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Commissario Montalbano #27
The Cook of the Halcyon
Two deaths, the suicide a newly laid-off worker and an unscrupulous businessman found murdered, leads Inspector Montalbano to inspect the Halcyon, a nearly abandoned mysterious ship with no passengers.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
206 people are currently reading
832 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
434 books2,478 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 301 reviews
January 8, 2022
Number 27 of the series by Andrea Camilleri set in the fictional Vigata, Sicily, featuring the likable Inspector Salvo Montalbano, and it’s kind of a crazy experience, in several ways. It’s unique in the way it is written, and to me, having read all the previous books in order, disappointing, disconcerting. Camilleri originally drafted the core of this as a screenplay, written ten years prior to its being developed into a novel for the series, an Italian-American production that never finally came to anything. I see that many readers enjoyed it, but I found it bizarre, likely pieced together by his editorial team, not really coherent, and not really consistent with the tone of the rest of the series. Also, in the last novel, Livia dumped Salvo, and that was the way we left things.
In this one we open with a device Camilleri has used in recent books, a dream, which appears to be a kind of surprise; Salvo is what, married to Livia?! though then he wakes up! We have been waiting for resolution, since the last book, maybe things will change, so this appears to be Camilleri teasing us. Then, as if nothing has happened in the last book, Livia and Salvo are vacationing together?! No reference to anything that happened before at all, such as what happened to the dog, nothing, ugh. They should have dealt with this.
The novel reads more like a film, an action film, a romp, a farce, with a strange ending questioning the whole story. At one point in the story even Salvo says to his partner, an FBI guy (which explains the American part of the Italian-American production), that he wonders who is doing the music for this Bond movie they are making. So, Salvo and his team get involved in a wild Bond-like plot where they have to take over an international gambling and smuggling luxury cruiser, The Halcyon, where, you wouldn’t have guessed it, Salvo becomes the cook, in disguise. More “thriller” type action (and loose ends) in the plot than in any other book. And preposterous in every way, lots of silly disguises and subterfuge.
The book begins with a fire in a building owned by a billionaire who is known for his gambling and women. We meet a high-priced escort who seems to be very involved, then she disappears altogether. A worker for the billionaire commits suicide, indicating Sicilian labor problems, economic inequity, Sicilian societal dysfunction, with rains, flooding, then water shortages, but these threads disappear altogether, lost to the farce that involves Salvo being fired (but not really) as part of the plot, for reasons that are unconvincing. So this is Montalbano goes ‘murcan, I guess. In previous books he sometimes makes reference to American movies and their improbable plots; so this is satire? Maybe.
The whole tone of the book is comic, pretty preposterous, maybe more in keeping with the tv series based on the book series, which I have not seen. But I wish this was not listed as one of the Montalbano novels, since it feels pieced together and silly. One to go, which was written years earlier as Agatha Christie had done in her Poirot series, in case he died, as the intended finish to the series.
In this one we open with a device Camilleri has used in recent books, a dream, which appears to be a kind of surprise; Salvo is what, married to Livia?! though then he wakes up! We have been waiting for resolution, since the last book, maybe things will change, so this appears to be Camilleri teasing us. Then, as if nothing has happened in the last book, Livia and Salvo are vacationing together?! No reference to anything that happened before at all, such as what happened to the dog, nothing, ugh. They should have dealt with this.
The novel reads more like a film, an action film, a romp, a farce, with a strange ending questioning the whole story. At one point in the story even Salvo says to his partner, an FBI guy (which explains the American part of the Italian-American production), that he wonders who is doing the music for this Bond movie they are making. So, Salvo and his team get involved in a wild Bond-like plot where they have to take over an international gambling and smuggling luxury cruiser, The Halcyon, where, you wouldn’t have guessed it, Salvo becomes the cook, in disguise. More “thriller” type action (and loose ends) in the plot than in any other book. And preposterous in every way, lots of silly disguises and subterfuge.
The book begins with a fire in a building owned by a billionaire who is known for his gambling and women. We meet a high-priced escort who seems to be very involved, then she disappears altogether. A worker for the billionaire commits suicide, indicating Sicilian labor problems, economic inequity, Sicilian societal dysfunction, with rains, flooding, then water shortages, but these threads disappear altogether, lost to the farce that involves Salvo being fired (but not really) as part of the plot, for reasons that are unconvincing. So this is Montalbano goes ‘murcan, I guess. In previous books he sometimes makes reference to American movies and their improbable plots; so this is satire? Maybe.
The whole tone of the book is comic, pretty preposterous, maybe more in keeping with the tv series based on the book series, which I have not seen. But I wish this was not listed as one of the Montalbano novels, since it feels pieced together and silly. One to go, which was written years earlier as Agatha Christie had done in her Poirot series, in case he died, as the intended finish to the series.
May 31, 2019
Ben due postille dell'autore alla fine, che sanno tanto di excusatio non petita, per giustificare fragilità della trama e incongruenze nella narrazione. Camilleri sta ravanando in fondo ai cassetti e questa sceneggiatura per una co produzione italo americana non andata a buon fine, anni fa, e ora riadattata per la nuova avventura di Montalbano ne è l'ennesima conferma. La storia è veramente strampalata, lontanissima dalle indagini a cui siamo abituati, con un plot di azione in mezzo al mare e, giusto per amor di metafora, fa acqua da tutte le parti. Nello stesso tempo, nessuno dei fedelissimi del Commissario legge le sue indagini con l'occhio attento o con il metro severo del giallista: tale è la gioia di ritrovarlo in un nuovo romanzo, lui e Fazio e Augello e Catarella ed Enzo e Livia e tutta la galleria di personaggi che ha reso Vigàta uno dei posti del nostro cuore, che gli si perdona sempre tutto- e stavolta, persino di più. Ma va bene cosi.
October 14, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded up. Weird story, partially explained by Camilleri in his end note as this novel was initially intended to be a screenplay. A local businessman, who is living large, closes his factory, drawing massive protests from disgruntled employees. Montalbano's small police force in Vigata allows the mob to beat up the security team at the factory. Out of the blue, Montalbano is forced to take a vacation, and when he tries to organize his own protest, he is dismissed. The FBI becomes interested in the criminal activities of the same local businessman from his connection to a yacht (the Halcyon), operating in international waters as a gambling and vice center.
December 21, 2021
It'll be the first time in my life I arrest eighteen people using a potato cake!
Ahhh, and with this I've now finished the Montalbano series (there is a final book, Riccardino but I've already read that out of order) and there are no more new adventures with Salvo to look forward to :(
Still, the series ends in a fascinating and unexpected way and this penultimate book is perhaps more action-packed than some (it started as an Italian/American screenplay) without losing any of the character, high comedy, farcical antics and just enough of the tragic to remind us that serious things are happening. It's a delight to meet Ingrid again and without talking plot or spoilers some highlights include Montalba and team undercover... including Catarella!
Perfect downtime reading that combines comedy and the tragic in a humane way.
August 19, 2022
Es el penúltimo libro de la serie de Montalbano. Camilleri no defrauda y en esta nueva entrega vuelve a demostrar que era un maestro de la novela negra o policiaca .
Esta historia en principio iba a ser un guion televisivo pero el proyecto no salió adelante y el autor decidió transformarla en una novela de la serie de Montalbano .
Esta historia en principio iba a ser un guion televisivo pero el proyecto no salió adelante y el autor decidió transformarla en una novela de la serie de Montalbano .
June 17, 2019
Boy was this bad. A novella scraped together from a scrapped teleplay. Camilleri could choose just to stop, and to leave us with our very treasured memories. But it appears that there is an industry that needs to be fed.
March 29, 2021
This is amusing at times, yes, but does start off confusing the reader since it really does not conform to the typical Montalbano routine. The author noted before his death that it was a script/outline prepared for a movie venture between Americans and Italians that fell through.
Yes, Livia makes appearance though short lived. In a nutshell, Americans become interested in the criminal activities of person living in the region who is operating a boat (the Halcyon) in international waters as a gambling and vice center. Part of the scheme is to have Montalbano and his regular team fired and since he has little to do, his cook teaches him how to make all of his favorite dishes allowing Montalbano to play the role of cook on this ship of fools.
Not recommended for anyone other than Montalbano fans.
Yes, Livia makes appearance though short lived. In a nutshell, Americans become interested in the criminal activities of person living in the region who is operating a boat (the Halcyon) in international waters as a gambling and vice center. Part of the scheme is to have Montalbano and his regular team fired and since he has little to do, his cook teaches him how to make all of his favorite dishes allowing Montalbano to play the role of cook on this ship of fools.
Not recommended for anyone other than Montalbano fans.
May 1, 2022
3,5 estrellas (7 sobre 10)
Por mucho amor y devoción que sienta por esta serie y por el propio Andrea Camilleri, que me parecía un hombre entrañable, y aunque realmente me ha gustado mucho esta novela (como no podía ser de otro modo, cuando se trata de las andanzas de Salvo Montalbano), debo reconocer que es la que me ha parecido más floja de todas (o menos buena, según se mire).
Aunque sigue teniendo esa socarronería, ese aire tan siciliano, ese sentido del humor, ese amor por los platos tradicionales de la cocina siciliana... pese a seguir manteniendo, en definitiva, las claves de la esencia de las novelas de esta saga (que además, en mi opinión, han sido la clave de su éxito), es la que me ha parecido "menos Montalbana" (toma expresión inventada) de todas, y creo que se debe a que es la más peliculera. De hecho, como reconoce el propio Camilleri en la nota final, el argumento de este libro en realidad era el guión que había realizado hacía 10 años para una película que finalmente no se rodó (que no tenía nada que ver con Salvo Montalbano), y aunque después la adaptó a novela, añadiendo además las claves del estilo de la serie (y una vez más me quito el sombrero ante el autor, porque hizo esto con 94 años y ya ciego, debiendo dictar la novela en lugar de escribirla él mismo de su puño y letra), hay algo que sigue sin sonar 100% igual que los otros libros, tanto en los párrafos (que realmente siguen sonando a escenas cinematográficas) como en la trama en sí, que para mí se desvía del estilo de las anteriores, más rocambolesca, y con más acción, en lugar de esos misterios en los que primaba el ingenio y la astucia de zorro, el estilo casero y de ir por casa, por encima de persecuciones más sofisticadas.
Con todo, sigue siendo una novela de Montalbano, y me he entretenido y divertido muchísimo con algunas salidas.
Qué penita me da saber que es la última que escribió Camilleri. Que no habrá más, salvo "Riccardino" (que escribió en 2005, con la orden de que solo se publicara a título póstumo). Después solo me quedará el recurso y el consuelo de acudir a las relecturas, porque no concibo mi vida sin poder recurrir de vez en cuando a Montalbano y al universo que le rodea.
Por mucho amor y devoción que sienta por esta serie y por el propio Andrea Camilleri, que me parecía un hombre entrañable, y aunque realmente me ha gustado mucho esta novela (como no podía ser de otro modo, cuando se trata de las andanzas de Salvo Montalbano), debo reconocer que es la que me ha parecido más floja de todas (o menos buena, según se mire).
Aunque sigue teniendo esa socarronería, ese aire tan siciliano, ese sentido del humor, ese amor por los platos tradicionales de la cocina siciliana... pese a seguir manteniendo, en definitiva, las claves de la esencia de las novelas de esta saga (que además, en mi opinión, han sido la clave de su éxito), es la que me ha parecido "menos Montalbana" (toma expresión inventada) de todas, y creo que se debe a que es la más peliculera. De hecho, como reconoce el propio Camilleri en la nota final, el argumento de este libro en realidad era el guión que había realizado hacía 10 años para una película que finalmente no se rodó (que no tenía nada que ver con Salvo Montalbano), y aunque después la adaptó a novela, añadiendo además las claves del estilo de la serie (y una vez más me quito el sombrero ante el autor, porque hizo esto con 94 años y ya ciego, debiendo dictar la novela en lugar de escribirla él mismo de su puño y letra), hay algo que sigue sin sonar 100% igual que los otros libros, tanto en los párrafos (que realmente siguen sonando a escenas cinematográficas) como en la trama en sí, que para mí se desvía del estilo de las anteriores, más rocambolesca, y con más acción, en lugar de esos misterios en los que primaba el ingenio y la astucia de zorro, el estilo casero y de ir por casa, por encima de persecuciones más sofisticadas.
Con todo, sigue siendo una novela de Montalbano, y me he entretenido y divertido muchísimo con algunas salidas.
Qué penita me da saber que es la última que escribió Camilleri. Que no habrá más, salvo "Riccardino" (que escribió en 2005, con la orden de que solo se publicara a título póstumo). Después solo me quedará el recurso y el consuelo de acudir a las relecturas, porque no concibo mi vida sin poder recurrir de vez en cuando a Montalbano y al universo que le rodea.
April 12, 2021
Set in the magical world of Inspector Montalbano, a police procedural like no other. Fully Italian and sensitive to Sicily, its language, people and cuisine.
Never formulaic, but with familiar characters, relationships and a well defined moral compass.
Brought to life in an award winning TV series, the books resonate all that is good about life, humour, food, passion and the overspill of uncontrolled emotion, greed and crime.
Always reflecting the political concerns, be they corruption, immigration, unemployment and gang related violence - the Mafia and organised crime.
This story is far removed from the sleepy existence Montalbano enjoys; he feels age creeping up on him and his gentle easing into retirement is turned on its head.
The reason the book seems more adventurous is explained in part in the author’s comments but mostly as the Chief is taken out of his familiar environment.
This in turn we are led to believe is because his empire, his local police unit is being systematically broken up while he is ordered to take unused annual leave built up over the years. Not everything is what it seems however but in trying to wrestle back some authority he overplays his hand and places himself and others in a rather dangerous setting. Perhaps he is too old to be an action hero?
I loved the humour as always; the mood swings, the sense of danger. The characters are intimate and you feel part of this fictional landscape. In the broader brushstrokes of this novel, set within a larger canvas you feel every fear, share in the sense of losing control, experience the loss of appetite and understand the doubts.
Montalbano is nothing if not resourceful; a bender of the truth, bright and quick witted enough to talk his way out of most situation. Here though you feel, as he alludes to, that he has been played, outmanoeuvred and check mated.
As stated above, to reclaim some control and pride he overplays his hand and in doing allows us to enjoy a thrilling conclusion to this story that places him in great danger and not the cop we can more readily identify with, in some of his recent cases.
Never formulaic, but with familiar characters, relationships and a well defined moral compass.
Brought to life in an award winning TV series, the books resonate all that is good about life, humour, food, passion and the overspill of uncontrolled emotion, greed and crime.
Always reflecting the political concerns, be they corruption, immigration, unemployment and gang related violence - the Mafia and organised crime.
This story is far removed from the sleepy existence Montalbano enjoys; he feels age creeping up on him and his gentle easing into retirement is turned on its head.
The reason the book seems more adventurous is explained in part in the author’s comments but mostly as the Chief is taken out of his familiar environment.
This in turn we are led to believe is because his empire, his local police unit is being systematically broken up while he is ordered to take unused annual leave built up over the years. Not everything is what it seems however but in trying to wrestle back some authority he overplays his hand and places himself and others in a rather dangerous setting. Perhaps he is too old to be an action hero?
I loved the humour as always; the mood swings, the sense of danger. The characters are intimate and you feel part of this fictional landscape. In the broader brushstrokes of this novel, set within a larger canvas you feel every fear, share in the sense of losing control, experience the loss of appetite and understand the doubts.
Montalbano is nothing if not resourceful; a bender of the truth, bright and quick witted enough to talk his way out of most situation. Here though you feel, as he alludes to, that he has been played, outmanoeuvred and check mated.
As stated above, to reclaim some control and pride he overplays his hand and in doing allows us to enjoy a thrilling conclusion to this story that places him in great danger and not the cop we can more readily identify with, in some of his recent cases.
April 9, 2021
A good romp,if not typical of Montalbano.Great last lines,with a wink to the reader.
April 21, 2021
The titular Halcyon is the name of the schooner whose owners are up to no good. I dare not say even a single thing more — not even repeat the book blurb, as it’s pretty misleading. Let’s just say that there are so many twists and surprises in this novel, that you begin to wonder if Chief Inspector Salvo Montalbano will even make it out alive!
I want to say that the late Andea Camillieri redeemed himself with this 27th novel in this remarkable series. However, The Cook of the Halcyon was written long before The Sicilian Method, the last book — and worst — that Camillieri wrote. So it’s more a taste of the early caliber of Camillieri’s writing rather than a turnaround. But The Cook of the Halcyon brought me back to the days when a Montalbano novel was sharp, very suspenseful and quirky, and Salvo and Livia Burlando, Salvo’s long-distance girlfriend, were still on good terms. For that, I’m most grateful.
Only one more book remains to be released. The final book, No. 28, was written in 2005, and was always intended to be the last in the series, like Agatha Christie’s Curtain: Poirot's Last Case. I’m obviously devastated by the end of such a wonderful series, but at least I had The Cook of the Halcyon to wash the terrible taste of The Sicilian Method, so we could end on a high note.
I want to say that the late Andea Camillieri redeemed himself with this 27th novel in this remarkable series. However, The Cook of the Halcyon was written long before The Sicilian Method, the last book — and worst — that Camillieri wrote. So it’s more a taste of the early caliber of Camillieri’s writing rather than a turnaround. But The Cook of the Halcyon brought me back to the days when a Montalbano novel was sharp, very suspenseful and quirky, and Salvo and Livia Burlando, Salvo’s long-distance girlfriend, were still on good terms. For that, I’m most grateful.
Only one more book remains to be released. The final book, No. 28, was written in 2005, and was always intended to be the last in the series, like Agatha Christie’s Curtain: Poirot's Last Case. I’m obviously devastated by the end of such a wonderful series, but at least I had The Cook of the Halcyon to wash the terrible taste of The Sicilian Method, so we could end on a high note.
June 14, 2019
Appuntmento estivo come tradizione con il nuovo episodio (ormai sono già scritti per la televisione - ancor più questo che pare avesse dovuto essere un film )
Sempre divertente ma, ahimè, dopo non so più quanti sempre più prevedibile...
Il divertimento sono i trucchi e le lezioni di cucina...
Sempre divertente ma, ahimè, dopo non so più quanti sempre più prevedibile...
Il divertimento sono i trucchi e le lezioni di cucina...
June 3, 2021
A Flashback for Montalbano
Review of the Penguin Books paperback (March 2021) English language translation of the Italian language original Il cuoco dell'Alcyon (2019)
Andrea Camilleri (1925-2019) left us hanging at the end of The Sicilian Method (orig. 2018/trans. 2020) with what seemed like an uncharacteristic walk into the sunset for his Inspector Montalbano character. Early reports of books #27 The Cook of the Halcyon and #28 Riccardino said that they were recycled works written years earlier.
Now that we have #27 in hand and can also read the English language synopsis for Riccardino (expected publication of the English translation September 21, 2021) we know all. Riccardino is indeed the final planned book of the Montalbano saga, although originally written in 2005 and updated prior to the author's death. The Cook of the Halcyon is both a flashback and a sidestep as explained in the Author's Note:
Indeed, Montalbano is turned into not only an action hero, he also becomes a chef under the tutelage of his housekeeper Adelina and favourite trattorio owner Enzo in order to infiltrate the lair of the baddies in this adaptation. So it is definitely not our usual Montalbano here, but any visit with the cantankerous police inspector of Vigàta, Sicily is a welcome one.
The rest of the regular Montalbano cast make their standard appearances, girlfriend Livia; policemen Mimi, Fazio and Catarella; and of course Adelina and Enzo with recipes for basic dishes such as spaghetti agio e olio (Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil).
Trivia and Links
Alcyone or Halcyone (Greek Mythology): Mythical origin of the term Halcyon Days, a time of peace and respite from storms.
halcyon (adjective): 1. denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
halcyon (noun): 1. a tropical Asian and African kingfisher with brightly colored plumage.
2. a mythical bird said by ancient writers to breed in a nest floating at sea at the winter solstice, charming the wind and waves into calm.
Review of the Penguin Books paperback (March 2021) English language translation of the Italian language original Il cuoco dell'Alcyon (2019)
Andrea Camilleri (1925-2019) left us hanging at the end of The Sicilian Method (orig. 2018/trans. 2020) with what seemed like an uncharacteristic walk into the sunset for his Inspector Montalbano character. Early reports of books #27 The Cook of the Halcyon and #28 Riccardino said that they were recycled works written years earlier.
Now that we have #27 in hand and can also read the English language synopsis for Riccardino (expected publication of the English translation September 21, 2021) we know all. Riccardino is indeed the final planned book of the Montalbano saga, although originally written in 2005 and updated prior to the author's death. The Cook of the Halcyon is both a flashback and a sidestep as explained in the Author's Note:
This story was conceived about ten years ago, not as a novel but as a script for an Italian and American film co-production. When the plans for collaboration fell through, I used the screenplay, with a few variants, for a new Montalbano book, and I suppose that, for better or for worse, the nonliterary origins of the work show through in the telling.
Indeed, Montalbano is turned into not only an action hero, he also becomes a chef under the tutelage of his housekeeper Adelina and favourite trattorio owner Enzo in order to infiltrate the lair of the baddies in this adaptation. So it is definitely not our usual Montalbano here, but any visit with the cantankerous police inspector of Vigàta, Sicily is a welcome one.
The rest of the regular Montalbano cast make their standard appearances, girlfriend Livia; policemen Mimi, Fazio and Catarella; and of course Adelina and Enzo with recipes for basic dishes such as spaghetti agio e olio (Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil).
Trivia and Links
Alcyone or Halcyone (Greek Mythology): Mythical origin of the term Halcyon Days, a time of peace and respite from storms.
halcyon (adjective): 1. denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.
halcyon (noun): 1. a tropical Asian and African kingfisher with brightly colored plumage.
2. a mythical bird said by ancient writers to breed in a nest floating at sea at the winter solstice, charming the wind and waves into calm.
June 23, 2019
Insolita trama per questo libro con l’amato commissario Montalbano in una veste inedita; si legge bene, ma … qualcosa stona.
August 17, 2019
Credo di non poter dare un voto oggettivo a questo romanzo, l'esperienza della lettura è troppo legata ai sentimenti per la scomparsa di Camilleri.
Leggere di come il questore Bonetti-Alderighi tenti di smembrare il commissariato di Vigata durante una vacanza di Montalbano, di come i vari Fazio, Augello e Catarella vengano destinati ad altri incarichi sa proprio di chiusura del cerchio, e purtroppo sarà proprio così. Non rivedremo più gli amici a cui abbiamo imparato a voler bene negli ultimi 25 anni, non sapremo mai se il rapporto tra Livia e Salvo si sarebbe ricomposto dopo la sbandata di lui per la giovane medico legale...
Agatha Christie sopravvisse solo pochi mesi all'uscita di "Sipario", l'ultima avventura di Poirot. Non riesco a togliermi dalla testa che Camilleri è sopravvissuto solo pochi mesi all'uscita di un romanzo dove il suo mondo viene completamente capovolto.
Comunque, al di là di queste tristi riflessioni, a me il romanzo in sé non è dispiaciuto.
Certo, non è il seguito de "Il metodo Catalanotti", perché qui Montalbano è sicuramente più giovane e vitale di quanto sia stato negli ultimi libri.
Certo, non è la classica storia di Montalbano, visto l'inserimento dell'FBI e degli americani.
Ma è una storia d'azione che si lascia leggere volentieri, che coinvolge e che diverte.
Mi mancheranno le avventure di Salvo e tutto il commissariato di Vigata. :(
Leggere di come il questore Bonetti-Alderighi tenti di smembrare il commissariato di Vigata durante una vacanza di Montalbano, di come i vari Fazio, Augello e Catarella vengano destinati ad altri incarichi sa proprio di chiusura del cerchio, e purtroppo sarà proprio così. Non rivedremo più gli amici a cui abbiamo imparato a voler bene negli ultimi 25 anni, non sapremo mai se il rapporto tra Livia e Salvo si sarebbe ricomposto dopo la sbandata di lui per la giovane medico legale...
Agatha Christie sopravvisse solo pochi mesi all'uscita di "Sipario", l'ultima avventura di Poirot. Non riesco a togliermi dalla testa che Camilleri è sopravvissuto solo pochi mesi all'uscita di un romanzo dove il suo mondo viene completamente capovolto.
Comunque, al di là di queste tristi riflessioni, a me il romanzo in sé non è dispiaciuto.
Certo, non è il seguito de "Il metodo Catalanotti", perché qui Montalbano è sicuramente più giovane e vitale di quanto sia stato negli ultimi libri.
Certo, non è la classica storia di Montalbano, visto l'inserimento dell'FBI e degli americani.
Ma è una storia d'azione che si lascia leggere volentieri, che coinvolge e che diverte.
Mi mancheranno le avventure di Salvo e tutto il commissariato di Vigata. :(
May 12, 2020
Non me lo aspettavo così...
Un Montalbano molto diverso dal solito, quasi fuori dal suo naturale contesto.
Poi ho capito: una delle due note finali spiega il perché questo romanzo ha un taglio così particolare. In effetti è l’adattamento letterario di un soggetto cinematografico di qualche anno fa, la cui produzione non è andata a buon fine. E allora ci è stato offerto così, rimaneggiato. Ma la differenza si avverte.
Nonostante tutto l’ho trovato un buon racconto, un’avventura inconsueta per il nostro commissario e i suoi fidi gregari, una storia che mi è piaciuta anche perché non ha tralasciato né l’ironia di certe situazioni né i momenti più difficili carichi di suspense.
Libro letto anche con la consapevolezza che chi l’ha scritto non ci potrà più regalare emozioni.
4 stelle date con affetto.
Carissimo Maestro, grazie... ☺️
#iorestoacasaeleggo
📚 RC 2020 - TBR 3
🌎 LdM Mini sfida -> Americhe: task 20 (Saint-Barthélemy)
✍️ A.C.
Un Montalbano molto diverso dal solito, quasi fuori dal suo naturale contesto.
Poi ho capito: una delle due note finali spiega il perché questo romanzo ha un taglio così particolare. In effetti è l’adattamento letterario di un soggetto cinematografico di qualche anno fa, la cui produzione non è andata a buon fine. E allora ci è stato offerto così, rimaneggiato. Ma la differenza si avverte.
Nonostante tutto l’ho trovato un buon racconto, un’avventura inconsueta per il nostro commissario e i suoi fidi gregari, una storia che mi è piaciuta anche perché non ha tralasciato né l’ironia di certe situazioni né i momenti più difficili carichi di suspense.
Libro letto anche con la consapevolezza che chi l’ha scritto non ci potrà più regalare emozioni.
4 stelle date con affetto.
Carissimo Maestro, grazie... ☺️
#iorestoacasaeleggo
📚 RC 2020 - TBR 3
🌎 LdM Mini sfida -> Americhe: task 20 (Saint-Barthélemy)
✍️ A.C.
August 22, 2020
Weird, really weird. It’s set in a different timeframe compared to the last book. So you have a younger Commissario and a still there Livia. Plus, the story is soo weird, an action movie vibe that is so no Montalbano. But how can’t you love a book by Camilleri even if with a paisà from the FBI?
June 1, 2019
Ormai i libri di Camilleri si leggono per affetto. Non un granché.
April 30, 2021
I've always liked the Montelbano series - where the crime is usually solved incidentially to some delicious Sicilian food and the action is primarily an argument with the commissioner. This book starts very slowly - Montelbano on leave and then thunders into an unexplained action movie (boat heist) in partnership with FBI. But there are so many plot holes...
Who were the passengers; who was steering the boat; why are the FBI involved; why all the business of breaking up Vigatta police team and discrediting Montelbano in the press? I just dont think it makes sense and it feels like a rushed job to convert story concept into a Montelbano... definitely one only for real fans and if youve read every other one first.
Who were the passengers; who was steering the boat; why are the FBI involved; why all the business of breaking up Vigatta police team and discrediting Montelbano in the press? I just dont think it makes sense and it feels like a rushed job to convert story concept into a Montelbano... definitely one only for real fans and if youve read every other one first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2019
Caro vecchio Montalbano, con quella capacità di attrazione nelle pagine incredibile: figlia di una ars affabulatoria che è fra i migliori pregi di Camilleri. Caro vecchio Montalbano, con Fazio e Livia e Mimì e Catarella e quello spirito romantico e quasi anacronistico di affrontare la vita in maniera impegnata, onesta, piena di dignità.
Caro vecchio Montalbano: non la migliore delle tue avventure, con evidente differenza fra la prima parte del romanzo così vigatese e la seconda più adatta a una spy-story. E un voto che è quindi in realtà un abbraccio al tuo creatore, un Grande Maestro compagno ormai da molti molti anni.
Caro vecchio Montalbano: non la migliore delle tue avventure, con evidente differenza fra la prima parte del romanzo così vigatese e la seconda più adatta a una spy-story. E un voto che è quindi in realtà un abbraccio al tuo creatore, un Grande Maestro compagno ormai da molti molti anni.
March 23, 2021
So, definitely not one of Camilleri's best efforts. In a postscript he admits that this was a screenplay he wrote 10 years ago that was never made, he polished it up and put it out.
Montalbano is playing the action hero, starring in a complicated plot dreamed up by an FBI agent. The Halcyon is a boat taken out and used for illegal activities, but the FBI has a very complicated plot to catch the bad guys in the act. Going for a thriller vibe, not really much on character and police procedural. Everyone is a caricature of what we're used to seeing, I guess it would have made for an interesting TV show 10 years ago, but not so much a good novel.
Montalbano is playing the action hero, starring in a complicated plot dreamed up by an FBI agent. The Halcyon is a boat taken out and used for illegal activities, but the FBI has a very complicated plot to catch the bad guys in the act. Going for a thriller vibe, not really much on character and police procedural. Everyone is a caricature of what we're used to seeing, I guess it would have made for an interesting TV show 10 years ago, but not so much a good novel.
April 8, 2021
It was a decent read but I didn't find this up to scratch, the plot and addition of figures across the pond made it a bad direct to tv movie. Too far fetched and silly. I was loooking forward to this but it wasn't up to par for me and
*SPOILER FROM LAST BOOK*
Salvo was visiting his girlfriend Livia, who dumped him in the last book. So where does this fit in chronologically?
Just felt out of place and not the finale to the series I hoped it would be. That said I have loved this series as a whole and wish there were more to read but I look forward to returning to Vigata many times with Salvo, Mimi, Fazio and of course Catarella.
*SPOILER FROM LAST BOOK*
Salvo was visiting his girlfriend Livia, who dumped him in the last book. So where does this fit in chronologically?
Just felt out of place and not the finale to the series I hoped it would be. That said I have loved this series as a whole and wish there were more to read but I look forward to returning to Vigata many times with Salvo, Mimi, Fazio and of course Catarella.
April 16, 2021
Rating 2.5
If this is the last Montalbano then this is a disappointing end to the series.
At times I wondered if the book had been translated by the usual person as it didn’t read (or feel) like a Montalbano story.
It might have worked as a movie but wouldn’t have fitted into the tv series very well, as the books and the characters do not belong in an American style thriller environment. If it had been made it would have been Montalbano only in name and definitely not in spirit at least in my opinion.
I couldn’t round the score up to a 3 as I just didn’t enjoy it enough.
For completists only I think.
If this is the last Montalbano then this is a disappointing end to the series.
At times I wondered if the book had been translated by the usual person as it didn’t read (or feel) like a Montalbano story.
It might have worked as a movie but wouldn’t have fitted into the tv series very well, as the books and the characters do not belong in an American style thriller environment. If it had been made it would have been Montalbano only in name and definitely not in spirit at least in my opinion.
I couldn’t round the score up to a 3 as I just didn’t enjoy it enough.
For completists only I think.
August 30, 2021
Bad and nonsensical. Nothing like the rest of his books. Νο real plot, no existential Montalbano thoughts, cardboard characters and out of chronological order with the series.
The entire book resembles a block of emmental cheese too many holes and disappointing taste.
The entire book resembles a block of emmental cheese too many holes and disappointing taste.
March 22, 2021
3.5 stars
An enjoyable story of Montalbano plying his usual skill set (investigation of murders, etc.) but also developing capabilities in other areas, as he gets closer to retirement. This ended up being more of a thriller than we are used to seeing in a Montalbano story, but it was well done.
In this book, Camilerri seemed determined to bring up just about every character that has ever appeared in a Montalbano book. So you do get the feeling that this was a bit of a swan song for the series since every key character is covered, however briefly.
There are times in the book where Montalbano appears to be a caricature of himself, really going over the top in key situations. It is as if Montalbano, nearing retirement, has a more fraught mental state than we are used to. The overall humor is still good.
Overall, an enjoyable, but different, story about one of the sharpest Inspectors in Sicily.
An enjoyable story of Montalbano plying his usual skill set (investigation of murders, etc.) but also developing capabilities in other areas, as he gets closer to retirement. This ended up being more of a thriller than we are used to seeing in a Montalbano story, but it was well done.
In this book, Camilerri seemed determined to bring up just about every character that has ever appeared in a Montalbano book. So you do get the feeling that this was a bit of a swan song for the series since every key character is covered, however briefly.
There are times in the book where Montalbano appears to be a caricature of himself, really going over the top in key situations. It is as if Montalbano, nearing retirement, has a more fraught mental state than we are used to. The overall humor is still good.
Overall, an enjoyable, but different, story about one of the sharpest Inspectors in Sicily.
January 14, 2026
This is the 27th book in the serie with inspector Montalbano set in Sicily, Italy. The book is engaging and suspenseful and there is even FBI agent featuring. I got to know in author's note in the end of the book that he originally had written it as a screenplay to the film which should have been made in italian-american coproduction but finally was not done. Overall the book is interesting and is worth reading.
August 13, 2021
Δεν σε αφήνει να το αφήσεις. Από τα καλύτερά του.
October 13, 2019
"Il cuoco dell'Alcyon" ha un significato particolare per tutti i fan di Moltalbano, è l'ultimo romanzo che Camilleri ha pubblicato in vita; dopo di esso - salvo inediti nascosti da qualche parte - resterà solo "Riccardino", pronto ormai da molti anni come "chiusura" della Saga.
Leggendolo, tuttavia, si può intuire quello che, dopo la conclusione, l'autore rivela nella nota finale: il romanzo non era stato pensato per Montalbano, ma come una sceneggiatura di un film italo-americano che non venne mai realizzato. Camilleri decise poi di "riadattarlo" al suo commissario ed infine di pubblicarlo.
Purtroppo credo che la cosa si senta fin troppo e che il romanzo ne risenta fortemente. Da una parte, la storia - molto da film d'azione - non è molto adatta alla personalità di Montalbano; dall'altra lo stesso Montalbano non funziona troppo bene nella storia. Si finisce per avere una parte iniziale, che serve anche a "spingere" Montalbano in una storia non sua, fin troppo estesa ed un finale fin troppo sbrigativo e insoddisfacente. Peccato, perché da un certo punto di vista sarebbe anche stato positivo vedere Montalbano al di fuori del suo solito ambiente vigatese.
Nel complesso non è stata una lettura del tutto deludente, ma è comunque lontano dai migliori della serie. Peccato.
Leggendolo, tuttavia, si può intuire quello che, dopo la conclusione, l'autore rivela nella nota finale: il romanzo non era stato pensato per Montalbano, ma come una sceneggiatura di un film italo-americano che non venne mai realizzato. Camilleri decise poi di "riadattarlo" al suo commissario ed infine di pubblicarlo.
Purtroppo credo che la cosa si senta fin troppo e che il romanzo ne risenta fortemente. Da una parte, la storia - molto da film d'azione - non è molto adatta alla personalità di Montalbano; dall'altra lo stesso Montalbano non funziona troppo bene nella storia. Si finisce per avere una parte iniziale, che serve anche a "spingere" Montalbano in una storia non sua, fin troppo estesa ed un finale fin troppo sbrigativo e insoddisfacente. Peccato, perché da un certo punto di vista sarebbe anche stato positivo vedere Montalbano al di fuori del suo solito ambiente vigatese.
Nel complesso non è stata una lettura del tutto deludente, ma è comunque lontano dai migliori della serie. Peccato.
March 27, 2021
A very dark and visceral installment which is out of character for the series. Is this the last one? Or are they still translating more books? The previous book left us with the impression that the relationship with Livia was done; yet in this book there’s no indication of a strained relationship. Perhaps the numbering is related to the order they are translated rather than the chronological process of the stories. Camilleri had the last book written well in advance of his death so I’m wondering when that one will appear.
Montalbano actually becomes the title. He’s really out of sorts in this one. He slaps a factory owner who behaves like an entitled jerk. The factory owner is subsequently murdered and complicit in some high scale international crime that brings the FBI to Vigata. Next thing we know Montalbano is being fired and his house is for sale. And Montalbano jumps into the fire with more of his great ideas. He’s a sixty year old man who should retire and maybe what happened on the Halcyon will force him to make that decision finally.
Montalbano actually becomes the title. He’s really out of sorts in this one. He slaps a factory owner who behaves like an entitled jerk. The factory owner is subsequently murdered and complicit in some high scale international crime that brings the FBI to Vigata. Next thing we know Montalbano is being fired and his house is for sale. And Montalbano jumps into the fire with more of his great ideas. He’s a sixty year old man who should retire and maybe what happened on the Halcyon will force him to make that decision finally.
December 4, 2019
The last Montalbano novel penned by the great Camilleri before his death (excluding the still unpublished one which marks the end of Montalbano, but that wont be a crime novel per sè). Number 27 in the series. Though nowhere the greatness of his early novels, it is by far the best of the latest Montalbano novels. As if right before his death he wanted to leave on a high. It is an intriguing plot which borders between espionage, noir, Christie setups, intelligent red herrings, murky waters and half a dozen mentions of Malta.
It is a sad farewell to a great gumshoe, who for a quarter of a century I have religiously followed and who has heavily influenced my career as a crime writer.
It is a sad farewell to a great gumshoe, who for a quarter of a century I have religiously followed and who has heavily influenced my career as a crime writer.
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