The Age of Doubt

The Age of Doubt (2008/2012) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli

On this second reading, I really didn’t like this story. The mystery was fine, but I knew what was coming, and I just kept getting madder and madder at Montalbano, not wanting him to make the mistakes I knew he was going to make.

He, of course, made those mistakes.

A storm has flooded the road to Vitaga, so Montalbano takes a young woman whose car is threatening to go over the edge to safety. She says she is waiting for her aunt to arrive on her boat, but the storms have slowed their arrival.

When the boat arrives, it does so hauling a dead body found in the harbor, and the young woman Montalbano helped has disappeared.

First, I really don’t understand why Montalbano and Livia remain together.

Second, I HATE what happens between Montalbano and Lattes.

And there’s other stuff, but… yeah. I just found it frustrating.

There were light bits, however, including one bit that made me thankful for the translator notes at the back of the book.

“‘Scuse me, Chief, but izzit possible fer summon a have a lass name of ‘Garruso’?”
“Nah, I don’t think so.”
“But there’s a liutinnint atta Harbor’s Office onna phone who says ‘ass ‘is name, Garruso. Mebbe ‘e’s from up north?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Cuz ‘ss possible the Northers don’ know iss a bad word down ‘here, Chief.”

Ah Cat!

I also liked the idea of an Institute of Lethal Medicine (which of course Cat came up with).

But mostly, I don’t like what Montalbano does, so I found the entire book frustrating.
Rating: 5/10

Published by Penguin

 
 

• Browse the archives:
  
• The Dance of the Seagull » »
• « « The Potter’s Field