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Commissario Montalbano #19
Una lama di luce
A Lampedusa sono sbarcati migliaia di tunisini e il ministro degli Interni che ha deciso di fare una ispezione nell’isola ha fatto sapere che farà tappa a Vigàta. Per questo Montalbano, che si vuole tenere il più lontano possibile, se ne va a visitare una mostra di pittura - Donghi, Morandi, Guttuso e Mafai - nella nuova galleria d’arte di Vigàta di proprietà di Maria Angela, Marian per gli amici. Scatta una immediata attrazione tra Marian e il commissario, e la cosa sembra davvero mettere in discussione il legame con Livia. Negli stessi giorni Salvatore Di Marta, proprietario di un supermercato, denunzia la rapina subita dalla moglie Loredana, sorpresa con una grossa somma che stava per versare a un bancomat. Loredana è stata anche violentata e quando qualche giorno dopo si scopre che l’antico fidanzato Carmelo Savastano è stato assassinato, è facile attribuire il furto a lui e l’omicidio a Di Marta. Ma troppe cose non tornano e Montalbano non è tipo da accontentarsi di facili spiegazioni, tanto più che il controllo dei telefoni di Loredana e della sua intima amica Valeria fa sorgere più di un dubbio. Camilleri ci ha abituato nei suoi gialli all’intrecciarsi di due storie che scorrono parallele per gran parte della narrazione e che si disgiungono per poi tornare ad avvitarsi. In questo romanzo le vicende che si combinano tra loro sono tre: il commercio di quadri nei quali è impegnata Marian, il traffico d’armi dei tunisini mentre nella loro patria è in corso la lotta di liberazione, la rapina subita da Loredana e l’omicidio che ne è seguito: quale sarà la direzione giusta per risolvere ogni cosa?
Ma non è la sola sorpresa che Una lama di luce riserva. Ritroveremo, infatti, un personaggio dei primi romanzi, e non sarà una presenza di poco conto.
Ma non è la sola sorpresa che Una lama di luce riserva. Ritroveremo, infatti, un personaggio dei primi romanzi, e non sarà una presenza di poco conto.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
326 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
469 books2,438 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
September 5, 2025
Inspector Montalbano is asked by the owner of a local supermarket to investigate a carjacking and an assault on his wife. When he begins to investigate, none of the witnesses’ stories add up, and he feels that they are not meant to. A body turns up, showing all the signs of a Mafia hit, except the mafia deny involvement.
Nothing here is what it seems, with the people involved giving conflicting and confusing stories about the events that have taken place.
Inspector Montalbano is the head of the Vigata police, Sicily, and is frequently seen wading through never-ending piles of paperwork, and is only too happy to be asked to leave his office to investigate crimes. What makes Inspector Montalbano so effective is his ability to balance between these two opposite tasks, it’s not always easy, but he has a knack of keeping everyone happy.
There is a core group of characters who appear in each of these novels alongside Montalbano, amongst them are long distance partner Livia, and his cook and housekeeper Adeline, creator of wonderful meals, which are waiting for him at home in the evening.
The plot was very strong and intricate, in which seemingly bizarre and random events, are gradually revealed as part of a grand plan, which Montalbano and his colleagues eventually solve. There is also a lot of humour in this novel, and I particularly like the setting of Sicily which is very much a character in the book , and I loved reading the descriptions of the meals he devours courtesy of Adeline!
I enjoyed the novel a great deal, however I wouldn’t recommend it as a stand-alone.
Nothing here is what it seems, with the people involved giving conflicting and confusing stories about the events that have taken place.
Inspector Montalbano is the head of the Vigata police, Sicily, and is frequently seen wading through never-ending piles of paperwork, and is only too happy to be asked to leave his office to investigate crimes. What makes Inspector Montalbano so effective is his ability to balance between these two opposite tasks, it’s not always easy, but he has a knack of keeping everyone happy.
There is a core group of characters who appear in each of these novels alongside Montalbano, amongst them are long distance partner Livia, and his cook and housekeeper Adeline, creator of wonderful meals, which are waiting for him at home in the evening.
The plot was very strong and intricate, in which seemingly bizarre and random events, are gradually revealed as part of a grand plan, which Montalbano and his colleagues eventually solve. There is also a lot of humour in this novel, and I particularly like the setting of Sicily which is very much a character in the book , and I loved reading the descriptions of the meals he devours courtesy of Adeline!
I enjoyed the novel a great deal, however I wouldn’t recommend it as a stand-alone.
September 17, 2015
As sometimes happens in Andrea Camilleri’s Salvo Montalbano series, A Beam of Light, the serie’s 19th novel, begins with a dream — a dream that will prove prophetic in many ways. Police Commissario Salvatore Montalbano meets the pretty and personable owner of an art gallery, the first ever in the sleepy village of Vigàta. The once faithful Montalbano has grown more and more likely to stray as he has aged, and here he falls head over heels for the lovely Marian. Is his decades-long (albeit long-distance) relationship with Livia doomed?
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Montalbano and the Vigàta police are investigating some strange goings-on at an isolated farmstead and also a very curious strong-armed robbery. Montalbano realizes there’s a lot more than meets the eye in both cases. To tell anymore would be to spoil this wry, clever mystery, which is loaded with humor and pathos as well as lots of twists.
With the aid of his clever police department — Sergeant Giuseppe Fazio, Officer Galluzzo, Vice Commissario (and consummate ladies’ man) Domenico “Mimì” Augello, and the hilarious, Malapropism-prone Officer Agatino Catarella —wraps up three mysteries very nicely. But A Beam of Light, despite the title, is a very dark novel, full of regrets. Longtime Salvo fans will enjoy A Beam of Light more than those new to the Sicilian police chief inspector/philosopher.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Montalbano and the Vigàta police are investigating some strange goings-on at an isolated farmstead and also a very curious strong-armed robbery. Montalbano realizes there’s a lot more than meets the eye in both cases. To tell anymore would be to spoil this wry, clever mystery, which is loaded with humor and pathos as well as lots of twists.
With the aid of his clever police department — Sergeant Giuseppe Fazio, Officer Galluzzo, Vice Commissario (and consummate ladies’ man) Domenico “Mimì” Augello, and the hilarious, Malapropism-prone Officer Agatino Catarella —wraps up three mysteries very nicely. But A Beam of Light, despite the title, is a very dark novel, full of regrets. Longtime Salvo fans will enjoy A Beam of Light more than those new to the Sicilian police chief inspector/philosopher.
November 27, 2016
The book's description says: "In time for Andrea Camilleri’s ninetieth birthday, the nineteenth installment of his irresistible New York Times–bestselling Inspector Montalbano Mystery series" but that's just for Americans, as this was originally published in Italian in 2012. In this latest one, Montalbano has two cases to solve: the robbery of a young trophy wife with a jealous husband, and an odd occurrence on a isolated farm, where weapons may have been stashed. As always, the focus is on Montalbano's personal life, especially the ending. Here, he hooks up with the lovely Marian, an art dealer, who falls for him, but has to go make a deal with an unsavory type, and his ongoing rocky, now boring, telephone relationship with Livia. His usual supporting cast at the precinct and local eatery are present, and translator Sartarelli's ability to capture Caterella's colorful speech, full of malapropisms and mispronunciations of names, continues unparalleled in the annals of translation excellence.
November 8, 2021
#19 in Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Salvo Montalbano series set in south Sicily, in the fictional own of Vigata. This is standard fare Montalbano, nothing surprising, reads quickly, until a surprisingly wrenching ending. It was published as Camilleri turned 87, so has this continuing wistfulness and series of regret that come with aging, as Salvo turns 60. I am tired, generally, of his many-book continuing struggles with his long distance, long love Livia, as in yet another book he “falls in love” at practically first sight with Marian. He’s feeling down, struggling with what to do, and so is Livia, who is having a bout of depression as she suspects something terrible has passed through her life that is yet to be revealed. We suspect one thing, but it turns out her prescience leads to something else.
Besides all the mentions of Sicilian food and visits to the countryside, there are three (pretty forgettable) things are going on in the world of crime: The robbery of a young trophy wife with a jealous husband, the discovery of some stashed weapons at a farm that may have something to do with arms smuggling by some Tunisians. And then Montalbano's new lover may be dealing with art thieves.
Spoiler for this 2012 book: Increasingly, Salvo is on the phone with intense pressure from both Livia and Marian for him to commit to them, so this pressure builds to the sad conclusion, not about who it is he will choose, but about one of the dead Tunisians, who happens to be Francois, the boy Livia wanted to adopt but Salvo didn’t. So this turns out to be a moving moment, one of the few in recent books, but I am doubtful we will see a fundamental change in Salvo’s behavior. But I’ll read on to the end of this 26 book story.
A Beam of Light, that title, pertains to the moment when Salvo saw Francois in a barn. In spite of the title, it turns out to be a bit darker than his usual fare. My favorite light-hearted spot is a metafictional moment:
"Do you have any idea why anyone might want to leave a coffin in your field?"
"If I had any ideas like that, I'd start writing novels."
Besides all the mentions of Sicilian food and visits to the countryside, there are three (pretty forgettable) things are going on in the world of crime: The robbery of a young trophy wife with a jealous husband, the discovery of some stashed weapons at a farm that may have something to do with arms smuggling by some Tunisians. And then Montalbano's new lover may be dealing with art thieves.
Spoiler for this 2012 book: Increasingly, Salvo is on the phone with intense pressure from both Livia and Marian for him to commit to them, so this pressure builds to the sad conclusion, not about who it is he will choose, but about one of the dead Tunisians, who happens to be Francois, the boy Livia wanted to adopt but Salvo didn’t. So this turns out to be a moving moment, one of the few in recent books, but I am doubtful we will see a fundamental change in Salvo’s behavior. But I’ll read on to the end of this 26 book story.
A Beam of Light, that title, pertains to the moment when Salvo saw Francois in a barn. In spite of the title, it turns out to be a bit darker than his usual fare. My favorite light-hearted spot is a metafictional moment:
"Do you have any idea why anyone might want to leave a coffin in your field?"
"If I had any ideas like that, I'd start writing novels."
June 5, 2022
Un’altra indagine del mio commissario preferito.
Storia di amore, passione e ingegno. Un piano machiavellico ideato da due amiche, Valeria e Loredana, aiutate dal fratellastro della prima. Sullo sfondo una sempre più drammatica e attuale vicenda: lo sbarco dei migranti nell’isola di Lampedusa e, una vicenda riguardante tre migranti tunisini che si conclude con una spiacevole scoperta per Salvo. Il libro inizia con un sogno del commissario e termina con un brutto tonfo nella realtà.
C’è poi Marian una mercante d’arte che rischia di far vacillare il decennale rapporto tra Salvo e Livia.
Come sempre consigliato!
Storia di amore, passione e ingegno. Un piano machiavellico ideato da due amiche, Valeria e Loredana, aiutate dal fratellastro della prima. Sullo sfondo una sempre più drammatica e attuale vicenda: lo sbarco dei migranti nell’isola di Lampedusa e, una vicenda riguardante tre migranti tunisini che si conclude con una spiacevole scoperta per Salvo. Il libro inizia con un sogno del commissario e termina con un brutto tonfo nella realtà.
C’è poi Marian una mercante d’arte che rischia di far vacillare il decennale rapporto tra Salvo e Livia.
Come sempre consigliato!
May 30, 2022
While most books of Montalbano can be read out of sequence one storyline in this installment is heartbreaking and is part of the Montalbano & Livia story. So a bit extra experience of the earlier books makes this a bittersweet experience.
Montalbano gets involved in the case of a kissing bandit who apparently took the money from the young wife of an older shopkeeper and a kiss. That there is more involved is absolutely clear.
Then there is the story of the appearance of a door in a rundown shed and them disappearing just as suddenly. This is a case concerning a weapon depot for some terrorists whom are aiming their guns at their homeland and not Italy.
Montalbano suffers this installment horrible dreams, just like Livia has her own. But then there is Marian with whom our policeman falls hopelessly in love and she is in love with him.
But this story happens and so Montalbano and Livia are bound together even if they are so far apart from each other.
A beautiful outing to Vigata in a sad but strong installment.
Montalbano gets involved in the case of a kissing bandit who apparently took the money from the young wife of an older shopkeeper and a kiss. That there is more involved is absolutely clear.
Then there is the story of the appearance of a door in a rundown shed and them disappearing just as suddenly. This is a case concerning a weapon depot for some terrorists whom are aiming their guns at their homeland and not Italy.
Montalbano suffers this installment horrible dreams, just like Livia has her own. But then there is Marian with whom our policeman falls hopelessly in love and she is in love with him.
But this story happens and so Montalbano and Livia are bound together even if they are so far apart from each other.
A beautiful outing to Vigata in a sad but strong installment.
June 21, 2012
“Caterè, me la levi una curiosità?”
“All’ordini, dottori.”
“Tu l’acconosci ‘u latino?”
“Certamenti, dottori”
Montalbano s’imparpagliò, alloccuto. Era pirsuaso che Catarella avissi fatto a malappena la scola d’obbligo.
“L’hai studiato?”
“Studiato, studiato propriamenti studiato nonsi, ma ci pozzo diri che l’acconoscio bono”
Montalbano era sempri cchiù ‘ngiarmato.
“E come facisti?”
“Ad acconoscirlo?”
“Sì”
“Mi lo prisintò un vicino di casa”
“Ma a cu?”
“Al raggiuneri Vincenzo Camastra chiamato ‘u latino”
Il sorriso tornò sulle labbra del commissario. Meglio accusì, tutto rientrava nella normalità.
Un sorriso l’ho fatto anch’io, non soltanto Montalbano, sempre più solo e in crisi di mezz’età, diviso fra le incomprensioni con Livia e il fascino che esercitano su di lui le giovani e bellissime donne che, guarda caso, gli capitano sempre sotto mano. Un vero rubacuori. Nel complesso il romanzo è bello, mi è piaciuto e il finale, seppur triste, lascia sperare in un cambiamento più rassicurante per il nostro instabile e tormentato cinquantenne.
“All’ordini, dottori.”
“Tu l’acconosci ‘u latino?”
“Certamenti, dottori”
Montalbano s’imparpagliò, alloccuto. Era pirsuaso che Catarella avissi fatto a malappena la scola d’obbligo.
“L’hai studiato?”
“Studiato, studiato propriamenti studiato nonsi, ma ci pozzo diri che l’acconoscio bono”
Montalbano era sempri cchiù ‘ngiarmato.
“E come facisti?”
“Ad acconoscirlo?”
“Sì”
“Mi lo prisintò un vicino di casa”
“Ma a cu?”
“Al raggiuneri Vincenzo Camastra chiamato ‘u latino”
Il sorriso tornò sulle labbra del commissario. Meglio accusì, tutto rientrava nella normalità.
Un sorriso l’ho fatto anch’io, non soltanto Montalbano, sempre più solo e in crisi di mezz’età, diviso fra le incomprensioni con Livia e il fascino che esercitano su di lui le giovani e bellissime donne che, guarda caso, gli capitano sempre sotto mano. Un vero rubacuori. Nel complesso il romanzo è bello, mi è piaciuto e il finale, seppur triste, lascia sperare in un cambiamento più rassicurante per il nostro instabile e tormentato cinquantenne.
July 17, 2019
It is always a joy to read the latest Inspector Montalbano mystery, Blade of Light is a delight even though the story is familiar from the successful Italian TV series.
Andrea Camilleri has so much fun with his ageing detective; a lover of good food and an eye for a beautiful woman, our hero finds himself torn between Livia his longstanding girlfriend and Marian a passionate lover who sets his heart racing.
Meanwhile there is a crime to solve where his pre-occupation with his love life nearly costs him a result.
Full of the richness is Sicilian life, familiar characters and offbeat humour these books are fun to read with a puzzle to solve at their heart. The characters are believable and shown in all their weakness.
At times you wonder if Camilleri is having fun at his own protagonist, writing a pastiche of a Montalbano novel but the whole reading experience is wonderful.
"Do you have any idea why anyone might want to leave a coffin in your field?"
"If I had any ideas like that, I'd start writing novels"
Andrea Camilleri has so much fun with his ageing detective; a lover of good food and an eye for a beautiful woman, our hero finds himself torn between Livia his longstanding girlfriend and Marian a passionate lover who sets his heart racing.
Meanwhile there is a crime to solve where his pre-occupation with his love life nearly costs him a result.
Full of the richness is Sicilian life, familiar characters and offbeat humour these books are fun to read with a puzzle to solve at their heart. The characters are believable and shown in all their weakness.
At times you wonder if Camilleri is having fun at his own protagonist, writing a pastiche of a Montalbano novel but the whole reading experience is wonderful.
"Do you have any idea why anyone might want to leave a coffin in your field?"
"If I had any ideas like that, I'd start writing novels"
August 17, 2015
Ο αγαπημένος Μολνταμπάνο μεγαλώνει. Ξενοκοιτάζει περιστασιακά, αλλά επιστρέφει στην μόνιμη αγαπημένη του, ξεκαθαρίζει μυστήρια που κανείς άλλος δεν θα μπορούσε, κάνοντας συνειρμούς απίστευτους και συνδιάζοντας γεγονότα, τρώει πάντα υπέροχα και ωριμάζει.
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December 11, 2015More about the book soon. I got it in the mail yesterday, and after finishing up another book,I started and finished this one last night. I was going to save it for my upcoming vacation, but I couldn't wait that long.
August 21, 2022
Il finale è strappalacrime e Massimo Venturiello legge benissimo!
November 1, 2015
Three cases are investigated in this book. The older husband of a very young wife reports that his wife has been assaulted and the bank deposit she was carrying stolen. In investigating, it appears all is not as reported and the case is more complicated. Tunisians are suspected of smuggling arms. And Montalbano's new young 'love' interest may be dealing with art thieves
Fully in mid-life crisis, ageing Inspector Montalbano meets the young, beautiful art gallery owner Marian. Once again, despite his long-time (over 25 years), long-distance relationship with Livia, he starts a relationship with Marian. He lies to Livia in their regular phone calls and considers ending his relationship with Livia. In his obsession over this new love interest, he finds himself forgetful and absentminded. In the meantime, Livia has gone into a depression which she claims has nothing to do with their rocky relationship. She describes it as a feeling of deep loss.
A book for fans. Would recommend those new to the series start with the first books in the series.
Mediocre addition to the series, but added a star for the moving scene about the death of Francois. Francois is the orphaned Tunisian boy who comes into their lives in The Snack Thief whom Livia wants to adopt and loved like her own son, but Montalbano refused. Perhaps, because of this refusal Montalbano muses, Francois has grown into an angry young man, broken off contact and disappeared. At age 25, neither Livia nor Montalbano knew where Francois was.
"It was he [Francois] who recognized you that day when he was hiding out in the hayloft. He was watching you through a pair of binoculars. The beam of light that had struck him square in the eyes. In confused fashion, Montalbano began to understand but refused to accept it. He couldn't move. Sposito nudged him gently towards the coffin. Be brave, he said. The inspector bent down, gripped the linen between his thumb and index finger, and pulled it out a little further. Now he could see the letters F and M intertwined. His legs began to give out; he fell to his knees. F.M.: Francois Moussa. He'd had those initials embroidered himself on six shirts he'd given to Francois as a present for his twenty-first birthday. It was the last time he'd embraced him. Would you like to see him? Sposito asked softly, whispering in his ear. No. He would rather his last contact with Francois remain the beam of light that had brought them together again for a fraction of a second." .... Through his death, Francois bound him to Livia and Livia to him even more than if they were married."
Fully in mid-life crisis, ageing Inspector Montalbano meets the young, beautiful art gallery owner Marian. Once again, despite his long-time (over 25 years), long-distance relationship with Livia, he starts a relationship with Marian. He lies to Livia in their regular phone calls and considers ending his relationship with Livia. In his obsession over this new love interest, he finds himself forgetful and absentminded. In the meantime, Livia has gone into a depression which she claims has nothing to do with their rocky relationship. She describes it as a feeling of deep loss.
A book for fans. Would recommend those new to the series start with the first books in the series.
Mediocre addition to the series, but added a star for the moving scene about the death of Francois. Francois is the orphaned Tunisian boy who comes into their lives in The Snack Thief whom Livia wants to adopt and loved like her own son, but Montalbano refused. Perhaps, because of this refusal Montalbano muses, Francois has grown into an angry young man, broken off contact and disappeared. At age 25, neither Livia nor Montalbano knew where Francois was.
"It was he [Francois] who recognized you that day when he was hiding out in the hayloft. He was watching you through a pair of binoculars. The beam of light that had struck him square in the eyes. In confused fashion, Montalbano began to understand but refused to accept it. He couldn't move. Sposito nudged him gently towards the coffin. Be brave, he said. The inspector bent down, gripped the linen between his thumb and index finger, and pulled it out a little further. Now he could see the letters F and M intertwined. His legs began to give out; he fell to his knees. F.M.: Francois Moussa. He'd had those initials embroidered himself on six shirts he'd given to Francois as a present for his twenty-first birthday. It was the last time he'd embraced him. Would you like to see him? Sposito asked softly, whispering in his ear. No. He would rather his last contact with Francois remain the beam of light that had brought them together again for a fraction of a second." .... Through his death, Francois bound him to Livia and Livia to him even more than if they were married."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2022
Alla 19esima lettura di Montalbano, rimango fermamente convinta del mio pensiero: se ho bisogno di ridere e di una lettura leggera (ovviamente si fa per dire perché pur sempre di gialli si tratta!) con Camilleri vado sul sicuro.
Il dialetto ormai passa in secondo piano, con un papá siciliano nel caso non sapessi qualche termine é facile sapere il significato, ma ormai il lessico di Camilleri é un qualcosa di familiare che non mi costa nessuna fatica.
Nel caso specifico di questa indagine, il finale mi ha sorpresa poiché rispunta un personaggio dei primi libri e non potevo lontanamente immaginare la conclusione della storia. Un po' di stucco ci sono rimasta.
Divorato in 2 giorni e mezzo, come tutti gli altri!
Il dialetto ormai passa in secondo piano, con un papá siciliano nel caso non sapessi qualche termine é facile sapere il significato, ma ormai il lessico di Camilleri é un qualcosa di familiare che non mi costa nessuna fatica.
Nel caso specifico di questa indagine, il finale mi ha sorpresa poiché rispunta un personaggio dei primi libri e non potevo lontanamente immaginare la conclusione della storia. Un po' di stucco ci sono rimasta.
Divorato in 2 giorni e mezzo, come tutti gli altri!
October 17, 2015
Absence and voids revisited.
Oftentimes the connections, obligation or purpose of the past brings us back to that place which then becomes our particular "set" for connection or "home". This is darker than the normal Camilleri, but our Sicilian detective/philosopher finds "la dolce vita" regardless. And of course his cases' answers, as well.
Oftentimes the connections, obligation or purpose of the past brings us back to that place which then becomes our particular "set" for connection or "home". This is darker than the normal Camilleri, but our Sicilian detective/philosopher finds "la dolce vita" regardless. And of course his cases' answers, as well.
February 10, 2017
Salvo Montalbano is back on the case with a couple of puzzles to solve - the shack with the new door and a theft. Loredana Di Marta is attacked and robbed outside a night bank but the acts strangely - he kisses her and takes €16 000 but not her jewellery. In the other mystery a landowner reports that a new door has been put on an old shack on his land but when Montalbano gets there it has been removed. With his customary elan Montalbano solves the robbery and makes a significant contribution to the door case despite being banned from investigating. His customary wit is missing because he has women trouble, Livia isn't feeling well and he is preoccupied with Marian, an art dealer he has fallen in love with but who promptly disappeared to Milan on business.
Blade Of Light is another hugely entertaining read, made possible by Stephen Sartarelli's immaculate translation. It has humour, a simple but clever plot and some sadness at the end. It is, however, Montalbano's character and its contradictions which drive the novel. He is grumpy, short tempered, zany at times, smart and self absorbed but always comes out a winner as the end of the novel proves.
The novel is full of sunlight and food and brings Sicily to life. It makes it such a warm read on a cold, winter night.
I really enjoyed Blade Of Light and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Blade Of Light is another hugely entertaining read, made possible by Stephen Sartarelli's immaculate translation. It has humour, a simple but clever plot and some sadness at the end. It is, however, Montalbano's character and its contradictions which drive the novel. He is grumpy, short tempered, zany at times, smart and self absorbed but always comes out a winner as the end of the novel proves.
The novel is full of sunlight and food and brings Sicily to life. It makes it such a warm read on a cold, winter night.
I really enjoyed Blade Of Light and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
July 24, 2012
Quattro e mezzo per il finale.
Finalmente si muove qualcosa. Finalmente Camilleri ci ha restituito un Montalbano che non è soltanto godibile, ma anche pieno di passione e umanità che ultimamente erano un po' appannate.
Mi domando se qualcuno, dopo questo episodio, se la sentirà ancora di liquidare Livia esclusivamente come donna antipatica e inadatta al commissario. Ho sempre pensato che una donna diversa non avrebbe mai potuto sopportare uno come Montalbano per tanti anni, che la sua "antipatia" ha una profondità da non sottovalutare, e che a volte dietro un apparente cattivo carattere si cela soltanto la forza di essere se stessi e di non mostrare troppa indulgenza nei confronti dei difetti delle persone che amiamo. La forza vera sta nel capire quando questa indulgenza è opportuna o necessaria e quando no, e nella consapevolezza che l'altro comprende e apprezza questa caratteristica perché ne riconosce il valore.
Una grande protagonista di questo episodio è proprio Livia e la dignità del suo dolore; sta al commissario decidere se questo la legherà indissolubilmente a lui o la allontanerà per sempre.
Finalmente si muove qualcosa. Finalmente Camilleri ci ha restituito un Montalbano che non è soltanto godibile, ma anche pieno di passione e umanità che ultimamente erano un po' appannate.
Mi domando se qualcuno, dopo questo episodio, se la sentirà ancora di liquidare Livia esclusivamente come donna antipatica e inadatta al commissario. Ho sempre pensato che una donna diversa non avrebbe mai potuto sopportare uno come Montalbano per tanti anni, che la sua "antipatia" ha una profondità da non sottovalutare, e che a volte dietro un apparente cattivo carattere si cela soltanto la forza di essere se stessi e di non mostrare troppa indulgenza nei confronti dei difetti delle persone che amiamo. La forza vera sta nel capire quando questa indulgenza è opportuna o necessaria e quando no, e nella consapevolezza che l'altro comprende e apprezza questa caratteristica perché ne riconosce il valore.
Una grande protagonista di questo episodio è proprio Livia e la dignità del suo dolore; sta al commissario decidere se questo la legherà indissolubilmente a lui o la allontanerà per sempre.
October 16, 2016
When so many series run out of energy, Camilleri keeps this one going - for me, he's an always reliable author: witty, clever, sly, big-hearted and with the ability to inject a shot of tragedy which we never see coming till it hits us in our guts.
For most of this book this feels like one of the more light-hearted adventures - but even here we have Camilleri's insertion of indignation at the 'welcome' camps for refugees. There's a theme of romantic and sexual relationships that threads lightly through the plot - and I like that this is so clear-sighted and unapologetic about infidelity, whether Mimi's casual use of his sexual charisma in the context of the investigation or Montalbano's more fraught feelings for yet another beautiful woman...
And at the end we have a classic Camilleri trick that is both unexpected and yet also flagged beautifully from the very start - a virtuoso piece of mis-direction and emotional weight that gives such heart to all these books. Brilliant!
For most of this book this feels like one of the more light-hearted adventures - but even here we have Camilleri's insertion of indignation at the 'welcome' camps for refugees. There's a theme of romantic and sexual relationships that threads lightly through the plot - and I like that this is so clear-sighted and unapologetic about infidelity, whether Mimi's casual use of his sexual charisma in the context of the investigation or Montalbano's more fraught feelings for yet another beautiful woman...
And at the end we have a classic Camilleri trick that is both unexpected and yet also flagged beautifully from the very start - a virtuoso piece of mis-direction and emotional weight that gives such heart to all these books. Brilliant!
June 20, 2012
Confesso che a me se Salvo la piantasse la Livia, ecco sarei anche contenta. Mi identifico con l'Adelina che non la sopporta e c'ha ragione. Poi però non é che la Marian qua mi piacesse di più, se proprio ha da innamorarsi e lascia la Livia bhé ne preferirei una un po' più "normale" con qualche difetto caratteriale e perché no, vista l'età del Montalbano, anche fisico, nel senso che sempre e soltanto bellonecoscialungaeintelligentitc, gli appendono le braccia al collo e gli finiscono nel letto in un vidiri svidiri? Insomma anche il nostro caro Salvo non é che sarà tanto un bel vedere all'alba dei 60 neh!
Ah e l'intreccio giallo non é per niente male.
Ah e l'intreccio giallo non é per niente male.
July 24, 2015
Ο παππούς Αντρέα μας αποδεικνυει πως οσο μεγαλώνει τόσος καλύτερος γίνεται.Ωραια υπόθεση,σίγουρα νιώθεις ότι κάποια πράγματα τα ξαναδιάβασες σε προηγούμενο βιβλιο του αλλά αυτο δεν εχει καμία σημασία τελικά.Μεγαλωνει μαζί μας ο Σαλβατορε Μονταλμπάνο ,εχει πάθη,ελαττώματα,έχει ένα σωρό στραβά,αλλά ειναι τόσο μα τόσο αγαπησιάρης.
December 24, 2016
Ακόμα ένα υπέροχο μυθιστόρημα με τον Επιθεωρητή Μονταλμπάνο. Βασισμένος όχι στα ψυχρά γεγονότα όπως ο Σέρλοκ Χολμς, αλλά στις γνώσεις του για την ανθρώπινη φύση και το ένστικτό του, ο Σάλβο λύνει ακόμα και τον ποιο δύσκολο γρίφο. Βέβαια στη προσωπική του ζωή, όπως όλοι μας, κάνει λάθη, πληγώνει και πληγώνετε και αυτό τον κάνει ακόμα πιο συμπαθητικό για τον αναγνώστη.
March 30, 2018
3.5*
While the mystery was OK, it was the things happening in Montalbano's personal life that made this 19th book in the series really worth reading.
While the mystery was OK, it was the things happening in Montalbano's personal life that made this 19th book in the series really worth reading.
April 8, 2025
Una lettura diversa dagli altri titoli della collana, un Montalbano maturo e tormentato, che riscopre l’amore e mette in discussione quello per Livia. Le vicissitudini del commissario si intrecciano con due indagini parallele molto diverse tra loro: una riguardante una violenza carnale e l’altra un traffico illegale di armi. Il finale del romanzo sarà brutale e metterà un punto ai tormenti del commissario di Vigata, portando chiarezza nel suo cuore.
April 5, 2022
I can always count on a great, short read involving my friend, Inspector Montalbano.
Salvo has a very detailed dream, and little by little parts seem to be surfacing as he navigates an investigation of a robbery and rape of a young woman. At the same time there may be some arms dealers working in Vigata. Top this off with some confusion as to the direction his love life is taking and you have another winning tale of the Inspector.
Love picking up one of these in the series every now and then.
Salvo has a very detailed dream, and little by little parts seem to be surfacing as he navigates an investigation of a robbery and rape of a young woman. At the same time there may be some arms dealers working in Vigata. Top this off with some confusion as to the direction his love life is taking and you have another winning tale of the Inspector.
Love picking up one of these in the series every now and then.
July 5, 2021
He decidido seguir leyendo Montalbano (en realidad las novelas de Montalbano que escribe Camilleri) y no me cansan. Creo que es lo mejor que puedo decir. Rara vez leo un mismo autor más de dos veces seguidas y con este ya llevo cuatro! Di que se leen fácil también.
January 28, 2021
After reading a couple of Montalbano novels, I have decided I am not a fan. Catarella's affected accent drives me crazy, and I'm not fond of the other characters. The only thing I do like is the obsession with food and its description. So this is it!
August 23, 2022
Lovely little mystery, think Doc Marten meets White Collar (but make it Italian.) Did not realize it was #19 in a series until I had started, would like to go back and get to know the characters from the beginning!
September 19, 2025
Das gefiel mir jetzt wieder deutlich besser als Fall 17 und 18
(die ich nicht so gut fand wie 1 bis 16)
(die ich nicht so gut fand wie 1 bis 16)
July 22, 2025
Due cose:
- Questo libro ha fatto male
- Come sempre Camilleri è una certezza
- Questo libro ha fatto male
- Come sempre Camilleri è una certezza
November 13, 2015
Blade of Light – Another Montalbano Winner
Once again the South Sicilian detective stars as the grumpy, food obsessed, administration dodging, crime fighter, and no one does it better in that area than Salvo Montalbano. Andrea Camilleri once again serves a wonderful plate of intrigue and crime, where nothing is as it seems, until Montalbano brings all the threads together at the end.
The book opens with Montalbano asleep and dreaming of a crime happening, in a field with a coffin in it, he feels it is a prophecy. This alone is going to set him off in to one of his moods that only good food and wine at Enzo’s will solve.
A woman is assaulted and the takings from her husband’s supermarket have been taken and she is too ashamed to report the matter to the police, but her husband does that for her. What follows is a murder, a cover up, a great actress, a strange affair and a nod to the island’s mafia. Each clue looking completely divorced from each other or so it seems.
At the same time a poor farmer reports that someone has put a lock on one of his outbuildings that has been abandoned long ago. When Montalbano and his team arrive the door and lock have gone but there a clues all around, and he decides he should pass this investigation over to the anti-terrorist branch, even though he will be running a parallel investigation.
All the characters are involved, Fazio is the over efficient younger detective that seems to be pre-empting Salvo which is beginning to annoy him, Mimi is still the lothario for once will be put to good use. As usual Montalbano’s love life is in turmoil, Livia is over in Genoa and is depressed over something, and he has found himself an art gallery owning lover. This lover infatuates Montalbano and takes over a lot of his thinking, but he does help her out with a matter in Milan.
As matters come to ahead, can Montalbano solve the crime of the mugging, and assault with the added death while sorting out his personal life. One thing that does happen is that at the end of the book Salvo takes ten days holiday as he closes one period of his life.
Blade of Light is yet another excellent book in the Inspector Montalbano series, which are such a pleasurable read and such a shame for it to end. Would I rather read the book or watch the DVD, read the book every time, as the book delivers so much more.
Once again the South Sicilian detective stars as the grumpy, food obsessed, administration dodging, crime fighter, and no one does it better in that area than Salvo Montalbano. Andrea Camilleri once again serves a wonderful plate of intrigue and crime, where nothing is as it seems, until Montalbano brings all the threads together at the end.
The book opens with Montalbano asleep and dreaming of a crime happening, in a field with a coffin in it, he feels it is a prophecy. This alone is going to set him off in to one of his moods that only good food and wine at Enzo’s will solve.
A woman is assaulted and the takings from her husband’s supermarket have been taken and she is too ashamed to report the matter to the police, but her husband does that for her. What follows is a murder, a cover up, a great actress, a strange affair and a nod to the island’s mafia. Each clue looking completely divorced from each other or so it seems.
At the same time a poor farmer reports that someone has put a lock on one of his outbuildings that has been abandoned long ago. When Montalbano and his team arrive the door and lock have gone but there a clues all around, and he decides he should pass this investigation over to the anti-terrorist branch, even though he will be running a parallel investigation.
All the characters are involved, Fazio is the over efficient younger detective that seems to be pre-empting Salvo which is beginning to annoy him, Mimi is still the lothario for once will be put to good use. As usual Montalbano’s love life is in turmoil, Livia is over in Genoa and is depressed over something, and he has found himself an art gallery owning lover. This lover infatuates Montalbano and takes over a lot of his thinking, but he does help her out with a matter in Milan.
As matters come to ahead, can Montalbano solve the crime of the mugging, and assault with the added death while sorting out his personal life. One thing that does happen is that at the end of the book Salvo takes ten days holiday as he closes one period of his life.
Blade of Light is yet another excellent book in the Inspector Montalbano series, which are such a pleasurable read and such a shame for it to end. Would I rather read the book or watch the DVD, read the book every time, as the book delivers so much more.
September 16, 2015
This is one of the better recent Montalbano novels: not quite as good as the early books in the series, but much better than The Dance of the Seagull or Treasure Hunt.
The novel begins with a vivid dream sequence fraught with symbolism and portent (Catarella speaking Latin, a coffin in an empty field containing the ghostly spirit of the commissioner). As in other such sequences, the dream is played out, with variations, as the story unfolds. The story consists of three plot lines: the young wife of an older wealthy merchant reports that she has been robbed; an illegal arms cache is (almost) discovered; and Montalbano falls hard for a beautiful art gallery owner named Marian who is drawn into a sketchy-sounding art deal. Augello is called on to exercise his romantic gifts with a friend of the young wife; Fazio does his usual infuriatingly efficient job investigating the details of each case; Catarella manages to mangle every name that comes his way and to invent his own grammar; and Montalbano solves the cases through inspiration and insight, but can't get any insight into his own personal life.
The love affair with Marian takes some suspension of disbelief: they meet each other three times, sleep together, and suddenly they are both passionately in love and willing to give all for each other. But it turns out that the ending of the novel doesn't work otherwise, and the implausibility of this sudden passion is not so jarring as to reduce the enjoyment of the story.
One of the things I look forward to in this series is the food. I can't complain this time, but I don't think there was anything mentioned that hasn't appeared in several of the previous novels.
In all, Camilleri gives us a story that is on par with the early novels, but a Montalbano from whom most of the sharp edges have been knocked off. It's a good read.
The novel begins with a vivid dream sequence fraught with symbolism and portent (Catarella speaking Latin, a coffin in an empty field containing the ghostly spirit of the commissioner). As in other such sequences, the dream is played out, with variations, as the story unfolds. The story consists of three plot lines: the young wife of an older wealthy merchant reports that she has been robbed; an illegal arms cache is (almost) discovered; and Montalbano falls hard for a beautiful art gallery owner named Marian who is drawn into a sketchy-sounding art deal. Augello is called on to exercise his romantic gifts with a friend of the young wife; Fazio does his usual infuriatingly efficient job investigating the details of each case; Catarella manages to mangle every name that comes his way and to invent his own grammar; and Montalbano solves the cases through inspiration and insight, but can't get any insight into his own personal life.
The love affair with Marian takes some suspension of disbelief: they meet each other three times, sleep together, and suddenly they are both passionately in love and willing to give all for each other. But it turns out that the ending of the novel doesn't work otherwise, and the implausibility of this sudden passion is not so jarring as to reduce the enjoyment of the story.
One of the things I look forward to in this series is the food. I can't complain this time, but I don't think there was anything mentioned that hasn't appeared in several of the previous novels.
In all, Camilleri gives us a story that is on par with the early novels, but a Montalbano from whom most of the sharp edges have been knocked off. It's a good read.
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