole per il commissario. Torna il sangue nelle inchieste di Montalbano: un delitto spietato in una casa alla periferia di Vigata. Tutto sembra condurre alla pista passionale, ma il commissario non si lascia ingannare...
267 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
218 people are currently reading
1691 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
427 books2,452 followersAndrea Camilleri was an Italian writer. He is considered one of the greatest Italian writers of both 20th and 21st centuries.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
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February 23, 2025
3.5/5 Estrellas
Pobre Montalbano, la edad no perdona, el Alzheimer le acojona, la idea de la muerte le ronda. Leñe, pero si está en la cuarentena (creo), que dramáticos estos italianos. Es parte del encanto de este personaje.
Volviendo a nuestro atribulado comisario, en esta entrega se va a ver envuelto en un trágico y extraño triángulo amoroso, en el que dos fuertes personalidades femeninas, se van a turnar para turbar la tranquilidad emocional y sexual del bueno de Salvo. Así que parece que no está tan decrépito el tipo, porque se lo siguen rifando.
En medio del triángulo, la víctima, por supuesto, un visitador médico que aparece muerto en extrañas circunstancias y con cierto exhibicionismo no deseado. Crimen sexual, crimen pasional....parece sencillo a priori.
Como siempre una investigación llena de ironía, mucha comida, mucha comedia y un cierto machismo latente, que entiendo que a mucha gente debe escamarle un poco. Pero yo se lo perdono a Camilleri, porque el personaje es fantástico.
La trama que no deja de ser previsible, ahonda en las tenebrosas profundidades de algunas relaciones amorosas y afectivas, que acaban rondando lo enfermizo, por no decir prohibido. pero se ve venir de lejos por donde van los tiros.
Como siempre, no me da para las 5 estrellas, pero se lo pasa uno bien con estos libros, que es lo que cuenta.
Seguimos con la serie.
Pobre Montalbano, la edad no perdona, el Alzheimer le acojona, la idea de la muerte le ronda. Leñe, pero si está en la cuarentena (creo), que dramáticos estos italianos. Es parte del encanto de este personaje.
Volviendo a nuestro atribulado comisario, en esta entrega se va a ver envuelto en un trágico y extraño triángulo amoroso, en el que dos fuertes personalidades femeninas, se van a turnar para turbar la tranquilidad emocional y sexual del bueno de Salvo. Así que parece que no está tan decrépito el tipo, porque se lo siguen rifando.
En medio del triángulo, la víctima, por supuesto, un visitador médico que aparece muerto en extrañas circunstancias y con cierto exhibicionismo no deseado. Crimen sexual, crimen pasional....parece sencillo a priori.
Como siempre una investigación llena de ironía, mucha comida, mucha comedia y un cierto machismo latente, que entiendo que a mucha gente debe escamarle un poco. Pero yo se lo perdono a Camilleri, porque el personaje es fantástico.
La trama que no deja de ser previsible, ahonda en las tenebrosas profundidades de algunas relaciones amorosas y afectivas, que acaban rondando lo enfermizo, por no decir prohibido. pero se ve venir de lejos por donde van los tiros.
Como siempre, no me da para las 5 estrellas, pero se lo pasa uno bien con estos libros, que es lo que cuenta.
Seguimos con la serie.
September 29, 2021
“Once, when he was a kid, his father, just to tease him, had told him the moon was made of paper. And since he never doubted what his father told him, he believed it. Now, as a mature, experienced man with brains and intuition, he had once again, like a little kid, believed what two women, one dead and the other alive, had said when they told him the moon was made out of paper.”
Nat King Cole trio, "Paper Moon":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc5RM...
#9 in the series. By now you sense a pattern: Opening with light-hearted humor, grumpy Inspector Salvo Montelbano's interaction with the goofy Caterella (Cat) with his mispronunciations and malapropisms, and just kinda goofy talk--"He wants to see ya pousinally in person, chief," and then there's a murder, with a combination of horror and humor. In this one a guy is shot in the face, with his pants down, which fits that bill.
Then other hallmarks: References to books, especially that of Camilleri's favorite playwright, Pirandello; always great meals, always fine women, and sights of Sicily.
The resolution of the crime in this one is not as interesting as the process of talking to various women who try to seduce Salvo. One fits the bill as a kind of femme fatale, throughout, but because of his love for Livia, Salvo resists (to my disappointment). There's a lot of talk of sex in this one, which is fun and funny, as usual. Oh, I guess most of these are 3-4 stars, this one about 3.75 leaning to 4. Fun!
Nat King Cole trio, "Paper Moon":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc5RM...
#9 in the series. By now you sense a pattern: Opening with light-hearted humor, grumpy Inspector Salvo Montelbano's interaction with the goofy Caterella (Cat) with his mispronunciations and malapropisms, and just kinda goofy talk--"He wants to see ya pousinally in person, chief," and then there's a murder, with a combination of horror and humor. In this one a guy is shot in the face, with his pants down, which fits that bill.
Then other hallmarks: References to books, especially that of Camilleri's favorite playwright, Pirandello; always great meals, always fine women, and sights of Sicily.
The resolution of the crime in this one is not as interesting as the process of talking to various women who try to seduce Salvo. One fits the bill as a kind of femme fatale, throughout, but because of his love for Livia, Salvo resists (to my disappointment). There's a lot of talk of sex in this one, which is fun and funny, as usual. Oh, I guess most of these are 3-4 stars, this one about 3.75 leaning to 4. Fun!
February 1, 2021
Once, when he was a kid, his father, just to tease him, had told him the moon was made of paper. And since he never doubted what his father told him, he believed it. Now, as a mature, experienced man with brains and intuition, he had once again, like a little kid, believed what two women, one dead and the other alive, had said when they told him the moon was made out of paper.
June 14, 2018
A missing middle-age man is reported by his sister, Michela Pardo. She convinces Inspector Salvo Montalbano to search for him. This is how the police procedural, The Paper Moon, begins. Soon, Camilleri weaves a wonderful and intriguing story that looks into Angelo Pardo’s past.
Montalbano’s police station is in the fictitious city of Vigata near Palermo. To put yourself there, imagine a romantic old city. Stucco buildings painted vivid colors, scrolled black iron railings penning second-floor balconies, people shopping in the outdoor markets, and alley-streets climbing the hills.
There in the station Mantalbano’s associates share their lives with us. There’s an officer whose new baby tests him. A commissioner who's perpetually too tied up to meet with Montalbano. Catarella, a junior officer whose substandard way of speaking, said with upmost sincerity, stuns Montalbano. TPM was written in Italian. Still, everything flows well in the English translation, including Cat’s hilarious mispronunciations.
This is Sicily. I’m sorry, you know there must be some Mafia goings-on. It’s not all violent and tragic, though. There are many light and sometimes fantastic moments. Montalbano operates alone and by his wits. He tirelessly digs up information from seemingly barren evidence. Whatever the motivations of his prey, his erudite mind will discover.
Careful, there are many moments when a catcall wouldn’t be out of the question. However, Michela and Elena, another beautiful lady Montalbano interviews, are just as ready to pounce. He drinks demitasse coffee in their company and works hard to avoid characterizing them in terms of his girlfriend who’s away.
This book is a testament to Camilleri’s concise writing. I’m surprised by the uncanny similarity of Camilleri’s simple and logical Montalbano to Georges Simenon’s Maigret. They both work for flying police squads which, I recently learned, are forces that get to the scene of the crime quickly. Nothing to do with aeronautics!
Come, rest on the veranda overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Sit with Salvo and share a glass of J&B as he awaits his Livia. Ciao!
Montalbano’s police station is in the fictitious city of Vigata near Palermo. To put yourself there, imagine a romantic old city. Stucco buildings painted vivid colors, scrolled black iron railings penning second-floor balconies, people shopping in the outdoor markets, and alley-streets climbing the hills.
There in the station Mantalbano’s associates share their lives with us. There’s an officer whose new baby tests him. A commissioner who's perpetually too tied up to meet with Montalbano. Catarella, a junior officer whose substandard way of speaking, said with upmost sincerity, stuns Montalbano. TPM was written in Italian. Still, everything flows well in the English translation, including Cat’s hilarious mispronunciations.
This is Sicily. I’m sorry, you know there must be some Mafia goings-on. It’s not all violent and tragic, though. There are many light and sometimes fantastic moments. Montalbano operates alone and by his wits. He tirelessly digs up information from seemingly barren evidence. Whatever the motivations of his prey, his erudite mind will discover.
Careful, there are many moments when a catcall wouldn’t be out of the question. However, Michela and Elena, another beautiful lady Montalbano interviews, are just as ready to pounce. He drinks demitasse coffee in their company and works hard to avoid characterizing them in terms of his girlfriend who’s away.
This book is a testament to Camilleri’s concise writing. I’m surprised by the uncanny similarity of Camilleri’s simple and logical Montalbano to Georges Simenon’s Maigret. They both work for flying police squads which, I recently learned, are forces that get to the scene of the crime quickly. Nothing to do with aeronautics!
Come, rest on the veranda overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Sit with Salvo and share a glass of J&B as he awaits his Livia. Ciao!
September 5, 2025
Това е първата книга от поредицата, която не успя да ме пренесе напълно в Сицилия на комисар Монталбано.
По време на прочита дори се позачудих, дали Камилери всъщност е писал сам "Луна от хартия"! Дотолкова несвързана ми се видя с предните осем книги, въпреки еднаквите герои и места.
Салво мисли твърде много за старостта и смъртта, Ливия е почти изключена от живота му, а английския превод успешно е утрепал очарованието от природата и храната на острова, мъка някаква. 🤨
Криминалната интрига е слабовата, комисаря е зает да се дави из разни огромни женски очища, та не му остава много време да разнищи поредното убийство, свързано с разпространението на наркотици в областта му.
Моята оценка - зорлем 2,5*.
P.S. Наистина ми липсва много творчеството на Весела Цалова, преводач на книгите на български! Но не и кориците на нашите издания - тези на издателство "Penguin" са истинско изкуство.
По време на прочита дори се позачудих, дали Камилери всъщност е писал сам "Луна от хартия"! Дотолкова несвързана ми се видя с предните осем книги, въпреки еднаквите герои и места.
Салво мисли твърде много за старостта и смъртта, Ливия е почти изключена от живота му, а английския превод успешно е утрепал очарованието от природата и храната на острова, мъка някаква. 🤨
Криминалната интрига е слабовата, комисаря е зает да се дави из разни огромни женски очища, та не му остава много време да разнищи поредното убийство, свързано с разпространението на наркотици в областта му.
Моята оценка - зорлем 2,5*.
P.S. Наистина ми липсва много творчеството на Весела Цалова, преводач на книгите на български! Но не и кориците на нашите издания - тези на издателство "Penguin" са истинско изкуство.
January 25, 2020
Camilleri's books are always a great fun!
4* The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, #1)
4* The Terra-Cotta Dog (Inspector Montalbano, #2)
3* Excursion to Tindari (Inspector Montalbano, #5)
4* The Smell of the Night (Inspector Montalbano, #6)
3* Rounding the Mark (Inspector Montalbano, #7)
4* The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano, #8)
4* The Paper Moon (Inspector Montalbano, #9)
3* The Wings of the Sphinx (Inspector Montalbano, #11)
3* Acqua in bocca (Inspector Montalbano, #16.5)
4* Treasure Hunt (Inspector Montalbano, #16)
4* Una voce di notte (Montalbano, #20)
TR The Snack Thief (Inspector Montalbano, #3)
TR Voice of the Violin (Inspector Montalbano, #4)
TR Un mese con Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.5)
TR Gli arancini di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.7)
TR La paura di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.5)
TR Storie di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.7)
TR La prima indagine di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #8.5)
TR August Heat (Inspector Montalbano, #10)
TR The Track of Sand (Inspector Montalbano, #12)
TR The Potter's Field (Inspector Montalbano, #13)
TR The Age of Doubt (Inspector Montalbano, #14)
TR Racconti di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #14.5)
TR The Dance of the Seagull (Inspector Montalbano, #15)
TR Il sorriso di Angelica (Montalbano, #17)
TR Il gioco degli specchi (Montalbano, #18)
TR Una lama di luce (Montalbano, #19)
TR Un covo di vipere (Montalbano, #21)
TR La piramide di fango (Montalbano, #22)
TR La giostra degli scambi (Montalbano, #23)
4* The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, #1)
4* The Terra-Cotta Dog (Inspector Montalbano, #2)
3* Excursion to Tindari (Inspector Montalbano, #5)
4* The Smell of the Night (Inspector Montalbano, #6)
3* Rounding the Mark (Inspector Montalbano, #7)
4* The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano, #8)
4* The Paper Moon (Inspector Montalbano, #9)
3* The Wings of the Sphinx (Inspector Montalbano, #11)
3* Acqua in bocca (Inspector Montalbano, #16.5)
4* Treasure Hunt (Inspector Montalbano, #16)
4* Una voce di notte (Montalbano, #20)
TR The Snack Thief (Inspector Montalbano, #3)
TR Voice of the Violin (Inspector Montalbano, #4)
TR Un mese con Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.5)
TR Gli arancini di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.7)
TR La paura di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.5)
TR Storie di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.7)
TR La prima indagine di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #8.5)
TR August Heat (Inspector Montalbano, #10)
TR The Track of Sand (Inspector Montalbano, #12)
TR The Potter's Field (Inspector Montalbano, #13)
TR The Age of Doubt (Inspector Montalbano, #14)
TR Racconti di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #14.5)
TR The Dance of the Seagull (Inspector Montalbano, #15)
TR Il sorriso di Angelica (Montalbano, #17)
TR Il gioco degli specchi (Montalbano, #18)
TR Una lama di luce (Montalbano, #19)
TR Un covo di vipere (Montalbano, #21)
TR La piramide di fango (Montalbano, #22)
TR La giostra degli scambi (Montalbano, #23)
December 13, 2016
Πάντα απολαμβάνω να διαβάζω ιστορίες για τις περιπέτειες του φίλου πια και αγαπημένου Σάλβο Μονταλμπάνο. Και όταν κάνω καιρό, πιάνω τον εαυτό μου να μου λείπει, να θέλω να μάθω τα νέα του παλιόφιλου. Έχει ξεχωριστή θέση στην καρδιά μου πως να γίνει.
Στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο έχει να κάνει με την αρρωστημένη αγάπη απο δύο αδέλφια, με μυστικά και ψέμματα, με μια υπόθεση νοθευμένης δηλητηριασμένης κοκαϊνης, με νοσηρά πάθη και με δύο επικίνδυνες γυναίκες που τον προκαλούν αλλά όπως πάντα ως δείγμα ηθικής και εγκράτειας αντιστέκεται σθεναρά. Ο Σάλβο όμως βασανίζεται και απο μαύρες σκέψεις που αφορούν το γήρας και τον θάνατο και αυτό τον κάνει τρωτό και ας μην το δείχνει... Απογοητεύεται και ζηλεύει όταν σταματά να προκαλεί ενδιαφέρον και να τον κυνηγούν, η αυτοπεποίθηση του δέχεται ισχυρό πλήγμα.
"Ας υποθέσουμε ότι ένα κουνέλι βλέπει ένα γατόπαρδο να το ακολουθεί και αρχίζει να τρέχει φοβισμένο για να ξεφύγει. Ξαφνικά το κουνέλι δεν νοιώθει πια πίσω του το άγριο θηρίο. Γυρίζει και βλέπει το γατόπαρδο να κυνηγάει ένα ελαφάκι.
Η ερώτηση είναι η εξής : γιατί το κουνέλι αντί να είναι ευχαριστημένο, νιώθει λίγο απογοητευμένο που δεν είναι πια λεία;"
"Το κουνέλι δεν μπορούσε ακόμα να καταλάβει γιατί δεν το είχε φάει ο γατόπαρδος."
Αχ γλυκέ, καλέ μου φίλε Σάλβο!
Στο συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο έχει να κάνει με την αρρωστημένη αγάπη απο δύο αδέλφια, με μυστικά και ψέμματα, με μια υπόθεση νοθευμένης δηλητηριασμένης κοκαϊνης, με νοσηρά πάθη και με δύο επικίνδυνες γυναίκες που τον προκαλούν αλλά όπως πάντα ως δείγμα ηθικής και εγκράτειας αντιστέκεται σθεναρά. Ο Σάλβο όμως βασανίζεται και απο μαύρες σκέψεις που αφορούν το γήρας και τον θάνατο και αυτό τον κάνει τρωτό και ας μην το δείχνει... Απογοητεύεται και ζηλεύει όταν σταματά να προκαλεί ενδιαφέρον και να τον κυνηγούν, η αυτοπεποίθηση του δέχεται ισχυρό πλήγμα.
"Ας υποθέσουμε ότι ένα κουνέλι βλέπει ένα γατόπαρδο να το ακολουθεί και αρχίζει να τρέχει φοβισμένο για να ξεφύγει. Ξαφνικά το κουνέλι δεν νοιώθει πια πίσω του το άγριο θηρίο. Γυρίζει και βλέπει το γατόπαρδο να κυνηγάει ένα ελαφάκι.
Η ερώτηση είναι η εξής : γιατί το κουνέλι αντί να είναι ευχαριστημένο, νιώθει λίγο απογοητευμένο που δεν είναι πια λεία;"
"Το κουνέλι δεν μπορούσε ακόμα να καταλάβει γιατί δεν το είχε φάει ο γατόπαρδος."
Αχ γλυκέ, καλέ μου φίλε Σάλβο!
August 24, 2024
When my friend gave me "The Paper Moon" by Andrea Camilleri, I knew I had to find the time to read it. After I read the blurb, it did feel like one of the better detective stories, and my interest was piqued. Truthfully, I was in a reading slump, so I needed a book to help me out of it.
As they say, the rest is history.
This is one of the best detective stories I've ever read. I will undoubtedly read more about Inspector Montalbano in the future.
The Paper Moon was a riot, filled with banter and wit that kept me entertained throughout. The suspects, with their own brand of charm, added to the humour. Despite starting with book 9, I found the cast of characters in Vigàta to be engaging and entertaining.
What are you waiting for? Please do yourselves a favour and read it. It doesn't matter where you start; just read one of these books.
5/5
As they say, the rest is history.
This is one of the best detective stories I've ever read. I will undoubtedly read more about Inspector Montalbano in the future.
The Paper Moon was a riot, filled with banter and wit that kept me entertained throughout. The suspects, with their own brand of charm, added to the humour. Despite starting with book 9, I found the cast of characters in Vigàta to be engaging and entertaining.
What are you waiting for? Please do yourselves a favour and read it. It doesn't matter where you start; just read one of these books.
5/5
April 30, 2022
Steven Sartarelli's Notes exhibit how much he truly contributed to the Montalbano series, adding the voice of reason. I started up reading three of the books I had not read, or not marked as read on this site. This was one of them and I found that indeed I had read and discarded some of the Montalbano books at a time when I was not in the mood for heavy doses of common vulgarity.
Why did I pick up a few of the books not marked as read? Because I was feeling very sentimental about the author after I watched an interview with him on MHz in connection with that wonderful series starring Luca Zingaretti I got so much entertainment out of.
Camilleri said he had always been surrounded by women in his life. His living arrangements included his mother, mother-in-law and wife. He said that first his mother-in-law would bring him his morning coffee. Shortly thereafter his mother would bring him coffee saying that the mother-in-law couldn't make good coffee. Then his wife would bring him a cup of coffee, saying that they didn't know how to make a good cup of coffee! What a character he was and with that constant smoking it is a wonder he lived to be 93.
Why did I pick up a few of the books not marked as read? Because I was feeling very sentimental about the author after I watched an interview with him on MHz in connection with that wonderful series starring Luca Zingaretti I got so much entertainment out of.
Camilleri said he had always been surrounded by women in his life. His living arrangements included his mother, mother-in-law and wife. He said that first his mother-in-law would bring him his morning coffee. Shortly thereafter his mother would bring him coffee saying that the mother-in-law couldn't make good coffee. Then his wife would bring him a cup of coffee, saying that they didn't know how to make a good cup of coffee! What a character he was and with that constant smoking it is a wonder he lived to be 93.
June 10, 2024
Un informatore farmaceutico viene ritrovato a casa sua sparato in faccia e quando il nostro commissario Montalbano inizierà a scavare sulla vita dell'omicida si troverà a "scontrarsi" contro due donne: la sorella e l'amante. Rispetto agli altri casi c'è più investigazione e ho notato una migliore caratterizzazione dei protagonisti, incluse le due donne.
January 16, 2020
This was an introduction to the series for me, and 'yes' I will be reading more. The main character, Inspector Montalbano, is quirky and grumpy - I love him. He has a photographic memory (extremely useful!) and solves crime in interesting ways (letters to himself, dreams, watching cinematic and theatrical scenes in his head). He also works a problem on moonlit walks along the beach with a glass of something potent in his hand and waves lapping around his ankles, or by heading to his local trattoria, which has no menu - just good food. In fact, he enjoys food and coffee so much that he refuses to spoil either by speaking, even if a suspect is joining him - the interrogation can wait. Add to this a Sicilian setting, interesting local characters and snipits of Italian culture and history and you have a good read in your hands. For me, this was the right book at the right time. As I said, I'll be back. I'll maybe continue at episode one next time.
September 23, 2023
Absurd; usually keeps the plot near; humorous; delves into aging; funny; dark; literate; consistently interesting.
January 8, 2020
I find myself invested in this series. Camilleri’s writing is always exquisite, and I find myself wanting to devour every book. Inspector Montalbano is one of my favourite main characters. However, this one was one of my least favourite of the series. There was no big surprises, nothing that shocked me. At times I find the storyline a little confusing too. The constant jumping between suspects was all becoming a little difficult and the ending didn’t fully satisfy my hope for justice. I’m hoping the next one will go back to the usual standard of story telling that is seen in the Montalbano series!
May 20, 2013
Non sono obiettiva, lo so, ma non mi va di mettermi a ragionare su strutture e cose serie: lo amo e basta, that's all. Poi l'ho audioletto, recitato da Lo Cascio nell'italo-siculo originale di Camilleri, quindi come potevo non goderlo fino all'ultima sillaba?
Mi chiedo: ma come fanno i lettori anglofoni a "percepirlo"? Ho visto recensioni a due, tre stelline. Mi sembrano ingiuste, anche se probabilmente necessarie. Per quanto riguarda me, God save Camilleri e gli conceda lunghissima vita per scrivere ancora tantissimi Montalbano.
Mi chiedo: ma come fanno i lettori anglofoni a "percepirlo"? Ho visto recensioni a due, tre stelline. Mi sembrano ingiuste, anche se probabilmente necessarie. Per quanto riguarda me, God save Camilleri e gli conceda lunghissima vita per scrivere ancora tantissimi Montalbano.
January 15, 2025
Che lingua affascinante il siciliano!
Superato i primi capitoli, letti con fatica perché comunque pieno di termini dialettali, la lettura è diventata poi molto scorrevole. Lo stile è gradevole, simpatico anche.
Ho presto indovinato l'assassino e il movente, e nonostante ciò il romanzo non è risultato meno avvincente.
Letto tutto d'un fiato
Superato i primi capitoli, letti con fatica perché comunque pieno di termini dialettali, la lettura è diventata poi molto scorrevole. Lo stile è gradevole, simpatico anche.
Ho presto indovinato l'assassino e il movente, e nonostante ciò il romanzo non è risultato meno avvincente.
Letto tutto d'un fiato
June 29, 2017
Μια καταπλικτική ατμόσφαιρα. Σικελία .
Υπέροχα φαγητά. Ένας πολύ ιδιόρρυθμος αστυνόμος που ήταν πράγματι αυθεντικός, παρατηρητικός, έξυπνος και ενδιαφέρον με φοβίες και γκρίνιες.
Απολαυστικό ανάγνωσμα.
Πρόβλεψα όμως το τέλος... έδωσε αρκετά στοιχεία και αρκετό χρόνο για να το βρώ.
Υπέροχα φαγητά. Ένας πολύ ιδιόρρυθμος αστυνόμος που ήταν πράγματι αυθεντικός, παρατηρητικός, έξυπνος και ενδιαφέρον με φοβίες και γκρίνιες.
Απολαυστικό ανάγνωσμα.
Πρόβλεψα όμως το τέλος... έδωσε αρκετά στοιχεία και αρκετό χρόνο για να το βρώ.
July 20, 2025
Che goduria leggere una storia del commissario Montalbano!
October 31, 2023
Fun with Montalba and Catarella but rather trivial crime story
April 6, 2018
I first met Montalbano in the Italian TV series with English subtitles and fell in love. Reading a Montalbano novel is like listening to my husband and his best friend banter back and forth. I guess it's true what they say: "Italiani, spagnoli, una fazza, una razza." When I picked this one up I was dangerously close to reading-slump territory--so much so, that I was afraid even to try a Maigret novel in case I was disappointed. What? It has happened. It was yet another sleepless night, so I thought I'd ask il dottore to investigate why I wasn't enjoying books lately. He came up with the goods, as always.
Some of the themes touched on in the book are pretty scabrous: love, sex, aging, death--all in their many forms--and yet Camillieri's light touch never lets him down. Hats off to the excellent translator of the Picador edition. His rendering of Catarella had me trying to stifle my chuckles so as not to wake my husband--I could just hear the Noo Joisy Italian-American voice in my head. It cracked me up that the translator chose to use the Spanish word "cojones" instead of our good old English term "balls"; but then "cojones" passed into the language some time ago. (I often cite it as a case of the latest linguistic borrowing, and it never fails to make my Eng Lit students sit up and take notice.) Poissonally in poisson, I think it couldn't be bettered.
Grazie, dottore.
Some of the themes touched on in the book are pretty scabrous: love, sex, aging, death--all in their many forms--and yet Camillieri's light touch never lets him down. Hats off to the excellent translator of the Picador edition. His rendering of Catarella had me trying to stifle my chuckles so as not to wake my husband--I could just hear the Noo Joisy Italian-American voice in my head. It cracked me up that the translator chose to use the Spanish word "cojones" instead of our good old English term "balls"; but then "cojones" passed into the language some time ago. (I often cite it as a case of the latest linguistic borrowing, and it never fails to make my Eng Lit students sit up and take notice.) Poissonally in poisson, I think it couldn't be bettered.
Grazie, dottore.
June 1, 2021
When Montalbano was a young regazzo he was told by a member of his family that the moon was made of paper, considering his age and the source the Young Salvo took it for the truth at that time.
A murder victim gets found when Montalbano is asked to look in the missing of a brother by his sister who is quick to point the finger to his mistress. And so starts another day in the Sicilian sun where Montalbano is to send Fazio out to find the details, Caterella who always manages to trouble any subject but is as loyal as they come & Mimi the lady-killer.
Montalbano has his food and beloved Sicily and is a straight arrow when it comes to justice and he has to pick apart several lies before the truth becomes known.
Another perhaps cozy mystery but so well written by a man who loves his food and telling stories as well. These books are quite enjoyable and always taste like more is needed.
A murder victim gets found when Montalbano is asked to look in the missing of a brother by his sister who is quick to point the finger to his mistress. And so starts another day in the Sicilian sun where Montalbano is to send Fazio out to find the details, Caterella who always manages to trouble any subject but is as loyal as they come & Mimi the lady-killer.
Montalbano has his food and beloved Sicily and is a straight arrow when it comes to justice and he has to pick apart several lies before the truth becomes known.
Another perhaps cozy mystery but so well written by a man who loves his food and telling stories as well. These books are quite enjoyable and always taste like more is needed.
December 15, 2016
This particular series has been a solid 3 stars for me. I enjoy the MC. He is quirky and can carry a book. I like his thought process in finding the guilty. I never really know how he is going to get to the end, so that always reels me in. I usually enjoy the story line as well, but this one was just okay for me. It wasn't my favorite in this series. But overall, this was still enjoyable. So 3 stars.
April 5, 2024
Caratterizzazione dei personaggi protagonisti di questo volume molto interessante.
Non si prende cinque stelle perché il finale mi ha lasciato un po' di amaro in bocca.
Non si prende cinque stelle perché il finale mi ha lasciato un po' di amaro in bocca.
February 7, 2018
Montalbano gets to the bottom of another murder in his own idiosyncratic way - some excellent characters in the story - and Montalbano starts to get concerned about ageing.
![Profile Image for Anna [Floanne].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1566911038i%2F4459724._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 11, 2022
Quando c’è di mezzo un’ammazzatina, il commissario Montalbano dà il meglio di sé. Se poi aggiungiamo all’indagine la rivalità tra due fimmine assai focose, un catafero rinvenuto in situazioni molto sconce e la lontananza della noiosissima Livia, ne esce un giallo dal sapore molto piccante. Senz’altro uno dei miei preferiti finora!
August 16, 2024
La Luna de Papel - Libro número 13 de la saga del comisario Montalbano escrito por Andrea Camillieri.
En esta ocasión Salvo Montalbano deberá resolver un asesinato bastante extraño. Una mujer va a la comisaría a avisarle que su hermano está desaparecido, el comisario le dice que espere un día y que si no aparece vuelva a ir. Al otro día sigue sin aparecer por lo que van a buscarlo a su departamento y no lo encuentran. Suben a la azotea y encuentran el cuerpo del hombre en unas circunstancias que indican un crimen pacional/sexual.
El muerto era un visitador médico con un pasado bastante turbio, la hermana es una pascuata que se viste como una abuela pero que a Salvo le hace picar el bichito de la curiosidad masculina y se pregunta que habrá debajo de esa ropa y de esa mirada que parece un mar al borde de la tormenta.
Como siempre es un libro muy ágil, muy divertido y que se lee muy rápido. El universo que Camillieri creó, esa isla italiana poblada de personajes tan reales que uno espera encontrarselos en una visita a Italia, y que se van desarrollando libro a libro.
Por ejemplo Italo, el segundo al mando de Salvo comenzó siendo un mujeriego que pasó de mujer en mujer, que se comprometió varias veces y que tuvo que salir corriendo por varias ventanas mientras los maridos entraban por la puerta, ahora es un hombre casado y con un hijo recién nacido que no lo deja dormir. Que dicho sea de paso Salvo es su padrino, al igual que es padrino del hijo de un criminal que se canso de atrapar.
Lo que me gustaría que se mostrará más o que por lo menos se desarrollará es la relación con Livia, el ya tiene alrededor de 50 años y sigue en una relación en que ella vive en la otra punta de Italia y se ven una vez cada tanto... Estaría bueno que formalicen o que se de un cambio, pero ya no son niños ninguno de los dos.
En fin, amo a Montalbano y quiero a Camillieri. Y hasta ahora no encontré un libro malo de ninguno de los dos.
En esta ocasión Salvo Montalbano deberá resolver un asesinato bastante extraño. Una mujer va a la comisaría a avisarle que su hermano está desaparecido, el comisario le dice que espere un día y que si no aparece vuelva a ir. Al otro día sigue sin aparecer por lo que van a buscarlo a su departamento y no lo encuentran. Suben a la azotea y encuentran el cuerpo del hombre en unas circunstancias que indican un crimen pacional/sexual.
El muerto era un visitador médico con un pasado bastante turbio, la hermana es una pascuata que se viste como una abuela pero que a Salvo le hace picar el bichito de la curiosidad masculina y se pregunta que habrá debajo de esa ropa y de esa mirada que parece un mar al borde de la tormenta.
Como siempre es un libro muy ágil, muy divertido y que se lee muy rápido. El universo que Camillieri creó, esa isla italiana poblada de personajes tan reales que uno espera encontrarselos en una visita a Italia, y que se van desarrollando libro a libro.
Por ejemplo Italo, el segundo al mando de Salvo comenzó siendo un mujeriego que pasó de mujer en mujer, que se comprometió varias veces y que tuvo que salir corriendo por varias ventanas mientras los maridos entraban por la puerta, ahora es un hombre casado y con un hijo recién nacido que no lo deja dormir. Que dicho sea de paso Salvo es su padrino, al igual que es padrino del hijo de un criminal que se canso de atrapar.
Lo que me gustaría que se mostrará más o que por lo menos se desarrollará es la relación con Livia, el ya tiene alrededor de 50 años y sigue en una relación en que ella vive en la otra punta de Italia y se ven una vez cada tanto... Estaría bueno que formalicen o que se de un cambio, pero ya no son niños ninguno de los dos.
En fin, amo a Montalbano y quiero a Camillieri. Y hasta ahora no encontré un libro malo de ninguno de los dos.
April 17, 2012
The is the 9th book in Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series. I continue to love this main character. Montalbano is abrupt, moody, sarcastic, and self-indulgent while at the same time he maintains his high sense of morals in his own complex scheme of right from wrong.
In "The Paper Moon" Montalbano works his way through the clues to find out who murdered Pardo, a seemingly innocent pharmaceutical rep. Once again Camilleri's writing is crisp and the dialogue is believable and often humorous, bringing to life the characters in the book...both returning characters and new.
In "The Paper Moon" Montalbano works his way through the clues to find out who murdered Pardo, a seemingly innocent pharmaceutical rep. Once again Camilleri's writing is crisp and the dialogue is believable and often humorous, bringing to life the characters in the book...both returning characters and new.
September 24, 2024
Il mio amico immaginario
Come sempre affidabile, intrigante e vicino. Non mi delude mai.
Come sempre affidabile, intrigante e vicino. Non mi delude mai.
January 4, 2021
This instalment of the series, Inspector Montalbano continues to feel the vagaries of his getting older as he begins to doubt his memories. At the same time, he was fascinated by 2 very attractive women, both highly suspect in a murder case and yet, each appeals to him in their innocence. However, there are darker secrets buried deep in each women which even he, a highly experienced police inspector, was rather repulsed by.
December 22, 2025
Ascoltato in audiolibro letto dal grande Lo Cascio. Tolto lo spaesamento iniziale in cui ho pensato "se già capisco poco il siciliano leggendolo, figuriamoci ad ascoltarlo..." in realtà si segue molto bene. Camilleri è sempre un bel leggere, le storie sono interessanti e alterna i momenti seri a quelli divertenti con grande maestria.
September 30, 2019
Another very good Inspector Montalbano story...this one is a bit intricate.
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