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Commissario Montalbano #4
Гласът на цигулката
„Гласът на цигулката” е четвъртият роман на Андреа Камилери за комисар Монталбано. Поредицата вече e набрала скорост, а главният герой печели все повече врагове в книгата и все повече приятели сред читателите.
Красива млада жена е жестоко умъртвена във вилата си. Комисар Монталбано се заема със случая, но неочаквано е отстранен от разследването. Заподозреният е нелепо убит и случаят изглежда приключен. Но не и за комисаря, който е решен да разкрие истината за двете убийства. Ще му помогнат стара граната и една още по-стара цигулка.
Красива млада жена е жестоко умъртвена във вилата си. Комисар Монталбано се заема със случая, но неочаквано е отстранен от разследването. Заподозреният е нелепо убит и случаят изглежда приключен. Но не и за комисаря, който е решен да разкрие истината за двете убийства. Ще му помогнат стара граната и една още по-стара цигулка.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 1997
481 people are currently reading
2595 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
436 books2,481 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 699 reviews
November 30, 2025
An Inspector Montalbano mystery in which the island and people of Sicily are almost as much the focus as the murder mystery.
The harried inspector is surrounded by a bumbling staff straight out of Barney Miller, for those who remember that American TV show. But our Inspector relaxes with beautiful women and exquisite Sicilian food, cooked by his housekeeper, or served in his favorite restaurants.
In this mystery, a beautiful woman is attacked and murdered. There are several suspects but the most logical one is killed almost immediately. So where do we go from there?
The local color and the food and wine are as worthwhile as the plot. A lot of the characters including the suspects are charming eccentrics.
I can always relax with an Inspector Montalbano book. They are police procedurals, the writing is straightforward, and you never get lost in the plot. I have read a dozen of the Inspector Montalbano series. I won’t list my reviews of all of them but below are links to my reviews of some of the ones I most enjoyed.
The Smell of the Night #6
The Safety Net #25
The Terra-Cotta Dog #2
The Patience of the Spider #8
The Other End of the Line #24
The author (1925-2019) is best known for this Inspector Montalbano series, I think 28 in all, although not all appear to have been translated into English. (Various publishers have numbered the series and the number of books differently.) The stories were made into a popular TV series in Italy. His hometown, featured under a fictitious name in his novels, has officially appended that name to attract tourists: Porto Empedocle-Vigàta, Sicily.
Top photo of the author’s hometown from tripadvisor.com
The author from italian.it
June 6, 2017
"Nu voia să recunoască, însă dacă ar fi avut posibilitatea, aceea ar fi fost femeia pe care și-ar fi ales-o să-i fie mamă; a lui murise pe când el era de-o șchioapă: amintirea ei îi revenea în memorie doar ca un fel de luminescență aurie."
"Oricum, adevărul gol-goluț, așa crud cum era, îl rostise sora lui Mimi: copiii nu sunt pachete pe care azi le depozitezi într-un loc, mâine într-altul. Nu se poate să nu ții cont de sentimentele lor."
"Oricum, adevărul gol-goluț, așa crud cum era, îl rostise sora lui Mimi: copiii nu sunt pachete pe care azi le depozitezi într-un loc, mâine într-altul. Nu se poate să nu ții cont de sentimentele lor."
July 26, 2019
Ritrovarsi
Alla fine, nei gialli di Camilleri, la cosa meno importante è la scoperta del colpevole. Lo dimostra il fatto che, nonostante avessi a suo tempo visto il film tv e molto probabilmente letto anche il libro, e vagamente ricordassi persino chi era l'assassino, l'abbia letto con passione e pieno coinvolgimento.
In fondo in fondo, nei gialli di Camilleri, il delitto è solo un pretesto per descrivere uno spaccato di umanità variegata e contraddittoria e per rappresentare un angolo di Sicilia nella quale continuano a convivere consuetudini ancestrali e interessi economici moderni e spietati.
In tutto questo la figura di Salvo Montalbano è l'anello di congiunzione, è la continua mediazione tra la Giustizia e la giusta soluzione, il compromesso tra la legge e l'umanità. I suoi continui dubbi, i suoi scatti d'ira, le sue debolezza, le sue passioni, ma soprattutto i suoi pensieri, nascosti a tutti gli altri ma non ai suoi lettori, contribuiscono a farne uno di noi con tutti i suoi pregi e tutti i suoi tanti difetti.
Leggere di Montalbano è in fondo l'approdo sicuro, come un buon bicchiere di vino rosso, una passeggiata in riva al mare, o una vecchia canzone dei Beatles: puoi essere certo che non ti deluderà, e che ti avvolgerà come l'abbraccio di un caro amico che non vedevi da un po'.
Alla fine, nei gialli di Camilleri, la cosa meno importante è la scoperta del colpevole. Lo dimostra il fatto che, nonostante avessi a suo tempo visto il film tv e molto probabilmente letto anche il libro, e vagamente ricordassi persino chi era l'assassino, l'abbia letto con passione e pieno coinvolgimento.
In fondo in fondo, nei gialli di Camilleri, il delitto è solo un pretesto per descrivere uno spaccato di umanità variegata e contraddittoria e per rappresentare un angolo di Sicilia nella quale continuano a convivere consuetudini ancestrali e interessi economici moderni e spietati.
In tutto questo la figura di Salvo Montalbano è l'anello di congiunzione, è la continua mediazione tra la Giustizia e la giusta soluzione, il compromesso tra la legge e l'umanità. I suoi continui dubbi, i suoi scatti d'ira, le sue debolezza, le sue passioni, ma soprattutto i suoi pensieri, nascosti a tutti gli altri ma non ai suoi lettori, contribuiscono a farne uno di noi con tutti i suoi pregi e tutti i suoi tanti difetti.
Leggere di Montalbano è in fondo l'approdo sicuro, come un buon bicchiere di vino rosso, una passeggiata in riva al mare, o una vecchia canzone dei Beatles: puoi essere certo che non ti deluderà, e che ti avvolgerà come l'abbraccio di un caro amico che non vedevi da un po'.
June 30, 2019
The Publisher Says: The Sicilian detective, Inspector Salvo Montalbano, is on the search for the killer of a young woman. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer (now disappeared) and her lover - an antiques dealer from Bologna. However, it is a mysterious, reclusive violinist who holds the key.
The fourth in the internationally bestselling series featuring the irresistible Sicilian detective.
Inspector Salvo Montalbano, with his compelling mix of humor, cynicism, and compassion, has been compared to Georges Simenon's, Dashiel Hammett's, and Raymond Chandler's legendary detectives.
In this latest novel, Montalbano's gruesome discovery of a lovely, naked young woman suffocated in her bed immediately sets him on a search for her killer. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer, now disappeared; an antiques-dealing lover from Bologna; and the victim's friend Anna, whose charms Montalbano cannot help but appreciate. But it is a mysterious, reclusive violinist who holds the key to this murder.
My Review: Inspector Montalbano, adjusting to a new climate both professional and personal, is presented with a dilemma: How can he officially take note of a crime he discovers when committing a crime himself? He resolves to solve a horrible, seemingly inexplicable murder, one that truly makes your heart hurt, and yet faces mounting problems within his new professional situation. In the end, he takes his lowest, to date, policemanly ebb and turns it into the routing of forces arrayed against him with the help of a shut-in paraplegic, a reclusive retired musician, and the Mafia, abetted by his media lapdogs and loyal through-and-through team.
His personal life, meanwhile, takes its customary back seat...but with more-than-usually severe consequences, ones that make the ending of the previous book look very unlikely to come to fruition. The resolution of this story line is surprising, but in line with Camilleri's evolving character portrait of Montalbano.
As always, Camilleri makes me drool, moan, and breathe deeply with his Sicilian cuisine and atmosphere evocation. I want to go there now, and stay there, and follow Montalbano around saying "I'll have what he's having" to everyone I meet. But there are lots of emotional roadblocks in Montalbano's world, and there are a lot of points where he seems hell-bent for leather to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. That he, in the end, decides to do the things that are true to his character in the last ~40pp is a testament to how clear Camilleri's vision of him is. And I would like to offer, with grateful hugs and awestruck genuflections, praise unstinting to the translator of the series: Stephen Sartarelli, apparently a published poet in his own right. He's deft, he's witty, he's thorough, and he's got something I've seldom encountered: a submersible ego. His translation, I am reliably informed by an ex-pat family member who's been reading the gialli as they come out in Italy, is tonally spot-on to Camilleri's original language.
Wow.
Don't read the series out of order, too much subtle and delicious detail is lost that way. But really, really wise and discerning fiction readers will read the series.
The fourth in the internationally bestselling series featuring the irresistible Sicilian detective.
Inspector Salvo Montalbano, with his compelling mix of humor, cynicism, and compassion, has been compared to Georges Simenon's, Dashiel Hammett's, and Raymond Chandler's legendary detectives.
In this latest novel, Montalbano's gruesome discovery of a lovely, naked young woman suffocated in her bed immediately sets him on a search for her killer. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer, now disappeared; an antiques-dealing lover from Bologna; and the victim's friend Anna, whose charms Montalbano cannot help but appreciate. But it is a mysterious, reclusive violinist who holds the key to this murder.
My Review: Inspector Montalbano, adjusting to a new climate both professional and personal, is presented with a dilemma: How can he officially take note of a crime he discovers when committing a crime himself? He resolves to solve a horrible, seemingly inexplicable murder, one that truly makes your heart hurt, and yet faces mounting problems within his new professional situation. In the end, he takes his lowest, to date, policemanly ebb and turns it into the routing of forces arrayed against him with the help of a shut-in paraplegic, a reclusive retired musician, and the Mafia, abetted by his media lapdogs and loyal through-and-through team.
His personal life, meanwhile, takes its customary back seat...but with more-than-usually severe consequences, ones that make the ending of the previous book look very unlikely to come to fruition. The resolution of this story line is surprising, but in line with Camilleri's evolving character portrait of Montalbano.
As always, Camilleri makes me drool, moan, and breathe deeply with his Sicilian cuisine and atmosphere evocation. I want to go there now, and stay there, and follow Montalbano around saying "I'll have what he's having" to everyone I meet. But there are lots of emotional roadblocks in Montalbano's world, and there are a lot of points where he seems hell-bent for leather to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. That he, in the end, decides to do the things that are true to his character in the last ~40pp is a testament to how clear Camilleri's vision of him is. And I would like to offer, with grateful hugs and awestruck genuflections, praise unstinting to the translator of the series: Stephen Sartarelli, apparently a published poet in his own right. He's deft, he's witty, he's thorough, and he's got something I've seldom encountered: a submersible ego. His translation, I am reliably informed by an ex-pat family member who's been reading the gialli as they come out in Italy, is tonally spot-on to Camilleri's original language.
Wow.
Don't read the series out of order, too much subtle and delicious detail is lost that way. But really, really wise and discerning fiction readers will read the series.
February 10, 2018
Βαθμολογία: ★★★★★
Ο Camilleri δεν είναι τυχαία ο πιο πετυχημένος ιταλός συγγραφέας crime. Ξέρει να γράφει σωστά μυστήρια, αποτυπώνει εξαιρετικά την αίσθηση του χιούμορ του, ενώ οι χαρακτήρες του είναι τόσο ξεχωριστοί που θες να τους αγκαλιάσεις όλους. Από το συγκεκριμένο έλειπε ίσως λίγο η αγωνία, αλλά θα του βάλω 5* γιατί διάβασα πρόσφατα πολλές μετριότητες και με έκανε να ενθουσιαστώ ξανά.
Ο Camilleri δεν είναι τυχαία ο πιο πετυχημένος ιταλός συγγραφέας crime. Ξέρει να γράφει σωστά μυστήρια, αποτυπώνει εξαιρετικά την αίσθηση του χιούμορ του, ενώ οι χαρακτήρες του είναι τόσο ξεχωριστοί που θες να τους αγκαλιάσεις όλους. Από το συγκεκριμένο έλειπε ίσως λίγο η αγωνία, αλλά θα του βάλω 5* γιατί διάβασα πρόσφατα πολλές μετριότητες και με έκανε να ενθουσιαστώ ξανά.
October 17, 2025
Серията продължава да увлича - едва затворил поредната част, аз нямам търпение да започна следващата!
Това е отличен атестат за майсторството на Камилери!
Това е отличен атестат за майсторството на Камилери!
May 4, 2018
In addition to a very good 'whodunit', I love all the food references in these Inspector Montelbano books.
September 15, 2022
Αν ήξερα πόσο θα μου αρέσει αυτή η σειρά θα την είχα ξεκινήσει νωρίτερα!
Αυτό που μου αρέσει κυρίως πέρα από την υπόθεση υπό έρευνα είναι οι στιγμές γεμάτες χιούμορ ανάμεσα στον Μονταλμπάνο και τους συνεργάτες του!
Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο δε γινόταν να λείπει το καλό φαγητό που τόσο αδυναμία του έχει ο επιθεωρητής!
Στη προσωπική του ζωή τα πράγματα δεν είναι τέλεια αφού ένα γεγονός απογοητεύει αυτόν και τη σύντροφό του Λιβια!
Η υπόθεση είναι ενδιαφέρουσα και το βιβλίο διαβάζεται εύκολα! Υπάρχει και μία συγκάλυψη που μπαίνει εμπόδιο στη διαλεύκανση του φόνου καθώς και μια αντιπάθεια μεταξύ του Μονταλμπάνο και του νέου διοικητή που πάει πίσω την υπόθεση!
Αυτό που μου αρέσει κυρίως πέρα από την υπόθεση υπό έρευνα είναι οι στιγμές γεμάτες χιούμορ ανάμεσα στον Μονταλμπάνο και τους συνεργάτες του!
Και σε αυτό το βιβλίο δε γινόταν να λείπει το καλό φαγητό που τόσο αδυναμία του έχει ο επιθεωρητής!
Στη προσωπική του ζωή τα πράγματα δεν είναι τέλεια αφού ένα γεγονός απογοητεύει αυτόν και τη σύντροφό του Λιβια!
Η υπόθεση είναι ενδιαφέρουσα και το βιβλίο διαβάζεται εύκολα! Υπάρχει και μία συγκάλυψη που μπαίνει εμπόδιο στη διαλεύκανση του φόνου καθώς και μια αντιπάθεια μεταξύ του Μονταλμπάνο και του νέου διοικητή που πάει πίσω την υπόθεση!
February 10, 2018
Ο Καμιλλέρι πάντα συνεπής στο να μας μεταφέρει στην εποχή, πάντα μου ανοίγει την όρεξη με τα καταπληκτικά φαγητά που αναφέρει και πάντα έχει την ικανότητα να αποδώσει σωστά μια αστυνομική ιστορία.
July 22, 2019
This is the fourth entry in the late Andrea Camilleri's delightful Inspector Montalbano series, set in Sicily. Like the previous ones, this mystery is complex and well-plotted, and there's a wonderful supporting cast of the inspector's eccentric friends and colleagues. I enjoyed the local color, and the frequent references to food made me hungry, as I do love pasta. There's also plenty of humor in these mysteries, especially since the introduction of Catarella in the second book. I'm glad to see there are still 21 books in this series that I haven't read yet.
January 25, 2016
I don't think I ever laughed when reading a novel. I mean , all the book that I've read have the thrill and the twists, but sense of humor, that's something you don't often find in mystery novels. In addition the writing is so smooth that makes you want to read more. I also liked the Italian food references, which made me search for them in the internet and wanting to try them.
The protagonist, Inspector Montalbano is an interesting character. And the events in the plot will make you engaged till the end.
The protagonist, Inspector Montalbano is an interesting character. And the events in the plot will make you engaged till the end.
October 31, 2019
Inspector Montalbano is juggling the demands of his girlfriend Livia, the need to computerize his office, delicious meals, and solve a puzzling murder
Tiptoeing through a house at night
He couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned, snarling himself up in the sheets. Around two in the morning, he realized it was useless. He got up, got dressed, grabbed a leather bag given to him some time ago by a house burglar who’d become his friend, got in his car and drove off. The storm was raging worse than ever; lightning bolts illuminated the sky. When he reached the Twingo, he slipped his car in under some trees and turned off the headlights. From the glove compartment he extracted a gun, a pair of gloves and a torch. After waiting for the rain to let up, he crossed the road in one bound, went up the drive and flattened himself against the front door. He rang and rang the doorbell but got no answer. He then put on the gloves and pulled a large key ring with a dozen or so variously shaped picklocks out of the leather bag. The door opened on the third try. It was locked with only the latch and hadn’t been dead-bolted. He entered, closing the door behind him. In the dark, he bent over, untied his wet shoes and removed them, keeping his socks on. He turned on the torch, keeping it pointed at the ground. He found himself in a large dining room that opened onto a living room. The furniture smelled of varnish. Everything was new, clean and orderly. A door led into a kitchen that sparkled like something one might see in an advertisement; another door gave onto a bathroom so shiny it looked as if no one had ever used it before. He slowly climbed the stairs to the upper floor. There he found three closed doors. The first one he opened revealed a neat little guest room; the second led into a bigger bathroom than the one downstairs, but unlike it, this one was decidedly messy. A pink towelling bathrobe lay rumpled on the floor, as though the person wearing it had taken it off in a hurry. The third door was to the master bedroom. And the naked, half-kneeling female body, belly resting against the edge of the bed, arms spread, face buried in the sheet that the young, blonde woman had torn to shreds with her fingernails in the final throes of her death by suffocation, must have belonged to the owner of the house.
The commissioner's gift
‘And what did his lordship want?’
‘To tell us that in a few days, some absolutely up-to-date computers will be arriving. Every headquarters in the province will be equipped with them. He wanted each of us to give him the name of an officer we thought had a special knack for computer science.
Which I did.’
‘Are you insane? Nobody here knows a damn thing about that stuff. Whose name did you give him?’
‘Catarella,’ said an utterly serious Mimi Augello. The act of a born saboteur.
Montalbano stood: up abruptly, ran over to his second-in-command and embraced him.
Dinner at La Cacciatora
‘Bring me whatever you like.’
The Gentleman King smiled, appreciating the vote of confidence.
As a first course, he served him a large dish of macaroni in a light sauce dubbed Foco vivo or ‘live fire’ (olive oil, garlic, lots of hot red pepper, salt), which the inspector was forced to wash down with half a bottle of wine. For the second course, he ate a substantial portion of lamb alia cacciatora that had a pleasant fragrance of onion and oregano. He closed with a ricotta cheesecake and small glass of anisette as a viaticum and boost for his digestive system. He paid the bill, a pittance, and exchanged a handshake and smile with the Gentleman King.
‘Excuse me, who’s the cook?’
‘My wife.’
‘Please give her my compliments.’
Catarella's report card
‘Chief, hear me out for jest a minute?’ ‘Come on in, Cat.’
Catarella was red in the face, embarrassed and happy. ‘What’s the matter? Talk.’
‘Got my report card for the first week, Chief. The course runs from Monday to Friday morning. I wanted to show it to you.’
It was a sheet of paper folded in two. All A’s. Under the heading ‘Observations’, the instructor had written, ‘He was first in the class.’
‘Well done, Catarella! You’re the pride of the department!’
Catarella nearly started crying.
‘How many are there in your class?’
‘Amato, Amoroso, Basile, Bennato, Bonura, Catarella, Cimino, Farinella, Filippone, Lo Dato, Scimeca and Zicari. That makes twelve, Chief. If I had my computer here, I’d a done it faster’
Montalbano put his head in his hands.
Was there a future for humanity?
Twists and turns confuse us all except for Inspector Montalbano.
Enjoy!
Tiptoeing through a house at night
He couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned, snarling himself up in the sheets. Around two in the morning, he realized it was useless. He got up, got dressed, grabbed a leather bag given to him some time ago by a house burglar who’d become his friend, got in his car and drove off. The storm was raging worse than ever; lightning bolts illuminated the sky. When he reached the Twingo, he slipped his car in under some trees and turned off the headlights. From the glove compartment he extracted a gun, a pair of gloves and a torch. After waiting for the rain to let up, he crossed the road in one bound, went up the drive and flattened himself against the front door. He rang and rang the doorbell but got no answer. He then put on the gloves and pulled a large key ring with a dozen or so variously shaped picklocks out of the leather bag. The door opened on the third try. It was locked with only the latch and hadn’t been dead-bolted. He entered, closing the door behind him. In the dark, he bent over, untied his wet shoes and removed them, keeping his socks on. He turned on the torch, keeping it pointed at the ground. He found himself in a large dining room that opened onto a living room. The furniture smelled of varnish. Everything was new, clean and orderly. A door led into a kitchen that sparkled like something one might see in an advertisement; another door gave onto a bathroom so shiny it looked as if no one had ever used it before. He slowly climbed the stairs to the upper floor. There he found three closed doors. The first one he opened revealed a neat little guest room; the second led into a bigger bathroom than the one downstairs, but unlike it, this one was decidedly messy. A pink towelling bathrobe lay rumpled on the floor, as though the person wearing it had taken it off in a hurry. The third door was to the master bedroom. And the naked, half-kneeling female body, belly resting against the edge of the bed, arms spread, face buried in the sheet that the young, blonde woman had torn to shreds with her fingernails in the final throes of her death by suffocation, must have belonged to the owner of the house.
The commissioner's gift
‘And what did his lordship want?’
‘To tell us that in a few days, some absolutely up-to-date computers will be arriving. Every headquarters in the province will be equipped with them. He wanted each of us to give him the name of an officer we thought had a special knack for computer science.
Which I did.’
‘Are you insane? Nobody here knows a damn thing about that stuff. Whose name did you give him?’
‘Catarella,’ said an utterly serious Mimi Augello. The act of a born saboteur.
Montalbano stood: up abruptly, ran over to his second-in-command and embraced him.
Dinner at La Cacciatora
‘Bring me whatever you like.’
The Gentleman King smiled, appreciating the vote of confidence.
As a first course, he served him a large dish of macaroni in a light sauce dubbed Foco vivo or ‘live fire’ (olive oil, garlic, lots of hot red pepper, salt), which the inspector was forced to wash down with half a bottle of wine. For the second course, he ate a substantial portion of lamb alia cacciatora that had a pleasant fragrance of onion and oregano. He closed with a ricotta cheesecake and small glass of anisette as a viaticum and boost for his digestive system. He paid the bill, a pittance, and exchanged a handshake and smile with the Gentleman King.
‘Excuse me, who’s the cook?’
‘My wife.’
‘Please give her my compliments.’
Catarella's report card
‘Chief, hear me out for jest a minute?’ ‘Come on in, Cat.’
Catarella was red in the face, embarrassed and happy. ‘What’s the matter? Talk.’
‘Got my report card for the first week, Chief. The course runs from Monday to Friday morning. I wanted to show it to you.’
It was a sheet of paper folded in two. All A’s. Under the heading ‘Observations’, the instructor had written, ‘He was first in the class.’
‘Well done, Catarella! You’re the pride of the department!’
Catarella nearly started crying.
‘How many are there in your class?’
‘Amato, Amoroso, Basile, Bennato, Bonura, Catarella, Cimino, Farinella, Filippone, Lo Dato, Scimeca and Zicari. That makes twelve, Chief. If I had my computer here, I’d a done it faster’
Montalbano put his head in his hands.
Was there a future for humanity?
Twists and turns confuse us all except for Inspector Montalbano.
Enjoy!
April 12, 2023
Light and nice, but something is missing, so the book is only slightly above average(in fact the most suitable mark should be 3.5...) despite some memorable characteristics. There is plenty of humor, Montalbano and his bunch are more than sympathetic, there is a final twist in the plot, but...
July 10, 2023
It is always interesting to have the experience of reading a translated book.
In this case, Italian to English.
How effective is the translator in getting the nuances of its region just right?
In this case, as an Italian Mystery book series which has been made into a television series there were moments of, huh?!
Still, as a whodunnit it kept me going to the end.
And on a long drive home, this was truly appreciated. (This was our RVing stage of life.)
As for translation, confusing at times.
There were obvious reoccurring characters with backstories, but no explanation.
As a first time reader of the series, that proved to be somewhat annoying.
Other than that, I enjoyed the story, Mystery, characters and Italian food references.
In this case, Italian to English.
How effective is the translator in getting the nuances of its region just right?
In this case, as an Italian Mystery book series which has been made into a television series there were moments of, huh?!
Still, as a whodunnit it kept me going to the end.
And on a long drive home, this was truly appreciated. (This was our RVing stage of life.)
As for translation, confusing at times.
There were obvious reoccurring characters with backstories, but no explanation.
As a first time reader of the series, that proved to be somewhat annoying.
Other than that, I enjoyed the story, Mystery, characters and Italian food references.
Read
July 11, 2018Glas violine je već četvrti roman u serijalu o Montalbanu ali i od njega može sasvim komotno da se počne s čitanjem.
Komotno je, zapravo, ključna reč za ovaj (a nadam se i za sve ostale) Kamilerijev roman. Montalbano je komotni sredovečni policajac, nadrndan ali zlatnog srca, koji voli da dobro pojede, ređe i da popije, ceni žene svih uzrasta (i rado se savetuje s poznanicom, bakicom u kolicima), prezire forenzičare i... baš prezire forenzičare. Ima tu i nekih ubistava i pljački, ali to je zapravo u drugom planu, u prvom je njegova iskrena radost pred salsa koralinom i drugim manje poznatim čudesima lokalne sicilijanske kuhinje. I pred lepim ženama, ok. Daleko je od idealnog policajca, zapravo očekivano aljkav (na primer, njegova mržnja prema forenzičarima i generalna galantnost dovedu do toga da na mestu zločina pokupi bačeni bademantil i pokrije leš pre nego što oni obave svoj posao; možda je to zločin u očima CSI Miami ekipe ali meni ga čini nekako simpatičnim).
Jedina ozbiljna zamerka prevodu na nemački jeste što se prevoditeljka izgleda brinula da će čitaoci zaboraviti da su svi likovi u knjizi Italijani pa svi stalno govore Ecco! i Pronto! a nazivi jela se ne prevode, nego ko je alav neka ih sam gugla (i sad eto znam kako se oslić kaže na italijanskom). Kao drugorazredni američki film o stranjcima čiji jezik nam se servira kao engleski s lažnim stranim akcentom.
Komotno je, zapravo, ključna reč za ovaj (a nadam se i za sve ostale) Kamilerijev roman. Montalbano je komotni sredovečni policajac, nadrndan ali zlatnog srca, koji voli da dobro pojede, ređe i da popije, ceni žene svih uzrasta (i rado se savetuje s poznanicom, bakicom u kolicima), prezire forenzičare i... baš prezire forenzičare. Ima tu i nekih ubistava i pljački, ali to je zapravo u drugom planu, u prvom je njegova iskrena radost pred salsa koralinom i drugim manje poznatim čudesima lokalne sicilijanske kuhinje. I pred lepim ženama, ok. Daleko je od idealnog policajca, zapravo očekivano aljkav (na primer, njegova mržnja prema forenzičarima i generalna galantnost dovedu do toga da na mestu zločina pokupi bačeni bademantil i pokrije leš pre nego što oni obave svoj posao; možda je to zločin u očima CSI Miami ekipe ali meni ga čini nekako simpatičnim).
Jedina ozbiljna zamerka prevodu na nemački jeste što se prevoditeljka izgleda brinula da će čitaoci zaboraviti da su svi likovi u knjizi Italijani pa svi stalno govore Ecco! i Pronto! a nazivi jela se ne prevode, nego ko je alav neka ih sam gugla (i sad eto znam kako se oslić kaže na italijanskom). Kao drugorazredni američki film o stranjcima čiji jezik nam se servira kao engleski s lažnim stranim akcentom.
May 6, 2018
I'm enjoying reading these in order, and now I've got through the fourth, the characters are becoming welcome visitors popping into my life. Montalbano is as moody, rude, but idealistic as ever. I liked how Camilleri gives his inspector seemingly insurmountable beaurocratic problems only for Montalbano to come up with ever more complex, illegal but highly moral solutions. My only quibble with this one was the ending turned into a kind of Agatha Christie talkathon featuring the great sleuth addressing the room, not my favourite tune to play. But these mysteries are so enjoyable, I didn't really mind. If I could transpose the sense of this series to a police procedural set in Abiko, I'd be on to a winner, only Montalbano is as un-Japanese as it's possible to get.
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Download my starter library for free here - http://eepurl.com/bFkt0X - and receive my monthly newsletter with book recommendations galore for the Japanophile/crime fiction/English teacher in all of us.
June 10, 2011
Although this one is not quite as humorous as its predecessors, it continues Camilleri's most excellent writing and delves more into the characters previously introduced. This installment is much more focused on plot, although it does bring out Montalbano's more sensitive and compassionate side as he focuses on a most difficult personal issue carried over from events that began in The Snack Thief.
The story begins when Gallo, the Vigata station's official driver, picks up the Inspector to drive him to a funeral. Unfortunately, Gallo suffers from "Indianapolis Complex," and while driving too fast, plows into a parked car. On the return trip, Montalbano notices the car is still parked. Unable to sleep and bothered by the fact that the car hadn't moved and that the note he had left was still there, Montalbano later returns to the scene of the accident, goes to the owner's home, and let himself into the house. It is there that he discovers the body of a woman who had been suffocated to death. When the crime is reported "anonymously," the police are sent to investigate. Unfortunately for Montalbano, the forensics team discovers that he's left fingerprints everywhere, and on top of this, political maneuvers lead to the Inspector being taken off the case, which is handed over to the flying squad, who promptly shoot their number one suspect. But do they have the right guy?
Complicating Montalbano's life are unfinished issues with Livia, a woman named Anna Tropeano (a friend of the deceased), and all of the politics involved with Montalbano's new boss. However, none of these issues put a stop to his gourmet appetite and his ongoing friendship with Clementina Vasile Cozzo, to whom Montalbano has "remained as attached...as a son." But what does all of this have to do with a violin? Unknowingly, Clementina will help Salvo get to the truth of the mystery of the dead woman on a Friday morning, when (as is her weekly custom) she gets dressed up and listens to her upstairs neighbor Cataldo Barbera, a reclusive but internally-known violinist, play for her.
The core mystery is excellent -- as is the path to its solution. How Montalbano deals with the problems brought on by having a new boss who hates him is one of the better parts of this book, but is a situation in which he has to enlist several of the series' continuing characters. With each book, returning to this group of friends and colleagues is like returning to people you've known for a long time. That's just one reason I love this series, but it's a big one. And as noted earlier, this particular story is not as funny as the previous ones, but that's okay -- I love reading crime fiction for the crimes and their solutions, and Camilleri did not disappoint in this novel.
Definitely recommended to all readers of crime fiction, whether you like your crime deep and satisfyingly bad or a bit on the lighter side.
The story begins when Gallo, the Vigata station's official driver, picks up the Inspector to drive him to a funeral. Unfortunately, Gallo suffers from "Indianapolis Complex," and while driving too fast, plows into a parked car. On the return trip, Montalbano notices the car is still parked. Unable to sleep and bothered by the fact that the car hadn't moved and that the note he had left was still there, Montalbano later returns to the scene of the accident, goes to the owner's home, and let himself into the house. It is there that he discovers the body of a woman who had been suffocated to death. When the crime is reported "anonymously," the police are sent to investigate. Unfortunately for Montalbano, the forensics team discovers that he's left fingerprints everywhere, and on top of this, political maneuvers lead to the Inspector being taken off the case, which is handed over to the flying squad, who promptly shoot their number one suspect. But do they have the right guy?
Complicating Montalbano's life are unfinished issues with Livia, a woman named Anna Tropeano (a friend of the deceased), and all of the politics involved with Montalbano's new boss. However, none of these issues put a stop to his gourmet appetite and his ongoing friendship with Clementina Vasile Cozzo, to whom Montalbano has "remained as attached...as a son." But what does all of this have to do with a violin? Unknowingly, Clementina will help Salvo get to the truth of the mystery of the dead woman on a Friday morning, when (as is her weekly custom) she gets dressed up and listens to her upstairs neighbor Cataldo Barbera, a reclusive but internally-known violinist, play for her.
The core mystery is excellent -- as is the path to its solution. How Montalbano deals with the problems brought on by having a new boss who hates him is one of the better parts of this book, but is a situation in which he has to enlist several of the series' continuing characters. With each book, returning to this group of friends and colleagues is like returning to people you've known for a long time. That's just one reason I love this series, but it's a big one. And as noted earlier, this particular story is not as funny as the previous ones, but that's okay -- I love reading crime fiction for the crimes and their solutions, and Camilleri did not disappoint in this novel.
Definitely recommended to all readers of crime fiction, whether you like your crime deep and satisfyingly bad or a bit on the lighter side.
May 8, 2020
This is my second Montalbano mystery, and I have to say that I prefer him to the insufferable Brunetti of Venice, both as a character and as a man. It was difficult to follow all the characters, and I'm still not sure where Francois fits in, but I appreciate the series more. The one thing I do like about both series is the description of their wonderful meals--no slapping a hamburger on a bun for these guardians of the law.
June 12, 2021
Montalbano investigates the brutal murder of a young woman who has been setting up home in Sicily. His enquiries involve her husband and her lover in Bologna and a local admirer who seems to have disappeared, as well as a reclusive violinist who may have secrets to reveal.
Probably my favourite Montalbano story, this weaves together a compelling murder mystery and an intriguing sub-plot of corruption and politics. Montalbano's character, with its blend of cunning and volatility, dominates the action, but the other members of his Vigata police team provide a great supporting cast - Fazio, Augello, Gallo and Galluzzo, and of course Catarella.
Speaking of Catarella, the one odd note in Stephen Sartarelli's smooth and witty translation is that he has given him a bizarre pastiche of a New York accent, full of 'poisson' for 'person', 'wanna' and 'gotten'. I preferred the slightly buffoonish voice of the Catarella in the TV subtitles to this Sicilian who talks like a comic 'hoodlum' from a second rate gangster movie. However, the foibles of the translator in this one respect don't undermine the overall effect of a clever and subtle portrayal of Sicilian justice in action.
Enjoyable and intelligent, this was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series.
Probably my favourite Montalbano story, this weaves together a compelling murder mystery and an intriguing sub-plot of corruption and politics. Montalbano's character, with its blend of cunning and volatility, dominates the action, but the other members of his Vigata police team provide a great supporting cast - Fazio, Augello, Gallo and Galluzzo, and of course Catarella.
Speaking of Catarella, the one odd note in Stephen Sartarelli's smooth and witty translation is that he has given him a bizarre pastiche of a New York accent, full of 'poisson' for 'person', 'wanna' and 'gotten'. I preferred the slightly buffoonish voice of the Catarella in the TV subtitles to this Sicilian who talks like a comic 'hoodlum' from a second rate gangster movie. However, the foibles of the translator in this one respect don't undermine the overall effect of a clever and subtle portrayal of Sicilian justice in action.
Enjoyable and intelligent, this was an excellent read and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series.
November 2, 2021
So glad to have had an "excuse" to read another Montalbano, even if out of order. There is an aspect of Montalbano's life that means this might be better appreciated in order. That said, I often don't remember enough of these for it to matter anyway.
I'm pretty sure that most of us would wish to engage Montalbano's housekeeper. She leaves him gourmet dishes in the refrigerator. I was amused that once he chose to unplug his phone because over cooked pasta would ruin the sauce, an event not to be tolerated. In general, however, Montalbano is a crusty curmudgeon. His staff is extremely loyal, even when he sometimes treats them coldly. They know that their boss leads them to be the best there is.
The Goodreads description provides enough background on the case in this novel. I admit that "my" suspect had nothing to do with the murder. Even when I began to have other ideas, Montalbano was way ahead of me on who and why. The ending is satisfying. With a writing style that is miles ahead of the over-simple James Patterson, decent characterizations and an engaging plot, this is definitely worth 4-stars.
I'm pretty sure that most of us would wish to engage Montalbano's housekeeper. She leaves him gourmet dishes in the refrigerator. I was amused that once he chose to unplug his phone because over cooked pasta would ruin the sauce, an event not to be tolerated. In general, however, Montalbano is a crusty curmudgeon. His staff is extremely loyal, even when he sometimes treats them coldly. They know that their boss leads them to be the best there is.
The Goodreads description provides enough background on the case in this novel. I admit that "my" suspect had nothing to do with the murder. Even when I began to have other ideas, Montalbano was way ahead of me on who and why. The ending is satisfying. With a writing style that is miles ahead of the over-simple James Patterson, decent characterizations and an engaging plot, this is definitely worth 4-stars.
February 1, 2017
I enjoy the Montalbano books, where I find myself matching the descriptions of the characters and favourite places (restaurants, cafes, the beach), crime scenes and the police headquarters with the tv series.
This has many familiar threads, ill-chosen lovers, Sicilian heat, corruption and food. I have read this out of sequence so was not familiar with some elements of the story (a possible adoption, the current state of Montalbano's relationship with his absent love) Those things didn't matter and it was another good light read from the library.
This has many familiar threads, ill-chosen lovers, Sicilian heat, corruption and food. I have read this out of sequence so was not familiar with some elements of the story (a possible adoption, the current state of Montalbano's relationship with his absent love) Those things didn't matter and it was another good light read from the library.
December 18, 2022
"Il commissario invece era di Catania, di nome faceva Salvo Montalbano, e quando voleva capire una cosa, la capiva."
La voce del violino è l'ennesima opera con la quale Camilleri mostra le sue doti da maestro. Un libro appassionante che ci immerge nuovamente nella profonda Sicilia e ci coinvolge con i suoi dialoghi.
Una storia veramente toccante, che gira intorno all'amore e al profitto. C’è ben poco da dire se non confermare ancora una volta la bravura di Camilleri.
La voce del violino è l'ennesima opera con la quale Camilleri mostra le sue doti da maestro. Un libro appassionante che ci immerge nuovamente nella profonda Sicilia e ci coinvolge con i suoi dialoghi.
Una storia veramente toccante, che gira intorno all'amore e al profitto. C’è ben poco da dire se non confermare ancora una volta la bravura di Camilleri.
April 23, 2018
This wasn't my favorite Montalbano book, but I'm still giving it 5 stars for great dialog and comedy. The only part that disappointed me was the reveal at the end. The character that actually committed the murder didn't surprise me, unlike other times when Camilleri did a stunning reveal. I would still recommend this book. You will laugh 70% of the time.
December 18, 2021
Moving through the Montalbano universe, this one finds Salvo solving a twisted murder mystery (are there any other kinds?) and eating his way through Sicilian delicacies throughout (is there any other way?). I love the writing style, the slapstick comedy, the pathos all mixed in here like a fisherman's stew. This particular mystery has some interesting ups and downs and is a pleasure to read.
June 11, 2017
This is the 4th book in the Inspector Montalbano series, and so far it's my favorite. The writing and story-line are tighter. And my appreciation for the Inspector has grown. I have just ordered the 5th book in the series: Excursion to Tindari.
September 28, 2019
Another good addition to the Montalbano series. As always the food and scenery descriptions are exquisite. As always this novel is a lovely light read. However, I did not enjoy this one as much as the snack thief or the terra-cotta dog. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next book in the series has to offer.
August 25, 2017
Excellent. The clues here were much more deftly handled than in previous books, not that those were terrible or anything, but simply much better here. Montalbano and co. continue to be complex, asinine, funny, and brilliant.
November 11, 2021
Много увлекателна поредица!
April 29, 2020
Questo è il primo libro di Camilleri che leggo dopo la sua scomparsa. Non so perché, ma non sono più riuscito a leggere nulla di lui fino a questi giorni. Fino ad ora avevo già assaporato il suo stile inconfondibile, che ti fa innamorare di quella terra maledetta e benedetta insieme che è la Sicilia, sempre ricca di contraddizioni così come lo è il popolo siciliano. Fino ad ora il mio preferito della serie del commissario Montalbano è stato Il ladro di merendine, seguito da La forma dell'acqua e da Il cane di terracotta.
Il commissario si ritrova, per caso, a scoprire un brutto omicidio dove perde la vita una ragazza bellissima, morta durante un rapporto sessuale nella sua villa. E tutta l'indagine si può definire un continuo scambio: ma non posso approfondire per togliervi il piacere della trama. Stavolta ci ritroviamo a seguire le indagini di Salvo che sembrano intricate e piene di strani colpi di scena che mano a mano il nostro poliziotto si troverà a dover affrontare e dove, purtroppo, un innocente si sarebbe potuto salvare se avesse osservato un particolare dopo il ritrovamento del cadavere della donna. Colpisce anche stavolta l'umanità del commissario: si arrabbia, si emoziona, si addolora ad ogni capitolo. Toccante, ad esempio, la parte in cui va a trovare François, il bambino che abbiamo conosciuto nel precedente romanzo "Il ladro di merendine" e che, assieme a Livia, vorrebbero adottare. In questa indagine Montalbano ha molte similitudini col commissario Maigret, dove si fa guidare dalle sue intuizioni, dove cerca di assorbire la vita di quella povera ragazza e cerca di capire quello che le è accaduto e perché qualcuno è arrivato alla drastica decisione di ucciderla (quando scoprirete il motivo vi salirà una certa rabbia).
P.S. Catarella si prende il diploma in informatica, o come diceva lui all'inizio del corso in informaticcia.
Il commissario si ritrova, per caso, a scoprire un brutto omicidio dove perde la vita una ragazza bellissima, morta durante un rapporto sessuale nella sua villa. E tutta l'indagine si può definire un continuo scambio: ma non posso approfondire per togliervi il piacere della trama. Stavolta ci ritroviamo a seguire le indagini di Salvo che sembrano intricate e piene di strani colpi di scena che mano a mano il nostro poliziotto si troverà a dover affrontare e dove, purtroppo, un innocente si sarebbe potuto salvare se avesse osservato un particolare dopo il ritrovamento del cadavere della donna. Colpisce anche stavolta l'umanità del commissario: si arrabbia, si emoziona, si addolora ad ogni capitolo. Toccante, ad esempio, la parte in cui va a trovare François, il bambino che abbiamo conosciuto nel precedente romanzo "Il ladro di merendine" e che, assieme a Livia, vorrebbero adottare. In questa indagine Montalbano ha molte similitudini col commissario Maigret, dove si fa guidare dalle sue intuizioni, dove cerca di assorbire la vita di quella povera ragazza e cerca di capire quello che le è accaduto e perché qualcuno è arrivato alla drastica decisione di ucciderla (quando scoprirete il motivo vi salirà una certa rabbia).
P.S. Catarella si prende il diploma in informatica, o come diceva lui all'inizio del corso in informaticcia.
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