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Commissario Montalbano #15
Ο χορός του γλάρου
Πριν καλά καλά χαράξει η μέρα, μια άσπρη φλόγα ανάβει στην ακρογιαλιά. Αρχίζει ξαφνικά το απελπισμένο φτεροκόπημα, το τρεμάμενο χτύπημα των φτερών ενός γλάρου που κράζει απεγνωσμένα και κάνει πονεμένες συστροφές, σαν να βιδώνεται, από κάτω προς τα επάνω, γύρω από το στραμμένο προς τον ουρανό ράμφος του.
H μυστηριώδης εξαφάνιση του επιθεωρητή Φάτσιο από το αστυνομικό τμήμα της Βιγκάτα· πτώματα που ανακαλύπτονται και ανασύρονται μέσα από πηγάδια που βρίσκονται σε περιοχές έρημες και άγονες· κρυμμένες και αμφιλεγόμενες υπάρξεις, θλιβερά πάθη, χυδαία ξελογιάσματα και κουτσομπολιά· κιάλια και τηλεσκόπια, επικίνδυνη ηδονοβλεψία και ελεεινή κλεπτομανία· εμπόριο χημικών όπλων στο οποίο εμπλέκονται ανήθικοι πολιτικοί· και σ’ ένα δωμάτιο, μια άδεια καρέκλα, ανάμεσα σε απρεπή και αισχρά αντικείμενα βασανισμού, κηλίδες ξεραμένου αίματος, μυρωδιά θανάτου, σκοτεινά πράγματα, διάσπαρτα σημάδια ανήθικου και φρικτά απάνθρωπου εξαναγκασμού.
Και ενώ ο Μονταλμπάνο συναρμολογεί τα κομμάτια μιας κατακερματισμένης εγκληματικής ιστορίας, δεν μπορεί να ξεφύγει από την αναστάτωση που του προκάλεσε ο θόρυβος που έκαναν οι φτερούγες του γλάρου καθώς πέθαινε...
H μυστηριώδης εξαφάνιση του επιθεωρητή Φάτσιο από το αστυνομικό τμήμα της Βιγκάτα· πτώματα που ανακαλύπτονται και ανασύρονται μέσα από πηγάδια που βρίσκονται σε περιοχές έρημες και άγονες· κρυμμένες και αμφιλεγόμενες υπάρξεις, θλιβερά πάθη, χυδαία ξελογιάσματα και κουτσομπολιά· κιάλια και τηλεσκόπια, επικίνδυνη ηδονοβλεψία και ελεεινή κλεπτομανία· εμπόριο χημικών όπλων στο οποίο εμπλέκονται ανήθικοι πολιτικοί· και σ’ ένα δωμάτιο, μια άδεια καρέκλα, ανάμεσα σε απρεπή και αισχρά αντικείμενα βασανισμού, κηλίδες ξεραμένου αίματος, μυρωδιά θανάτου, σκοτεινά πράγματα, διάσπαρτα σημάδια ανήθικου και φρικτά απάνθρωπου εξαναγκασμού.
Και ενώ ο Μονταλμπάνο συναρμολογεί τα κομμάτια μιας κατακερματισμένης εγκληματικής ιστορίας, δεν μπορεί να ξεφύγει από την αναστάτωση που του προκάλεσε ο θόρυβος που έκαναν οι φτερούγες του γλάρου καθώς πέθαινε...
315 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
215 people are currently reading
1745 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
427 books2,454 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 385 reviews
October 22, 2021
#15 in Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Salvo Montalbano series set in fictional Vigata, Sicily. Solid entry: 1) great food-check; 2) Montalbano obsessing about some beautiful woman (and not Livia)-check; 3) goofball underlings such as Caterella, and a little violent mafia crime scene, though this time, it’s personal, as it involves Fazio.
The opening features a dying seagull “dancing” on the shore, a precursor to Montalbano (at 58, though by the time this book gets published, Camilleri is in his early eighties) worrying about aging and decline and then, there's the death of multiple people. But before that, Livia and Salvo go on a three-day holiday, until Fazio disappears. And then the bodies pile up.
One thing I like, since by now the series has been adapted to television; i the last book Camilleri has Montalbano reading one of Camilleri’s own novels about him, and then in this book Montalbano says he doesn’t want to visit a certain town because they are filming the tv series based on Montalbano’s exploits. Montalbano thinks the actor, Luca Zingaretti, playing the role, looks nothing like him. Then, Montalbano reflects on the future and comments, "Little surprise that Montalbano couldn't tell Camilleri how the story would end." A little series of Pirandello moments from the theater director who loved Pirandello above all.
I like it when Salvo tells Mimi, because he is being confusing, that he's become an “honorary Catarellian” (as Cat is always messing up the language). In the end, Montalbano is alone on his terrace, battling melancholy, but he’s comforted by eating a plate of Adelina's marvelous caponata. Solid entry in the series.
The opening features a dying seagull “dancing” on the shore, a precursor to Montalbano (at 58, though by the time this book gets published, Camilleri is in his early eighties) worrying about aging and decline and then, there's the death of multiple people. But before that, Livia and Salvo go on a three-day holiday, until Fazio disappears. And then the bodies pile up.
One thing I like, since by now the series has been adapted to television; i the last book Camilleri has Montalbano reading one of Camilleri’s own novels about him, and then in this book Montalbano says he doesn’t want to visit a certain town because they are filming the tv series based on Montalbano’s exploits. Montalbano thinks the actor, Luca Zingaretti, playing the role, looks nothing like him. Then, Montalbano reflects on the future and comments, "Little surprise that Montalbano couldn't tell Camilleri how the story would end." A little series of Pirandello moments from the theater director who loved Pirandello above all.
I like it when Salvo tells Mimi, because he is being confusing, that he's become an “honorary Catarellian” (as Cat is always messing up the language). In the end, Montalbano is alone on his terrace, battling melancholy, but he’s comforted by eating a plate of Adelina's marvelous caponata. Solid entry in the series.
July 16, 2013
Two rules:
1. Mystery authors should take their own work seriously. I don't mean they should avoid humor, but they should not mock their own creation.
2. If you're going to do the post-modernist self-referential thing, go all-in or forget about it.
Sadly, nobody told Camilleri about these two rules, and nobody needed to until this book. He makes reference to the TV series about inspector Montalbano (an excellent series, by the way), making a joke about Montalbano not wanting to go to a certain town because he might run into the actor who is playing him. This was just distracting. Later, Camilleri steps out of the omniscient observer role to make reference to himself, Camilleri, and his relationship to Montalbano. Distracting, again.
The translation this time was really not up to Stephen Sartarelli's usual high standards. It seemed rough in places (especially near the beginning), and never exhibited the brilliance of his earlier translations.
The story itself was fairly compelling - not every murder mystery features a cross-dressing gangster. And there was plenty of suspense when, early in the story, Montalbano figures out that his friend and assistant Fazio has been kidnapped and possibly murdered.
But overall this novel was a disappointment, at least by comparison to every other of the novels in this series.
1. Mystery authors should take their own work seriously. I don't mean they should avoid humor, but they should not mock their own creation.
2. If you're going to do the post-modernist self-referential thing, go all-in or forget about it.
Sadly, nobody told Camilleri about these two rules, and nobody needed to until this book. He makes reference to the TV series about inspector Montalbano (an excellent series, by the way), making a joke about Montalbano not wanting to go to a certain town because he might run into the actor who is playing him. This was just distracting. Later, Camilleri steps out of the omniscient observer role to make reference to himself, Camilleri, and his relationship to Montalbano. Distracting, again.
The translation this time was really not up to Stephen Sartarelli's usual high standards. It seemed rough in places (especially near the beginning), and never exhibited the brilliance of his earlier translations.
The story itself was fairly compelling - not every murder mystery features a cross-dressing gangster. And there was plenty of suspense when, early in the story, Montalbano figures out that his friend and assistant Fazio has been kidnapped and possibly murdered.
But overall this novel was a disappointment, at least by comparison to every other of the novels in this series.
September 25, 2020
My library has a bunch of these audiobooks available through Hoopla and I forgot I listened to this a few months ago. In this book I can begin to see why Montalbano is such a compelling protagonist. His character is so likeable and a bit strange. I liked that the audiobook was not so long that it took days to listen to and in the process of unraveling the mystery, you get to learn a bit of cultural context and background on the characters.
July 1, 2021
Llevo 19 libros de Montalbano, el primero hace 16 años. Pasó mucho tiempo y pasaron muchas historias del comisario. Él ha envejecido, yo también.
Si bien es una lectura en mi zona de confort y me he encariñado con los personajes, me está pesando un poco la lectura de esta saga. El formato ya no tiene variaciones, se repite.
Me quedan unos 14 libros más según Wikipedia, espero que algo cambie.
Si bien es una lectura en mi zona de confort y me he encariñado con los personajes, me está pesando un poco la lectura de esta saga. El formato ya no tiene variaciones, se repite.
Me quedan unos 14 libros más según Wikipedia, espero que algo cambie.
January 22, 2025
Uno dei migliori della serie.
Amo il Camilleri dissacrante, satirico e pungente.
Talmente divertente che son finita a divorarlo in due giorni.
Amo il Camilleri dissacrante, satirico e pungente.
Talmente divertente che son finita a divorarlo in due giorni.
March 2, 2013
Checking out the excellent mystery website, Stop You're Killing Me!, always proves frustrating when it comes to Andrea Camilleri. There are always three, four, five novels featuring the Sicilian police chief inspector Salvo Montalbano that have not yet been translated into English! Despite that backlog, whenever you finish a Montalbano novel, you know you have a year to wait. Sigh!
The latest eagerly awaited installment begins with Salvo preparing to set off on vacation with his long-suffering girlfriend Livia when Salvo realizes that his right-hand man, Sergeant Giuseppe Fazio, has vanished. This suspenseful novel in which the men of Montalbano's police department at Vigàta in Sicily investigate the fate of the faithful Fazio will thrill both longtime Montalbano fans and readers who are new to the clever and devious Salvo. But read at your own peril! It will be a long, long year until La caccia al tesoro, the next book in the series, comes out in English.
The latest eagerly awaited installment begins with Salvo preparing to set off on vacation with his long-suffering girlfriend Livia when Salvo realizes that his right-hand man, Sergeant Giuseppe Fazio, has vanished. This suspenseful novel in which the men of Montalbano's police department at Vigàta in Sicily investigate the fate of the faithful Fazio will thrill both longtime Montalbano fans and readers who are new to the clever and devious Salvo. But read at your own peril! It will be a long, long year until La caccia al tesoro, the next book in the series, comes out in English.
July 17, 2019
Can't fault this book.
As seen on TV this may be a familiar story but it reads so well it is far more rewarding to read Stephen Sartarelli's wonderful translation.
Andrea Camilleri crafts a thrilling story about dodgy dealings in and around the docks of Vigata. The trouble for Montalbano is that one of his go to detectives, is caught up in the affair. Fazio is checking the docks out in his own time and when he goes missing, it is a race against time to find him. In the process Inspector Montalbano and his team are taken into a very dangerous investigation that threatens them all.
The whole story revolves around Montalbano, we see the crime always from his perspective and his character is so well drawn we never tire of his adventures and detective reasoning. He loves his food, sleeps badly and has always had an eyee for a beatiful woman. He is very Italian and the openness and honesty of his character are highlights of the book that is packed with fun and comedy moments while always leaving open the door to threat and danger, Inspector Montalbano is getting older. talking to himself and the author plays with his larger than life TV character that takes his writing to another level
As seen on TV this may be a familiar story but it reads so well it is far more rewarding to read Stephen Sartarelli's wonderful translation.
Andrea Camilleri crafts a thrilling story about dodgy dealings in and around the docks of Vigata. The trouble for Montalbano is that one of his go to detectives, is caught up in the affair. Fazio is checking the docks out in his own time and when he goes missing, it is a race against time to find him. In the process Inspector Montalbano and his team are taken into a very dangerous investigation that threatens them all.
The whole story revolves around Montalbano, we see the crime always from his perspective and his character is so well drawn we never tire of his adventures and detective reasoning. He loves his food, sleeps badly and has always had an eyee for a beatiful woman. He is very Italian and the openness and honesty of his character are highlights of the book that is packed with fun and comedy moments while always leaving open the door to threat and danger, Inspector Montalbano is getting older. talking to himself and the author plays with his larger than life TV character that takes his writing to another level
February 13, 2014
I have devoured every Montalbano book to date but this is definitely one of the weakest. Camilleri seemed to want to change a style which has already succeeded in taking us to the fifteenth instalment. I felt strangely cheated and confused at the mention of the Montalbano TV series at the beginning of the story and the suspension of disbelief was ruined again towards the end of the book when the writer mentions himself in a bizarre dialogue which seemed to suggest even he didn't know where the plot was going. Completely unnecessary and unwanted. I'm not sure if it's down to the translator but the Sicilian dialect dialogue, especially Catarella, seemed to be written in a different style to that used previously as well. All that aside, there is just about enough of the usual food, humour, women and Sicilian style to mask the typically slim plot. Just. I will keep reading Montalbano as long as Camilleri keeps writing but I hope he doesn't try to fix something which isn't broken.
October 4, 2020
I listened to the unabridged audiobook version of The Dance of the Seagull. Brilliant combination of Andrea Camilleri, author, Stephen Sartarelli, translator and Grover Gardner, narrator! A treat from start to finish.
March 11, 2020
Camilleri crafts a decent yet shaky plot starring Inspector Montalbano and his coterie of faithful sidekicks. Not a mystery by any fair margin though the end revelation of the perpetrator was delightfully done indeed!
My Rating - 3/5
My Rating - 3/5
May 16, 2016
Montalbano sta diventando vecchio, e come accade ai vecchi diventa impressionabile. Lo colpisce un gabbiano morente sulla spiaggia, così come lo riduce a uno straccio lo spettacolo crudelissimo di una morte per mafia. Nonostante ciò, non perdè nè il suo acume nè il suo understatement, e risolve elegantemente un'indagine che coinvolge i soliti intoccabili, rendendoli così toccabilissimi e mettendoli in berlina.
March 19, 2018
Auch ein guter Kriminalroman aus der Feder von Andrea Camilleri.
Montalbano und seine Crew bekommen es dieses Mal mit der Mafia zu tun was böse enden könnte, dank Montalbanos Pfiffigkeit jedoch noch mal gut aus geht.
Montalbano und seine Crew bekommen es dieses Mal mit der Mafia zu tun was böse enden könnte, dank Montalbanos Pfiffigkeit jedoch noch mal gut aus geht.
May 17, 2021
Book 16. To read so many of these books means they are excellent, short, about 260 page turners of an inspector’s daily life in a police department in Sicily. Also, being a Sicilian born in the US with 4 brothers and a real Sicilian grandmother, it was a no brainer that several of my brothers read these books and passed them on to me. The books just grow on you. You know the characters like your family and you laugh out loud, experience the Italian passion for good food and are so pulled in to solving the crime with the inspector’s off the record way of solving them, so you just look forward to another episode. Well done Andrea Camilleri.
October 6, 2014
All the usual elements of the Montalbano books - Livia arrives for an arranged few days off with Salvo, and not only does it not happen but he completely forgets all about her. She removes herself from the scene - for once without too many harsh words. There is the food, the mystery, and the strange habit of lying to everyone including his own colleagues. There is also a strange post-modernist element - Camilleri has done this once before in a previous story in which Montalbano was reading a book by Camilleri. In this one he wants to avoid the area where they are filming "that television series" with the actor who may or may not look like him - and the end of the story is another odd comment, "Little surprise that Montalbano couldn't tell Camilleri how the story would end". He also conveniently works out what actually happened by having a sort of vision. All of these things jar a bit and threaten the willing suspension of disbelief. The image of the dancing, dying seagull at the beginning is memorable, a rather horrible portent of what has happened to the murder victim. Entertaining, but not sure about the self-conscious self-mockery, if that's what it is.
September 1, 2016
For fans of the series like myself this is a top read. I felt this was one of the best in the series with the fug of politics swirling around an even more grouchy Montablano than usual, as he tries to solve the disapearance of one of his policeman, and several corpses. All the popular memes misanthrope of a coroner, the worlds worst assistant, the eternal disapointment of Livia are back like an old family wrapped in a funnier package then usual. A source of deep enjoyment that glitters with a morbid wit rare in such series.
Its also fun to contrast with the epitome of aging world weary policemen Wallander. While there is some soul searching it invariably ends with a plate of freshly cooked fish. A lesson in aging for us all.
Its also fun to contrast with the epitome of aging world weary policemen Wallander. While there is some soul searching it invariably ends with a plate of freshly cooked fish. A lesson in aging for us all.
July 28, 2013
First of the Sicilian Inspector Montalbano novels I have read. I have seen all of the 22 TV movies several times. The book was enjoyable and recommend them but I prefer the films. The humor of the book translates well to the screen. Perhaps seeing, or should I say reading, the films colored my reading. I find the film character Catarella (Angelo Russo) much more enjoyable. Catarella's dialogue in the book was distracting and took away from his role as comic relief. Looking forward to watching the upcoming four new Montalbano films and the Young Montalbano series for the first time. One of the towns used as a location for the films, Ragusa Ibla, is a UNESCO heritage site. Fantastico.
March 16, 2013
I've seen the shows on PBS of Montalbano and "The Dance of the Seagull". However they never come up to the book. I guess my imagination plays a better show than TV. I do like the older Montalbano even if he has no hair. Camilleri does an excellent job creating his Montalbano 1 & 2. I like the way he fools everyone into doing his bidding.
October 26, 2017
As usual, I enjoyed the book. Gave it the usual 5 stars, although I'm not sure I like the author referring to the TV series, with Montalbano actually saying that the actor Luca Zingaretti doesn't resemble him. For committed fans of the books and the TV series, they are one and the same person. Allow us to maintain the fantasy!
March 14, 2013
Montalbano is deadly serious but great fun - ideal reading to unwind after a day's slog!
May 5, 2021
I have waited a long time to get back to Inspector Montalbano and I just can't get enough of him. I love that while reading this book I actually bust of laughing sometimes with the different ways Mr. Camileri has his characters act and the zany things they say sometimes.
The Inspector must find one of his men that has gone missing while he is given several pieces of this mystery puzzle that will begin to come together little by little.
The Dance of the Seagull is a great beginning with the Inspector witnessing for the first time a seagull dying on the beach in front of his veranda. He becomes obsessed with the scene and then Mr. Camilleri weaves this theme throughout the story.
Looking forward to the next installment. As always, Bravo Mr. Camilleri
The Inspector must find one of his men that has gone missing while he is given several pieces of this mystery puzzle that will begin to come together little by little.
The Dance of the Seagull is a great beginning with the Inspector witnessing for the first time a seagull dying on the beach in front of his veranda. He becomes obsessed with the scene and then Mr. Camilleri weaves this theme throughout the story.
Looking forward to the next installment. As always, Bravo Mr. Camilleri
February 2, 2022
My husband and I have become Camilleri fan(atic)s. There are movies of each book, you know. I connected to the library so I can stream them on the TV. Camilleri would appreciate that, as he jokes in this book about the filming of Montalbano stories and the actor who plays him. YouTube has some great video about the filming, as well. This was the best book in the series that I have read to date. A member of Montalbano's investigation team has suddenly gone missing. It appears that he was investigating something on his own. All clues also seem to indicate that he was shot. With a heavy heart, and a heaping shovel of secrecy, the Ragusa police department searches desperately for Fazio. It is obvious that the Mafia is involved, but why? And, who else? At one point, Montalbano wonders if Camilleri even knows what is going to happen. Tears, laughter and fear will be your companions as you read this riveting novel. Enjoy!
January 30, 2022
‘Ze doen gewoon alles, onze parlementsleden hebben tegenwoordig schijt aan de publieke opinie! Ze gebruiken drugs, gaan naar de hoeren, stelen, bezwendelen de boel, laten zich omkopen, plegen meineed, doen zaken met de maffia, en wat kan ze gebeuren? Er wordt in de kranten hooguit drie dagen over geschreven. Daarna vergeet iedereen ze weer. Maar zij vergeten jou niet, want jij hebt dat schandaal veroorzaakt, daar kun je van op aan, en dat zullen ze je betaald zetten.’
Verder: mediterrane najaarstemperaturen, verrukkelijk eten, grote gebaren, passionele affaires, leugens-tegen-de-sterren-op, moord en doodslag.
Sicilië, quoi.
En een knipoog naar Pirandello.
Verder: mediterrane najaarstemperaturen, verrukkelijk eten, grote gebaren, passionele affaires, leugens-tegen-de-sterren-op, moord en doodslag.
Sicilië, quoi.
En een knipoog naar Pirandello.
June 13, 2020
Very good, well written, multi-layered criminal mystery, set in Sicily. This is the 15th book in the series, the third one that I have read, and easily the best of the three. The book has the series’ usual mix of multiple crimes, mafia overtones, mouth-watering cuisine, (sometimes earthy) humor and a hint of sex. Interestingly, this book is the second Italian mystery novel that I have read lately with a plot involving transsexuals. Four stars!
October 17, 2022
Novel·la amb menys humor i escenes més dures que a la resta de novel·les del comissari Montalbano.
La traducció d'en Pau Vidal té menys errors que altres vegades, però encara en té de bastant bàsics: pleonasmes, errors de lèxic, gerundis i pronoms febles mal usats... Un traductor que és llicenciat en Filologia Catalana hauria d'anar més amb compte.
La traducció d'en Pau Vidal té menys errors que altres vegades, però encara en té de bastant bàsics: pleonasmes, errors de lèxic, gerundis i pronoms febles mal usats... Un traductor que és llicenciat en Filologia Catalana hauria d'anar més amb compte.
October 31, 2023
Probablemente el peor libro de Camilleri que he leído. No sólo el plot no tiene sentido y ningún elemento se sigue de los demás, sino que encima
March 13, 2024
Camilleri docked the ship. I don’t think anyone him included knew how this story was going to close. Montalbano continues to take down mafiaso while encountering beautiful women and enjoying top class meals.
AC references himself in this book and also references the TV show that released in Italy during this time based on his inspector. This is definitely the whimsical portion of the series.
AC references himself in this book and also references the TV show that released in Italy during this time based on his inspector. This is definitely the whimsical portion of the series.
October 3, 2025
I love Andrea Camilleri's humour spiced with Sicilian landscapes and meals.
I hope to be able to find the earlier books about Inspector Montalbano, as up till now my library has only part 2 and 3 and then 15 and later. I must add that Daniel Phillpott as a narrator is fab when portraying Italian dialect in English :)
Good read.
I hope to be able to find the earlier books about Inspector Montalbano, as up till now my library has only part 2 and 3 and then 15 and later. I must add that Daniel Phillpott as a narrator is fab when portraying Italian dialect in English :)
Good read.
November 1, 2019
Camilleri tiene una pluma inusualmente irónica y tercer personificada. A veces Salvo se burla de él mismo en tercera persona y a veces Camilleri se burla de el mismo como autor en su propio libro. Algo chocante, lo admito pero me divierte.
Está historia la había visto al menos Tres veces ya en Tv por lo que ningun giro argumental me sorprendió ya que se trata de una adaptación muy fiel.
La historia podría leerse en dos sentadas. Es atrapante y entretenida pero no estaba en mi salsa. Tarde meses en leerlo porque Salvo tiene una conducta más "ilegal" y "clandestina" que en el show que es un poco más recto. Me costaba familiarizarme y en el medio leí cincuenta libros casi así que imagínense lo que tardé.
Sin embargo termina y vos queres otra novela de Salvo y eso es genial. Lástima
Que Camilleri murió este año, sin embargo dejo un gran legado tras el.
Está historia la había visto al menos Tres veces ya en Tv por lo que ningun giro argumental me sorprendió ya que se trata de una adaptación muy fiel.
La historia podría leerse en dos sentadas. Es atrapante y entretenida pero no estaba en mi salsa. Tarde meses en leerlo porque Salvo tiene una conducta más "ilegal" y "clandestina" que en el show que es un poco más recto. Me costaba familiarizarme y en el medio leí cincuenta libros casi así que imagínense lo que tardé.
Sin embargo termina y vos queres otra novela de Salvo y eso es genial. Lástima
Que Camilleri murió este año, sin embargo dejo un gran legado tras el.
July 20, 2021
I love Camilleri's books!!! This one no different. Fazio goes missing as Livia and Salvo are going on vacation! Needless to say the search for Fazio comes first. All his books are enjoyable and transport you to Sicily and its hot, steamy atmosphere and food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 31, 2022
Another exciting tale of the adventures of Inspector Salvo Montalbano, this time showing what a tight-knit group he heads. His friend, and third in command, Fazio is missing and in grave danger. Salvo drops everything and begins an exhaustive search, using all his tricks and insight.
An entertaining story...with a uniquely Sicilian twist...
Recommended
An entertaining story...with a uniquely Sicilian twist...
Recommended
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