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omtesouro's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Serie de relatos cortos y no tan cortos míticos del comisario Montalbano con sus cosas y haceres investigadores...
geekwayne's review
3.0
'The Fourth Secret' is a novella featuring Inspector Montalbano. It was my introduction to this series, and I felt a little lost, but still enjoyed it well enough.
When a construction worker falls from a scaffold, it all appears to be just an on the job accident. Things don't seem to add up, including the fact that the dead worker had a pedicure. Also, there have been a few more of these sort of "accidents." Inspector Montalbano doesn't want to get in trouble investigating outside his jurisdiction, but eventually he finds himself working with an inspector from the carabinieri. Add to that the comedy of errors by the people working for Montalbano, and you end up with a pretty good book.
It's a police procedural with some humor mixed in. Office politics and crazy co-workers, but it doesn't detract from the mystery. Apparently there is a television series based on this series. I think I'll have to go look it up now. Not bad.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun ebook.
When a construction worker falls from a scaffold, it all appears to be just an on the job accident. Things don't seem to add up, including the fact that the dead worker had a pedicure. Also, there have been a few more of these sort of "accidents." Inspector Montalbano doesn't want to get in trouble investigating outside his jurisdiction, but eventually he finds himself working with an inspector from the carabinieri. Add to that the comedy of errors by the people working for Montalbano, and you end up with a pretty good book.
It's a police procedural with some humor mixed in. Office politics and crazy co-workers, but it doesn't detract from the mystery. Apparently there is a television series based on this series. I think I'll have to go look it up now. Not bad.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Open Road Integrated Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this fun ebook.
grandgranini's review
2.0
I haven't read any other books in the Montalbano series, but I found this one not as good as the TV show. I can't tell if it was just a bad translation or if the writing is really that wooden.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
The Fourth Secret by – An Inspector Montalbano Mystery by Andrea Camilleri is a 2014 Open Road Media Publications. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was invited to review this one and since I love mysteries I agreed to read and review. So, as I went to put the book in my “to read” shelf I noticed there many titles in this series and this book was translated into English from Spanish. I believe I it right that this book was originally published in 2002. This does explain a lot of things the reader might wonder about such as the mention of VCR players and only one small reference to a cell phone. I thought it was kind of funny and it didn't have an effect on the story.
This is a short tale involving a string of deaths at construction companies.
“Six dead in the workplace in one month in the province of Montelusa is quite a number.” Once the inspector is notified, a bit too late to prevent another death, he begins to wonder what is going on and why. The death rate did seem really high.
“Was anyone keeping track? Yes, every now and then , somebody did, and then some contrite face of a newscaster would announce to the entire world how that was certainly a high number, however, it was within the average of the European Union. And now on to sports. Thank you and come again.”
I thought some of the dialogue was pretty funny, I don't know if that was intentional or not. I had no trouble following along with the story, but while I am no expert on translations, I did have to wonder at some of the dialogue. Did this character actually speak this way or was it a bad translation? I really do think the translation was a little off .
Overall, for being unfamiliar with the series, and with this one being a really short read, I don't know if I picked up on all I should have but I caught enough of the character developments to pique my interest in reading a longer novel in the series somewhere down the road. This is certainly not the story you want to start out with. I was on the fence with this one but to be fair I am going to sit down in the middle of the road and go with a 3.
I was invited to review this one and since I love mysteries I agreed to read and review. So, as I went to put the book in my “to read” shelf I noticed there many titles in this series and this book was translated into English from Spanish. I believe I it right that this book was originally published in 2002. This does explain a lot of things the reader might wonder about such as the mention of VCR players and only one small reference to a cell phone. I thought it was kind of funny and it didn't have an effect on the story.
This is a short tale involving a string of deaths at construction companies.
“Six dead in the workplace in one month in the province of Montelusa is quite a number.” Once the inspector is notified, a bit too late to prevent another death, he begins to wonder what is going on and why. The death rate did seem really high.
“Was anyone keeping track? Yes, every now and then , somebody did, and then some contrite face of a newscaster would announce to the entire world how that was certainly a high number, however, it was within the average of the European Union. And now on to sports. Thank you and come again.”
I thought some of the dialogue was pretty funny, I don't know if that was intentional or not. I had no trouble following along with the story, but while I am no expert on translations, I did have to wonder at some of the dialogue. Did this character actually speak this way or was it a bad translation? I really do think the translation was a little off .
Overall, for being unfamiliar with the series, and with this one being a really short read, I don't know if I picked up on all I should have but I caught enough of the character developments to pique my interest in reading a longer novel in the series somewhere down the road. This is certainly not the story you want to start out with. I was on the fence with this one but to be fair I am going to sit down in the middle of the road and go with a 3.
kimmer99's review
3.0
Typical Montalbano only shorter. The Kindle version left a bit to be desired as there were run-on sections
lintsu's review
2.0
This book / edition suffers from following things
1) It was written before the other books of the series so the quality is not same. Characters are little bit different.
2) Translation is not very good. There are some translation errors eg. misuse of pronounces. There are two translators credited and I wonder did that play a part on the quality of translation. It feels like their english isn't strong enough.
3) I'm lend this ebook from my library with OneDrive app. The typography is somehow messed up and you can't really see where one paragraph ends and another starts. There isn't enough space between them. I have now multiple times thought that the conversation continues but later realised that no, they changed place and time and the speakers are different people than in previous line.
Story was okayish.
Read with Onedrive app and lend the ebook from Helmet library.
1) It was written before the other books of the series so the quality is not same. Characters are little bit different.
2) Translation is not very good. There are some translation errors eg. misuse of pronounces. There are two translators credited and I wonder did that play a part on the quality of translation. It feels like their english isn't strong enough.
3) I'm lend this ebook from my library with OneDrive app. The typography is somehow messed up and you can't really see where one paragraph ends and another starts. There isn't enough space between them. I have now multiple times thought that the conversation continues but later realised that no, they changed place and time and the speakers are different people than in previous line.
Story was okayish.
Read with Onedrive app and lend the ebook from Helmet library.
writerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
This is an anthology of short stories and longer novellas. The two long novellas stand out : L'homme blessé and Le quatrième secret. The first one is a telling tale of innocence and what hides behind a pretty, young face and the second is a wonderful, wonderful piece of how Catarella is just one fantastic character that even if he is somewhat original some might say even odd and slighty autistic. The whole Montalbano and Catarella relationship is one of father and son. Protective and guiding even if the younger man is at times just a tad annoying.
The short stories were uneven hence the three stars instead of 4. The short story that gives the book its titled is a punch in the face one. Gives you a chill in back, reminding you how humans can be cruel.
The short stories were uneven hence the three stars instead of 4. The short story that gives the book its titled is a punch in the face one. Gives you a chill in back, reminding you how humans can be cruel.
lnatal's review against another edition
3.0
3* Por Uma Linha Telefônica
4* The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, #1)
4* The Terra-Cotta Dog (Inspector Montalbano, #2)
3* Excursion to Tindari (Inspector Montalbano, #5)
4* The Smell of the Night (Inspector Montalbano, #6)
3* La paura di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.5)
3* Rounding the Mark (Inspector Montalbano, #7)
4* The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano, #8)
4* The Paper Moon (Inspector Montalbano, #9)
3* The Wings of the Sphinx (Inspector Montalbano, #11)
3* Acqua in bocca (Inspector Montalbano, #16.5)
4* Treasure Hunt (Inspector Montalbano, #16)
4* Una voce di notte (Montalbano, #20)
TR The Snack Thief (Inspector Montalbano, #3)
TR Voice of the Violin (Inspector Montalbano, #4)
TR Un mese con Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.5)
TR Gli arancini di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.7)
TR Storie di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.7)
TR La prima indagine di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #8.5)
TR August Heat (Inspector Montalbano, #10)
TR The Track of Sand (Inspector Montalbano, #12)
TR The Potter's Field (Inspector Montalbano, #13)
TR The Age of Doubt (Inspector Montalbano, #14)
TR Racconti di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #14.5)
TR The Dance of the Seagull (Inspector Montalbano, #15)
TR Il sorriso di Angelica (Montalbano, #17)
TR Il gioco degli specchi (Montalbano, #18)
TR Una lama di luce (Montalbano, #19)
TR Un covo di vipere (Montalbano, #21)
TR La piramide di fango (Montalbano, #22)
TR La giostra degli scambi (Montalbano, #23)
4* The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, #1)
4* The Terra-Cotta Dog (Inspector Montalbano, #2)
3* Excursion to Tindari (Inspector Montalbano, #5)
4* The Smell of the Night (Inspector Montalbano, #6)
3* La paura di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.5)
3* Rounding the Mark (Inspector Montalbano, #7)
4* The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano, #8)
4* The Paper Moon (Inspector Montalbano, #9)
3* The Wings of the Sphinx (Inspector Montalbano, #11)
3* Acqua in bocca (Inspector Montalbano, #16.5)
4* Treasure Hunt (Inspector Montalbano, #16)
4* Una voce di notte (Montalbano, #20)
TR The Snack Thief (Inspector Montalbano, #3)
TR Voice of the Violin (Inspector Montalbano, #4)
TR Un mese con Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.5)
TR Gli arancini di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #4.7)
TR Storie di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.7)
TR La prima indagine di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #8.5)
TR August Heat (Inspector Montalbano, #10)
TR The Track of Sand (Inspector Montalbano, #12)
TR The Potter's Field (Inspector Montalbano, #13)
TR The Age of Doubt (Inspector Montalbano, #14)
TR Racconti di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #14.5)
TR The Dance of the Seagull (Inspector Montalbano, #15)
TR Il sorriso di Angelica (Montalbano, #17)
TR Il gioco degli specchi (Montalbano, #18)
TR Una lama di luce (Montalbano, #19)
TR Un covo di vipere (Montalbano, #21)
TR La piramide di fango (Montalbano, #22)
TR La giostra degli scambi (Montalbano, #23)
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