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Commissario Montalbano #8
The Patience of the Spider
Chief Inspector Montalbano is on enforced sick-leave. But when a local girl goes mysteriously missing, the whole community takes an interest in the case. Why are the kidnappers so sure that the girl's impoverished father and dying mother will be able to pay the ransom? The ever inquisitive Montalbano steps in to get to the heart of the matter in his own inimitable style.
271 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
289 people are currently reading
1699 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
433 books2,470 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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July 22, 2019
The Publisher Says: Winning fans in Europe and America for their dark sophistication and dry humor, Andrea Camilleri's crime novels are classics of the genre. Set once again in Sicily, The Patience of the Spider pits Inspector Montalbano against his greatest foe yet: the weight of his own years. Still recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in Rounding the Mark, he must overcome self-imposed seclusion and waxing self-doubt to penetrate a web of hatred and secrets in pursuit of the strangest culprit he's ever hunted. A mystery unlike any other, this emotionally taut story brings the Montalbano saga to a captivating crossroads.
My Review: Montalbano's near-fatal wound in the previous book is the reason this story could work at all. This is Sicily, after all, and revenge tales must be told. This one, like all the best revenge stories (eg, The Count of Monte Cristo, Gone Girl), is a slow-burn simmering of malefactors and miscreants in the deep waters of their indifference's costs to innocent souls around them.
Since Montalbano is recuperating from an undeniable wound, he is the only one fit to pursue the consequences of wounding so very deep it saps the will to live. He is his crusty self, irking Livia (come from Genoa to nurse him back to health) and worrying Fazio and Mimì into making painful mistakes in their attempts to fill his inspector-shoes; baiting the oblivious Catarella (a musical-comedy Sicilian if there ever was one, and a character that could only be written by uber-Sicilian Camilleri with impunity) and insufferable, smug Latte-with-an-S-at-the-end (as Catarella calls Lattes, secretary to the regional boss over Montalbano). So far, so familiar.
But it's the down-time that Montalbano is forced to take that is his primary tool in unraveling this operatic plot. He thinks, as he always does, through the parameters of the puzzle a penniless bore's daughter's kidnapping presents. He has the leisure, enforced by dictates from Lattes, that allows his synesthetic imagination to record quite forcefully impressions that, in the end, form a pattern...a web...and there's just no doubt that Salvo has saved the day with his solution. He makes a judgment call. He is, in my never-remotely humble opinion, absolutely correct in his call. And after all, isn't that why we read series mysteries? The sleuth solves the crime...satisfying enough...the author provides us with the clues...Camilleri certainly does that...and then Right is Done.
Unlike in real life, sadly.
It's all too clear that Montalbano's appeal is catholic; many who read the novels do so for the gorgeous foods...rabbit simmered in caponata, swoon!...and still others do so for the intricacies of the puzzles. A broad tent, this Camilleri spreads.
I read these novels for those reasons, and more. I love the small details, a Simenon "hard novel" or a Sciascia historical fiction, a dead shopkeeper with a significant name, Livia's conflicted glance in the airport, the uncle and the others having no names; the ones in plain sight, the ones that tell a much subtler, infinitely more personal tale. Camilleri put himself in his books as Hitchcock did in his movies. He is there if you look away, he looms if your back turns just slowly enough, Camilleri newly dead haunts his fifteen-year-old fictions because he put his spirit in our entertainment and never once demanded that we look at him.
What a wily old dramaturg he really was. If anyone lived up to the traditional birthday wish, "Cent'anni!" I do so wish it had been he.
My Review: Montalbano's near-fatal wound in the previous book is the reason this story could work at all. This is Sicily, after all, and revenge tales must be told. This one, like all the best revenge stories (eg, The Count of Monte Cristo, Gone Girl), is a slow-burn simmering of malefactors and miscreants in the deep waters of their indifference's costs to innocent souls around them.
Since Montalbano is recuperating from an undeniable wound, he is the only one fit to pursue the consequences of wounding so very deep it saps the will to live. He is his crusty self, irking Livia (come from Genoa to nurse him back to health) and worrying Fazio and Mimì into making painful mistakes in their attempts to fill his inspector-shoes; baiting the oblivious Catarella (a musical-comedy Sicilian if there ever was one, and a character that could only be written by uber-Sicilian Camilleri with impunity) and insufferable, smug Latte-with-an-S-at-the-end (as Catarella calls Lattes, secretary to the regional boss over Montalbano). So far, so familiar.
But it's the down-time that Montalbano is forced to take that is his primary tool in unraveling this operatic plot. He thinks, as he always does, through the parameters of the puzzle a penniless bore's daughter's kidnapping presents. He has the leisure, enforced by dictates from Lattes, that allows his synesthetic imagination to record quite forcefully impressions that, in the end, form a pattern...a web...and there's just no doubt that Salvo has saved the day with his solution. He makes a judgment call. He is, in my never-remotely humble opinion, absolutely correct in his call. And after all, isn't that why we read series mysteries? The sleuth solves the crime...satisfying enough...the author provides us with the clues...Camilleri certainly does that...and then Right is Done.
Unlike in real life, sadly.
It's all too clear that Montalbano's appeal is catholic; many who read the novels do so for the gorgeous foods...rabbit simmered in caponata, swoon!...and still others do so for the intricacies of the puzzles. A broad tent, this Camilleri spreads.
I read these novels for those reasons, and more. I love the small details, a Simenon "hard novel" or a Sciascia historical fiction, a dead shopkeeper with a significant name, Livia's conflicted glance in the airport, the uncle and the others having no names; the ones in plain sight, the ones that tell a much subtler, infinitely more personal tale. Camilleri put himself in his books as Hitchcock did in his movies. He is there if you look away, he looms if your back turns just slowly enough, Camilleri newly dead haunts his fifteen-year-old fictions because he put his spirit in our entertainment and never once demanded that we look at him.
What a wily old dramaturg he really was. If anyone lived up to the traditional birthday wish, "Cent'anni!" I do so wish it had been he.
March 9, 2024
3/5
Al bueno de Camilleri esta vez lo he visto venir casi desde el principio. Trama bastante previsible y eso penaliza un poco el libro.
Nos encontramos ante un Montalbano en proceso de cambio y búsqueda interior. Herido en la entrega anterior, nos encontramos ante un comisario con dudas. Dudas sobre su su salud, dudas quizá sobre sobre sus ambiciones y sobre el curso que debe tomar su carrera. Dudas sobre hacia donde deben ir su relación con Livia (o quizá no, siempre aplicado la sentencia de "ni contigo, ni sin ti" y todos contentos). Hasta dudas sobre sus capacidades de trasegar los platos que tanto le gustan y que va degustando de trattoria en trattoria.....no os preocupéis que recupera el apetito.
De lo que no tiene dudas es de que a veces la Justicia es ciega y que quizá en algunos momentos aplicar las leyes a rajatabla, daña irremediablemente a personas que no se lo merecen. Desentrañar la verdad, resolver el misterio. Desenmascarar al culpable y mirar hacia otro lado, a veces es lo más justo: esa es la Justicia de Montalbano, lo que lo hace diferente y tan entrañable.
Que luego sea un poco machista, maleducado y vacilón, es lo de menos o al menos a mi no me afecta demasiado.
Vaya, no he contado nada de la trama. No hay sangre, no hay muertos. Hay un secuestro y una familia que sufre mucho. Una familia que no tiene recursos para afrontar el rescaten que piden para liberar a la muchacha. Una familia que lo perdió todo a manos de un familiar golfo y corrupto. Estos son los mimbres para resolver el misterio, que sólo Montalbano va a saber urdir.
No creo que sea la mejor entrega de la saga. Seguimos.
Al bueno de Camilleri esta vez lo he visto venir casi desde el principio. Trama bastante previsible y eso penaliza un poco el libro.
Nos encontramos ante un Montalbano en proceso de cambio y búsqueda interior. Herido en la entrega anterior, nos encontramos ante un comisario con dudas. Dudas sobre su su salud, dudas quizá sobre sobre sus ambiciones y sobre el curso que debe tomar su carrera. Dudas sobre hacia donde deben ir su relación con Livia (o quizá no, siempre aplicado la sentencia de "ni contigo, ni sin ti" y todos contentos). Hasta dudas sobre sus capacidades de trasegar los platos que tanto le gustan y que va degustando de trattoria en trattoria.....no os preocupéis que recupera el apetito.
De lo que no tiene dudas es de que a veces la Justicia es ciega y que quizá en algunos momentos aplicar las leyes a rajatabla, daña irremediablemente a personas que no se lo merecen. Desentrañar la verdad, resolver el misterio. Desenmascarar al culpable y mirar hacia otro lado, a veces es lo más justo: esa es la Justicia de Montalbano, lo que lo hace diferente y tan entrañable.
Que luego sea un poco machista, maleducado y vacilón, es lo de menos o al menos a mi no me afecta demasiado.
Vaya, no he contado nada de la trama. No hay sangre, no hay muertos. Hay un secuestro y una familia que sufre mucho. Una familia que no tiene recursos para afrontar el rescaten que piden para liberar a la muchacha. Una familia que lo perdió todo a manos de un familiar golfo y corrupto. Estos son los mimbres para resolver el misterio, que sólo Montalbano va a saber urdir.
No creo que sea la mejor entrega de la saga. Seguimos.
March 9, 2024
Чак в тази, осма подред книга успях да разреша криминалната загадка преди комисар Монталбано. 😉
С напредването на годините, той става някак все по-сантиментален.
Моята оценка - 3,5*.
P.S. Продължавам с поредицата на английски, явно българското издателство няма да продължи да публикува приключенията на любимия ни комисар.
С напредването на годините, той става някак все по-сантиментален.
Моята оценка - 3,5*.
P.S. Продължавам с поредицата на английски, явно българското издателство няма да продължи да публикува приключенията на любимия ни комисар.
September 19, 2021
In homage to Goodreads reviewer Jayson:
A kidnapping story
With little glory;
Montelbano feels happy, his life’s pretty great
With coniglo in agrodolce [sweet and sour rabbit] on his plate;
And if he's near Livia, with all her charms
In her bed, within her arms;
He’s getting older, he’s just been shot
But he’s a patient spider, the culprit’s caught.
Some tough guy noir novel authors might describe a bad guy as “ a piece of shit,” but Camilleri is more elegant; he says the guy is a “secretion of sewage.”
A kidnapping story
With little glory;
Montelbano feels happy, his life’s pretty great
With coniglo in agrodolce [sweet and sour rabbit] on his plate;
And if he's near Livia, with all her charms
In her bed, within her arms;
He’s getting older, he’s just been shot
But he’s a patient spider, the culprit’s caught.
Some tough guy noir novel authors might describe a bad guy as “ a piece of shit,” but Camilleri is more elegant; he says the guy is a “secretion of sewage.”
June 10, 2021
This time there is a kidnapping of a young girl, who studies and takes care of her very ill and bedridden mother together with her father. The kidnappers demand an impossible ransom and seem to play a devious game with the family and with the general public who are too well informed by journalist and the public opinion is very strong.
Montalbano who is recovering after being shot in the previous case and is being taken care of by Livia is put on active duty for support and they have brought in a specialist, who does tell Montalbano that this is the most baffling kidnap case he ever worked on.
Montalbano does have a different view and slowly and carefully finds his way and the truth.
Another great morality tale and a critical view on Italian society by a master writer, who delivers another smart and funny tale of detecting in beautiful Sicily.
Montalbano who is recovering after being shot in the previous case and is being taken care of by Livia is put on active duty for support and they have brought in a specialist, who does tell Montalbano that this is the most baffling kidnap case he ever worked on.
Montalbano does have a different view and slowly and carefully finds his way and the truth.
Another great morality tale and a critical view on Italian society by a master writer, who delivers another smart and funny tale of detecting in beautiful Sicily.
July 25, 2019
I still have several Montalbano books to read that I missed over the years, and this was one. This was very amusing for me as I have always enjoyed this writer's comedic arts and know there will be times I laugh loudly. Montalbano is recovering from a gunshot received in the last episode, so Livia is staying with him to help him toward wellness. A kidnapping is announced and his commissioner assigns someone from another locale to head up the messy investigation. This allows Montalbano to stay in the shadows gathering information as he stealthily moves along eventually seeing the pattern of deceit while watching a spider weave its web.
He remains incognito as he delivers the truth so that nothing is done from a legal standpoint and no one will ever know...unless he eventually tells Livia what really happened.
He remains incognito as he delivers the truth so that nothing is done from a legal standpoint and no one will ever know...unless he eventually tells Livia what really happened.
February 22, 2019
El comisario Montalbano nos entretiene en otro caso donde no está exento el misterio y los entretenidos diálogos.
He leído muchos libros de Camilleri, este fue en 2012 (me estoy poniendo al día con goodreads) y me cuesta diferenciar sus novelas; no se si esto es bueno o malo...
Si tengo claro que recuerdo el placer de su lectura, capaz que esto es lo importante cuando nos sentamos a leer.
He leído muchos libros de Camilleri, este fue en 2012 (me estoy poniendo al día con goodreads) y me cuesta diferenciar sus novelas; no se si esto es bueno o malo...
Si tengo claro que recuerdo el placer de su lectura, capaz que esto es lo importante cuando nos sentamos a leer.
September 29, 2017
I know this series is a crime procedural, but that doesn't stop me always want to a) laugh out loud and b) want to eat really good Italian food, when reading them.
March 18, 2021
Am intuit adevărații făptași cam de când a avut comisarul prima intuiție, însă nu am putut să înțeleg corect și motivația. Tocmai de asta apreciez atât de mult și acest volum, în ciuda anticipării pe seama cărui fapt nu aș avea habar s-o pun. Să fie datorită atâtor romane polițiste și thriller citite, ori chiar însăși poveștii...
Dar pentru mine nu mai contează asta când autorul reușește să mă câștige prin alte aspecte. Nu m-am așteptat la adevărata motivație a făptașilor, iar asemănările, comparațiile realizate - excelente. Dau sens titlului tare mult, într-un mod chiar poetic.
În plus, de fiecare dată când mă puneam să citesc din volum, starea mi se schimba instant. Nu poți să nu râzi, ori să nu zâmbești măcar la comicul de situație și mai ales la cel de limbaj - Catarella, ești savuros :)))
Iar de Salvo Montalbano nici nu mai zic. Încăpățânatul, istețul, amuzantul comisar Montalbano. ,,Un zbir de ispravă". O revedere pe cinste cu acest volum și vreau mai mult. Chiar sper că se vor traduce și următoarele. Chiar sper că vor fi la fel de bune.
Dar pentru mine nu mai contează asta când autorul reușește să mă câștige prin alte aspecte. Nu m-am așteptat la adevărata motivație a făptașilor, iar asemănările, comparațiile realizate - excelente. Dau sens titlului tare mult, într-un mod chiar poetic.
În plus, de fiecare dată când mă puneam să citesc din volum, starea mi se schimba instant. Nu poți să nu râzi, ori să nu zâmbești măcar la comicul de situație și mai ales la cel de limbaj - Catarella, ești savuros :)))
Iar de Salvo Montalbano nici nu mai zic. Încăpățânatul, istețul, amuzantul comisar Montalbano. ,,Un zbir de ispravă". O revedere pe cinste cu acest volum și vreau mai mult. Chiar sper că se vor traduce și următoarele. Chiar sper că vor fi la fel de bune.
January 10, 2025
Questo 2025 letterario sembra partito con il piede giusto: tanta voglia di leggere e l'aver scoperto un modo per leggere con e nonostante la prole: speriamo duri un po'.
Per andare sul sicuro ho scelto Camilleri che, come sempre, non delude. Rispetto ad altri libri del commissario Montalbano ho trovato più facilmente il bandolo della matassa ma non per questo il libro è meno godibile.
Ogni volta che prendo in mano un Montalbano (fatto libro) mi stupisco del tocco di Camilleri e della sua capacità stupefacente di usare parole e dialetto per cesellare personaggi e racconti.
Sempre un bel regalo da farsi.
Per andare sul sicuro ho scelto Camilleri che, come sempre, non delude. Rispetto ad altri libri del commissario Montalbano ho trovato più facilmente il bandolo della matassa ma non per questo il libro è meno godibile.
Ogni volta che prendo in mano un Montalbano (fatto libro) mi stupisco del tocco di Camilleri e della sua capacità stupefacente di usare parole e dialetto per cesellare personaggi e racconti.
Sempre un bel regalo da farsi.
Read
December 3, 2021After only a couple of chapters, I realised this just isn’t for me. I wasn’t enjoying the writing and didn’t like the main character. Too quick a decision perhaps but life is too short to spend time on iffy books.
August 7, 2024
La Paciencia de la Araña - Libro número 11 del comisario Montalbano, y continuación directa de "Un Giro Decisivo".
Publicado en 2004 y escrito por el talentoso Andrea Camillieri.
En el anterior libro Salvo termina herido de gravedad debido a un disparo, y con lo que parece un ataque al corazón al enfrentarse a un traficante de niños tunecino. La historia comienza un poco más adelante, reponiéndose de sus heridas en compañía de Livia la cual se pidió una licencia de su trabajo para irse un par de semanas a Vigata.
En el primer capítulo (que es bastante largo) Salvo recuerda el tiroteo, las horas posteriores mientras los médicos intentan salvarlo y su convalecencia en el hospital.
Esta de baja hasta recuperarse, pero a las dos semanas lo llaman porque un crimen bastante particular requiere su atención.
Una joven hermosa que estaba estudiando en la universidad y que en su tiempo libre cuidaba a su madre moribunda aparentemente es secuestrada. Lo que extraña a todo el mundo es que su familia es pobre (supo ser rica pero por razones desconocidas cayeron en la pobreza) por lo que no podría pagar un rescate.
Montalbano deberá investigar si realmente es un secuestro, si es un asesinato y porque esta joven fue elegida como víctima.
El libro está muy bueno, las 260 páginas se leen en un día (yo lo leí en dos solo para hacerlo durar), tiene momentos muy cómicos y es refrescante que se deje un poco de lado los temas sociales y se vuelva a crimen liso y llano.
Lo único malo es que la resolución del caso es extremadamente fácil, ya desde el arranque uno puede adivinar lo que pasó.
Esto en los libros de Camillieri no es algo necesariamente malo, ya que lo que más vale la pena es el viaje, no el destino.
Montalbano como personaje evoluciona, cambia y se adapta a sus nuevas realidades. Es consciente de que está más cerca de retirarse de su trabajo que de otra cosa, entonces empiezan a primar otras cosas, la moral y lo que es correcto sobre una ley que no siempre funciona.
Sin dudas es de mis sagas literarias favoritas, con la que me rio más y con la que pienso más.
Publicado en 2004 y escrito por el talentoso Andrea Camillieri.
En el anterior libro Salvo termina herido de gravedad debido a un disparo, y con lo que parece un ataque al corazón al enfrentarse a un traficante de niños tunecino. La historia comienza un poco más adelante, reponiéndose de sus heridas en compañía de Livia la cual se pidió una licencia de su trabajo para irse un par de semanas a Vigata.
En el primer capítulo (que es bastante largo) Salvo recuerda el tiroteo, las horas posteriores mientras los médicos intentan salvarlo y su convalecencia en el hospital.
Esta de baja hasta recuperarse, pero a las dos semanas lo llaman porque un crimen bastante particular requiere su atención.
Una joven hermosa que estaba estudiando en la universidad y que en su tiempo libre cuidaba a su madre moribunda aparentemente es secuestrada. Lo que extraña a todo el mundo es que su familia es pobre (supo ser rica pero por razones desconocidas cayeron en la pobreza) por lo que no podría pagar un rescate.
Montalbano deberá investigar si realmente es un secuestro, si es un asesinato y porque esta joven fue elegida como víctima.
El libro está muy bueno, las 260 páginas se leen en un día (yo lo leí en dos solo para hacerlo durar), tiene momentos muy cómicos y es refrescante que se deje un poco de lado los temas sociales y se vuelva a crimen liso y llano.
Lo único malo es que la resolución del caso es extremadamente fácil, ya desde el arranque uno puede adivinar lo que pasó.
Esto en los libros de Camillieri no es algo necesariamente malo, ya que lo que más vale la pena es el viaje, no el destino.
Montalbano como personaje evoluciona, cambia y se adapta a sus nuevas realidades. Es consciente de que está más cerca de retirarse de su trabajo que de otra cosa, entonces empiezan a primar otras cosas, la moral y lo que es correcto sobre una ley que no siempre funciona.
Sin dudas es de mis sagas literarias favoritas, con la que me rio más y con la que pienso más.
June 20, 2022
Montalbano è stato ferito nel romanzo precedente (Il giro di boa) e lo ritroviamo ancora convalescente coi ricordi della sua permanenza in ospedale dopo essere stato operato per l'estrazione di un proiettile. La sua eterna fidanzata Livia si è pure presa le ferie per stargli accanto e i loro litigi sono quasi tutti i giorni (ecco forse perché vivono distanti, anche per evitare di bisticciare). Mentre tenta di recuperare a casa, viene chiamato per un caso di rapimento: una ragazza non si trova più ma solo il suo motorino. A capo delle indagini non c'è lui ma un collega, lui fa diciamo da aiutante (senza fare troppi sforzi fisici).
Scopro che Adelina, la cameriera/cuoca del commissario, non sopporta Livia e infatti quando Livia è a casa del commissario Adelina scompare (gelosetta, eh?).
Anche questo caso mi è piaciuto, forse più deboluccio a livello di trama rispetto agli altri, ma scorre come il mare dove Montalbano si fa il suo bagnetto (e se lo fa anche stavolta, rischiando di morire annegato e raffreddato!).
Scopro che Adelina, la cameriera/cuoca del commissario, non sopporta Livia e infatti quando Livia è a casa del commissario Adelina scompare (gelosetta, eh?).
Anche questo caso mi è piaciuto, forse più deboluccio a livello di trama rispetto agli altri, ma scorre come il mare dove Montalbano si fa il suo bagnetto (e se lo fa anche stavolta, rischiando di morire annegato e raffreddato!).
January 22, 2023
Es la segunda novela que leo de Camilleri y me ha encantado. Me gusta el gran personaje de Montalbano, el ambiente que lo contextualiza todo: el mar, Sicilia, la jerga, sus compañeros de la comisaría, la melancolía y una cierta mirada triste de aquél que ya ha visto demasiadas situaciones injustas a lo largo de su vida.
A mitad del libro por ciertos detalles he vislumbrado el final, pero mi final imaginado palidece con el final que nos muestra Camilleri, a pesar de ser el mismo.
Cuánto disfruto con Montalbano. En este 2023 ya he leído 2 libros y creo que van a ser muchos más.
A mitad del libro por ciertos detalles he vislumbrado el final, pero mi final imaginado palidece con el final que nos muestra Camilleri, a pesar de ser el mismo.
Cuánto disfruto con Montalbano. En este 2023 ya he leído 2 libros y creo que van a ser muchos más.
September 28, 2018
Not the best from Andrea Camilleri, who happens to be one of my favorite author. But then again even the "not the best" from Camilleri is quite good enough.
June 21, 2025
J’ai apprécié l’histoire mais c’est certainement le dernier livre de cet auteur que je lis. Le mode d’écriture (le style?) rend la lecture très difficile. La préface du traducteur explique le fait que ce soit intentionnel, mais je n’apprécie pas.
June 15, 2022
Magnífica novela, otra entrega del gran Comisario Montalbano en su universo de Montelusa/Sicilia, en la misma línea que las anteriores aunque quizá algo más negra que otras, con sutileza, humor e ironía, y sus líneas maestras habituales, con sus conflictos con los superiores, y la presencia siempre de la comida y la gastronomía, la prensa y su papel, la complejidad y doblez del ser humano... La historia y los personajes fluyen y cobran vida.
November 24, 2015
Un alt roman din seria Montalbano pe care l-am așteptat îndelung. Și n-a fost deloc o dezamăgire, deși pare că Montalbano începe încet-încet să facă pasul înapoi. Aventură, suspans, mister, anchetă întortocheată, deși am reușit și eu spre final, în sfârșit, să ghicesc cine ar fi făptașii și de ce. Recenzie, curând, pe FanSF.
December 30, 2019
This is another excellent installment in the Montalbano franchise.
The writing and descriptions of food and scenery is beautiful as always.
The plot for this particular novel is what stood out to me most. It helped show a human side to Inspector Montalbano. Highlighting the kindness he has, and the lengths he will take this to for ‘justice’.
The writing and descriptions of food and scenery is beautiful as always.
The plot for this particular novel is what stood out to me most. It helped show a human side to Inspector Montalbano. Highlighting the kindness he has, and the lengths he will take this to for ‘justice’.
May 9, 2024
Mi piace sempre talmente tanto che pur avendo capito subito la risoluzione del caso si becca 5 stelle.
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June 19, 2024Comfort reading
May 26, 2019
Very much enjoyed this next instalment in the Montalbano series - pleasantly diverting at a time when I needed it!
April 5, 2016
L'ottavo romanzo di Camilleri dedicato a Montalbano si svolge esattamente dov'era finito il precedente (Giro di boa, che io non ho ancora letto), ovvero col nostro commissario convalescente dopo esser stato ferito. Richiamato urgentemente in servizio dalla convalescenza, si ritrova a indagare su un sequestro che svelerà, col proseguire dell'indagine, particolari ben più inquietanti.
La bravura e la maestria di Camilleri è riuscita a sorprendermi ancora una volta: riesce a scrivere un ottimo giallo senza il classico morto ammazzato; dipinge, con pochi personaggi e una trama breve, un affresco di una famiglia coinvolta nel dramma del sequestro della propria figlia, già gravato dalla malattia della madre e ridotta sul lastrico anni prima a causa del fratello della donna; infine, descrive magistralmente la malinconia in cui piomba il commissario dopo esser stato ferito e aver passato la convalescenza prima in ospedale e poi a casa, curato dall'amorevole (?) presenza della fidanzata Livia.
Sicuramente, nonostante sia un romanzo sottovalutato dai più, il mio preferito di tutti i romanzi che ho letto di Montalbano. Unica nota negativa: qualche refuso qua e la nell'edizione in mio possesso.
La bravura e la maestria di Camilleri è riuscita a sorprendermi ancora una volta: riesce a scrivere un ottimo giallo senza il classico morto ammazzato; dipinge, con pochi personaggi e una trama breve, un affresco di una famiglia coinvolta nel dramma del sequestro della propria figlia, già gravato dalla malattia della madre e ridotta sul lastrico anni prima a causa del fratello della donna; infine, descrive magistralmente la malinconia in cui piomba il commissario dopo esser stato ferito e aver passato la convalescenza prima in ospedale e poi a casa, curato dall'amorevole (?) presenza della fidanzata Livia.
Sicuramente, nonostante sia un romanzo sottovalutato dai più, il mio preferito di tutti i romanzi che ho letto di Montalbano. Unica nota negativa: qualche refuso qua e la nell'edizione in mio possesso.
February 28, 2018
A young woman is kidnapped and Montalbano, recovering from a heart attack, is called back in to help solve the case alongside a kidnapping expert.
This wasn't my favorite in the series; I picked up on the solution pretty early. There also wasn't a second mystery in this one--which meant more time was spent on the main plot, and, I think, let to the preponderance of clues that gave it away for me. Some lovely moments with Livia.
This wasn't my favorite in the series; I picked up on the solution pretty early. There also wasn't a second mystery in this one--which meant more time was spent on the main plot, and, I think, let to the preponderance of clues that gave it away for me. Some lovely moments with Livia.
February 1, 2016
Grover Gardner is in typical form - i.e. wonderful - in this entry in the Inspector Montalbano series. His voice for Catarella is worth noting - he manages to convey the crazy accent but still be understood, quite a feat!
May 27, 2021
Somehow one of my favorites among the Inspector Montalbano series.
PS: I think many readers wish they could hire Adelina. Also my room is always messy and Iwould really appreciate her cooking...
PS: I think many readers wish they could hire Adelina. Also my room is always messy and Iwould really appreciate her cooking...
January 2, 2021
I liked it for the comfort of familiar characters & setting (fictional setting but familiar because this is the 8th book in the series!). Montalbano is feeling his age, mostly in physical ways but slowly also mentally (in his life perspectives etc). He is slowly realising it but in huge denials about it all. Yet, in ways that count most, he is still Inspector Montalbano. He is a thinker but has his own way of handling crime investigations. The thing I found strange in this novel is there were a lot of dreams and/or daydreams in this one. There aren't usually that much in past books so at times, I wasn't sure whether he's asleep or awake. Plus, I suspected the culprit from early on so the 'twist' didn't do it for me.
January 14, 2018
The first of the Montalbano books where his Genoa-based girlfriend, Livia, is at this home for most of the book, supporting his recuperation from being shot at the end of the previous book. He is called back to duty to support the team after a kidnapping and applies his usual peculiar insight to the mystery which emerges.
November 5, 2025
Riletto anche questo romanzo dopo un bel po' di anni (ammetto che non ricordavo tutti i dettagli): senza "l'ansia" del sapere chi è il colpevole ci si gode ancora di più le riflessioni del commissario e il contorno. Strapromosso anche alla seconda lettura :)
May 7, 2017
Another sumptuous mystery from Italy.
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