The Wings of the Sphinx

The Wings of the Sphinx (2006/2009) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli

Somehow, I managed to read this book and the one that comes before it out of order. Which was unusually problematic because events in the previous book–events involving Montalbano and Livia–had a tremendous influence upon events in this book. I remembered what they were, and things were perfectly understandable without having read the previous book, I just found it… irritating.

Aside from that error on my part, this book contains some of my favorite bits of dialog. Montalbano is more pissy than usual, and it makes a fun read.

“What’s the corpse like?”
“Dead,” said Augello.
“Mimi, a quip like that is worse than a shot in the back. Fire off another, and I’ll shoot you in self-defense.”

But one of my favorite bits involves a man who comes to the station.

In the station’s parking lot he pulled up along side a Ferrari. Who could it belong to? Surely to a cretin, whatever the actual name on the registration.
…
Naturally, the fortyish man who came into his office had a different name from the one written down and cited by Catarella: Francesco De Noto. Decked out in Armani, top-of-the-line loafers worn without socks, Rolex, shirt open to a golden crucifix suffocating in a forest of unkempt, rampant black hair.

He was surely the idiot tooling around in the Ferrari. But the inspector wanted confirmation.

“My compliments on your beautiful car.”

“Thanks. It’s a 360 Modena. I’ve also got a Porche Carrera.”

Double cretin with fireworks.

I love that passage so very much.

And this exchange between Montalbano and Pasquano is another favorite.

“Is that all you can tell me, doctor?”
“No.”
“Look, Doctor, I haven’t got time to waste, either.”
“I found two things.”
“Do you plan to tell me in monthly installments?”

But, there’s a lovely bit about Catarella, as well.

“Ah, Chief Chief! I hadda go all day yisterday witout seein’ yiz!”
“Did you miss me? You’re gonna see so much of me the next few days, you’ll probably get suck of me.”
“I never get sick o’ you, Chief!”
A proper declaration of love. Uttered by anyone else, it would have been, at the very least, embarrassing.

Oh right. There was also a mystery in all that dialog. I can’t say this is one of the strongest mysteries, but I was enjoying the dialog so much, I hardly noticed the murder.
Rating: 8.5/10

Published by Penguin

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