The Terra-Cotta Dog

The Terra-Cotta Dog (1996/2002) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli

I was out of sorts yesterday and didn’t know what I wanted to read. Since I recently read Montalbano’s First Case, I decided I wanted to read some Andrea Camilleri–despite the fact that the first book in the series was loaned out to someone and is missing from my shelves.

Yes, despite the fact I’ve read these before, I hesitated to re-read because the first book was missing. If you know me, this fact probably isn’t that surprising.

This is the second Inspector Montalbano story, and although everyone has changed over the course of the series, with the exception of attitudes towards Catarella, personalities are recognizable from the most recently published (into English) book.

…Montalbano remembered that Agatino Catarella would now be on duty at the station, and that therefore the phone conversation he was about to engage in promised to at the very least to be problematic, if not the source of unfortunate and even dangerous misunderstandings. This Catarella was frankly hopeless. Slow to think and act, he had been hired by the police because he was a distant relative of the formerly all-powerful Chamber Deputy Cusumano…

With Catarella, things would get most muddled whenever he got it into his head–which happened often–to speak in what he called Talian.

Come to think of it, it may be that Cat is the character who grows the most over the course of the series, while remaining in many ways unchanged.

But what I love best about this series is the humor.

The only way to reason with Bonfiglio was to put oneself squarely on his level. The inspector knew this from experience.
“Is there one TV personality you find particularly obnoxious?” he asked him.
“There are a hundred thousand, but Mike Bongiorno is the worst. Whenever I see him my stomach gets all queasy and I feel like smashing in the screen.”
“Good. And if after watching this particular MC, you get into your car, drive into a wall, and kill yourself, what am I supposed to do?”
“Arrest Mike Bongiorno,” the other said firmly.”

Tell me you don’t know someone EXACTLY like that.

And there is also Dr. Pasquano.

Jacomuzz and Dr. Pasquano came from Montelusa to see him.

“All the papers have been talking about you,” said Jacomuzzi. He seemed moved by a little envious.

“I was truly sorry I didn’t get to do your autopsy,” said Pasquano. “I’d really like to know how you’re put together inside.”

Believe me, Montalbano totally deserves that.

And his relationship with Livia is strained and difficult here, and remains so throughout the series.

All-in-all, it was a good choice, and I think I may need to read the next book.
Rating: 8/10

Published by Penguin

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