The Snack Thief

The Snack Thief (1996) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli

The third book in Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano series finds Montalbano investigating a man found murdered in an elevator, while Augello investigates a shooting on a fishing boat that left a Tunisian dead–shot ostensibly by a Tunisian police boat claiming the fishing boat was no longer in International waters.

Montalbano remains irascible and an asshole, yet he also remains very good at his job (and also remains unwilling to be promoted and taken from his beloved Vigata.) What is interesting is how Montalbano–despite being a complete SOB most of the time–remains an excellent investigator and able to ferret out secrets.

Additionally to a complex (is anything in Italy ever simple) mystery, we begin to learn far more about Montalbano and his his past and why (maybe) he is the way he is. Though I still seriously wonder what the heck Livia sees in him.

And with every book Montalbano spends plenty of time eating and enjoying. Making me very hungry and interested in Italian cooking the more I read of this series.

My primary problem was the title. I mean really, The Snack Thief? Quaint–and strange. Luckily, this resolves itself and after it was clarified I kinda liked, but it still felt very strange for a title–not something I’d be likely to pick up if I hadn’t read the previous books in the series.

But of course I have read the previous books in the series, and thoroughly enjoyed The Snack Thief. Although the book refers to events in previous book, you should be able to read it without difficulty–especially since there is a glossary in the back explaining the terms and words used in the story.
Rating: 8/10

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