The Patience of the Spider

The Patience of the Spider (2004/2007) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli

This book picks up right after the events of Rounding the Mark. Monalbano has been on leave, recovering from being shot in the shoulder. Livia has come down to stay with him during his recover, so they get to argue in person, instead of over the phone. (I really really don’t get their relationship. They fight and drive each other crazy, and although Livia did come as soon as Montalbano was shot, she seems to cause as much trouble as she helps.)

We also get flashbacks to Montalbano’s time in the hospital, some of which amused me.

They’ve found me out! he thinks to himself. They realize that my heart functions on alternating current, higgledy-piggledy, and that I’ve had at least three heart attacks!

As often happens, things begin with a phone call from Catarella.

“Chief, whadd I do, wake you up?”
“Cat, it’s six in the morning. On the dot.”
“Actually my watch gots six oh tree.”
“That means it’s a little fast.”
You sure ’bout that, Chief?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, so I’ll put it tree minutes slow. Tanks, Chief.”
“You’re welcome.”

Although Bonetti-Alderighi was forced to recognize Montalbano’s actions in resolving the events at the end of Rounding the Mark, but that hasn’t changed his attitude–or Montalbano’s towards him.

“Montalbano? You must activate yourself immediately,” Commissioner Bonetti-Alderighi said in an imperious tone.
How was he supposed to do that? By pushing a button?

There’s also something very interesting that Americans might not notice, but I learned about when reading another Italian mystery involving a kidnapping.

“In short, are you telling us that any freeze of his assets would be useless at this point, since Peruzzo’s already got the ransom money on him?”
“Exactly.”

That brief passage (and a similarly brief mention earlier in the story) glosses over something somewhat horrifying.

In Italy, if someone is kidnapped, the government immediately freezes all the assets of the family, so they are unable to pay the ransom.

The reason is to discourage kidnappers, since they won’t be able to get their money. The reality is that families then simply refuse to tell the police about the kidnapping, while they try to scrape together the money.

All-in-all, it’s horrible, any way you look at it.

This story had several bits that I quite enjoyed, such as:

What was it Adelina often said? L’omu e’ sceccu di consiguenza. Or: Man is a jackass of consequence.

Sadly true.

I think, however, the most fascinating part of this story is the solution–and what Montalbano chooses to do once he discovers the kidnappers.
Rating: 8.5/10

Published by Penguin

 
 

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