The Cook of the Halcyon (2019/2021) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli (Inspector Montalbano) A factory clothing leads to protests, and the owner doesn’t seem to be suffering any losses, what with all the fancy cars and fancy women in his life. And then the Commissioner seems to be gunning to get Montalbano out of […]
The Sicilian Method (2017/2020) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli There are only a few Montalbano books left. This one was quite disappointing, considering how few books there are left. We did have the typical banter between Montalbano and his men. As soon as he reached the landing, Augello and Fazio popped out of the […]
The Safety Net (2017/2020) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli (Inspector Montalbano) As always, the story opens with a dream. Head still numb with sleep, the inspector opened his eyes and immediately realized he was in bed. There was no Livia. She was at home, in Boccadasse. He’d dreamt the whole thing, including Livia’s dream. […]
The Other End of the Line (2016/2019) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli The 24th Inspector Montalbano book finds the Vigata police helping to deal with the influx of immigrants landing on their shores, and it’s a problem for everyone. “Why did you summon Catarella for port duty last night?” “I had to replace someone […]
Death at Sea: Montalbano’s Early Cases (2014/2018) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli These stories are set during the 80s, when Montalbano would have been in his 30s. Room Number 2 Double Investigation Death at Sea The Stolen Message The Transaction Standard Procedure The Apricot The Honest Thief There are eight stories, and look back […]
The Overnight Kidnapper (2015/2019) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli The 23rd Inspector Montalbano book. The joy of these stories isn’t the mysteries, although they are never bad, but the time spent with Montalbano and all those around him. Like Catarella. “Fazio in?” “Nah, Chief, ’e’s atta scene o’ the kidnappin’ insomuch as the guy’s […]
Voice of the Violin, Audible Version (1997/2003/2008) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli narrated by Grover Gardner This book begins the slow and slight redemption of Catarella. “Oh, Chief, I got another streamly impoitant ting to tell ya. Somebody from Montelusa Central called to talk to me in poisson, Inspector Whatsizname, Tontona.” “Tortona.” “Whatever’s ’is […]
The Snack Thief, Audible Version (1996/2003/2007) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli narrated by Grover Gardner The third Inspector Montalbano book. Montalbano’s relationship with Augello is quite antagonistic. Catarella is still an idiot, and although he argues with Livia, their relationships isn’t quite as hostile as it has gotten in later books. When the spaghetti […]
The Pyramid of Mud (2014/2018) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli Book 22 of the Inspector Montalbano series. At the end of a Beam of Light, Montalbano receives a shock that causes him pain and apparently put Livia into a great depression. Because of the strange publishing of the Montalbano books, this was two novels […]
A Nest of Vipers (2013/2017) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli (written in 2008) Cosimo Barletta has been found shot in his beach house, but the murder is strange–stranger than a normal murder–and the dead man was so horrible there seem to be too many suspects to count. “(H)ow did you explain to your father […]
A Voice in the Night (2012/2016) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli Inspector Montalbano is turning 58 and not in the least happy about it. From that moment on, he was going to stop taking public transportation, for fear that some young person might give him his seat upon seeing him. Then it occurred to […]
Montalbano’s First Case and Other Stories (2008 (except where noted) / 2016) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli Montalbano’s First Case Fifty Pairs of Hobnailed Boots Neck and Neck Fellow Traveler Dress Rehearsal Amore The Artist’s Touch (1998) Montalbano’s Rice Fritters As Alice Did The Pact Mortally Wounded Catarella Solves a Case (1999) Being Here […]
A Beam of Light (2012/2015) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli The problem with the “surprise” in this book is that it refers to events that happened early in the series, and since that character hadn’t been referred to in years, having him brought up again (when he hadn’t been for ages) made it pretty […]
The Snack Thief (1996/2003) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli Obviously, Camilleri didn’t stop after the second book, so we have the third in the series, which finds Montalbano investigating the stabbing death of an elderly man, while elsewhere, a fisherman is shot to death in a typically international incident with Tunisia. Yes, the title […]
The Terra-Cotta Dog (1996/2004) Andrea Camilleri translated by Stephen Sartarelli The second Montalbano book was, according the Camilleri, was supposed to be the last. I felt less than fully satisfied with how the figure of Montalbano had come out. I felt as if I had painted an incomplete portrait of him, favoring his role as […]