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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Mixed feelings. This is my first Camilleri/Montalbano mystery and although this is my favourite genre, I'm not sure this is a series I'll read more of. I do like the characterisation of Montalbano - Camilleri knows his lead character inside out and it shows. His likes and dislikes, the nuances of character, the personality traits and the dialogue are testament to the fact. He's intriguing enough to keep me interested but that's about it - the mystery while initially captivating tended to drag a bit and I had guessed most of what occurred much before it did. Perhaps that's just coz I'm so used to this genre ;)
Perhaps I should have started with the first book of the series for some backstory and a better understanding of why the Inspector is the way he is...bitter, angry and rather volatile. Perhaps some day. I did however enjoy the Italian flavour of the story...authentic and spot on. The people, the lingo, the food, the countryside...for me they were the real hooks in this mystery!
Perhaps I should have started with the first book of the series for some backstory and a better understanding of why the Inspector is the way he is...bitter, angry and rather volatile. Perhaps some day. I did however enjoy the Italian flavour of the story...authentic and spot on. The people, the lingo, the food, the countryside...for me they were the real hooks in this mystery!
This is the sixth book in the series featuring Inspector Montalbano. Here, there are a bunch of upset people in town because they invested their money with a man named Gargano who has disappeared along with their money. It came to Montalbano's attention when one upset elderly man took an employee of Gargano's hostage. As usual, there are things that bother him about what people say and do and that leads him to recheck information and find the truth. The title comes from a description of the one witness that everyone else dismissed, as he describes his way of telling time.
On the personal side, he is worried about his relationship with his girlfriend Livia, and has a violent reaction to the loss of one of his two places that he goes to think.
On the personal side, he is worried about his relationship with his girlfriend Livia, and has a violent reaction to the loss of one of his two places that he goes to think.
Rating: 4* of five
The Publisher Says: The number of Inspector Montalbano fans will continue to grow with this ingenious new novel featuring the earthy and urbane Sicilian detective. Half the retirees in Vigàta have invested their savings with a financial wizard who has disappeared, along with their money. As Montalbano investigates this labyrinthine financial scam, he finds himself at a serious disadvantage: a hostile superior has shut him out of the case, he’s on the outs with his lover Livia, and his cherished Sicily is turning so ruthless and vulgar that Montalbano wonders if any part of it is worth saving. Drenched with atmosphere, crackling with wit, The Smell of the Night is Camilleri at his most addictive.
My Review: Salvo Montalbano and the Vigàta police force have a strange case, one that's not their case and not particularly important seeming as the Common Knowledge has already given it an ending: A Ponzi-scheme swindler comes home to Vigàta after being away most of his life, seemingly to answer the greediest prayers of the Vigatese by providing huge returns on the investment of their life savings. One fine day, he fails to appear and disburse the income due, and is never seen again. A major investigation by Montalbano's wretchedly political and horrifically petty bosses has led to the conclusion that Mr. Ponzi's follower was offed by the Mafia, either for taking the wrong widow's life savings or plowing fields they felt were their own. After getting involved due to a ludicrous hostage standoff, Montalbano can't help but keep worrying at the threads not in their proper places. In the end, to no one's surprise, the Ponzi schemer is found dead, but not where, or how, anyone could have expected at the beginning of the case.
I am on record as a fan of the series, and I've given plenty of reasons I feel the books are superior. But one idea has occurred in multiple places and from multiple sources: These books reek, to some, of the corruption and wickedness that mysteries, as distinct from thrillers or noirs, seek to combat. Montalbano doesn't shy away from rule-breaking, he flirts with and even goes far afield with some of the beauteous women Camilleri clearly thinks we all want to read about; his world contains those who aren't morally upright but are valued friends.
Yeah, so? As does your own life, nine bets in ten. Camilleri's character is flawed, and knows this about himself, but he's always motivated by the need to fix things and help people and make the world run right, even if it means breaking rules and going outside the system. I don't sense that this is a problem in other cop-centered series. I have wondered why that seems off-putting in this series.
I think it's because the Mafia is invoked so often, and that makes Americans very tense. It's very much a part of our national conversation even yet, and has entered English as a term of opprobrium for any group or team that's opposed to your own. (I treasure a mention of the Bush Mafia made in Austin's newspaper, later retracted and apologized for. THAT was a good day!)
It's all I can figure, anyway. I am so NOT in love with the current fashion for Scandinavian crime writers that I think I may have reacted histaminically by heading for Sicily. Something more exciting, please, no reserved and tortured souls trying to make amends for their misdeeds, thank you. And as these books don't have revolting, violent depictions of things I don't want to think about (yes, that's Lisbeth in my crosshairs), perhaps the ghoul crowd isn't tempted in. Taste being inarguable, granted, I still wonder at the reason for uninterest or dislike that I've seen mention far more than once.
Guess that's why there'll always be chocolate and vanilla.
The Publisher Says: The number of Inspector Montalbano fans will continue to grow with this ingenious new novel featuring the earthy and urbane Sicilian detective. Half the retirees in Vigàta have invested their savings with a financial wizard who has disappeared, along with their money. As Montalbano investigates this labyrinthine financial scam, he finds himself at a serious disadvantage: a hostile superior has shut him out of the case, he’s on the outs with his lover Livia, and his cherished Sicily is turning so ruthless and vulgar that Montalbano wonders if any part of it is worth saving. Drenched with atmosphere, crackling with wit, The Smell of the Night is Camilleri at his most addictive.
My Review: Salvo Montalbano and the Vigàta police force have a strange case, one that's not their case and not particularly important seeming as the Common Knowledge has already given it an ending: A Ponzi-scheme swindler comes home to Vigàta after being away most of his life, seemingly to answer the greediest prayers of the Vigatese by providing huge returns on the investment of their life savings. One fine day, he fails to appear and disburse the income due, and is never seen again. A major investigation by Montalbano's wretchedly political and horrifically petty bosses has led to the conclusion that Mr. Ponzi's follower was offed by the Mafia, either for taking the wrong widow's life savings or plowing fields they felt were their own. After getting involved due to a ludicrous hostage standoff, Montalbano can't help but keep worrying at the threads not in their proper places. In the end, to no one's surprise, the Ponzi schemer is found dead, but not where, or how, anyone could have expected at the beginning of the case.
I am on record as a fan of the series, and I've given plenty of reasons I feel the books are superior. But one idea has occurred in multiple places and from multiple sources: These books reek, to some, of the corruption and wickedness that mysteries, as distinct from thrillers or noirs, seek to combat. Montalbano doesn't shy away from rule-breaking, he flirts with and even goes far afield with some of the beauteous women Camilleri clearly thinks we all want to read about; his world contains those who aren't morally upright but are valued friends.
Yeah, so? As does your own life, nine bets in ten. Camilleri's character is flawed, and knows this about himself, but he's always motivated by the need to fix things and help people and make the world run right, even if it means breaking rules and going outside the system. I don't sense that this is a problem in other cop-centered series. I have wondered why that seems off-putting in this series.
I think it's because the Mafia is invoked so often, and that makes Americans very tense. It's very much a part of our national conversation even yet, and has entered English as a term of opprobrium for any group or team that's opposed to your own. (I treasure a mention of the Bush Mafia made in Austin's newspaper, later retracted and apologized for. THAT was a good day!)
It's all I can figure, anyway. I am so NOT in love with the current fashion for Scandinavian crime writers that I think I may have reacted histaminically by heading for Sicily. Something more exciting, please, no reserved and tortured souls trying to make amends for their misdeeds, thank you. And as these books don't have revolting, violent depictions of things I don't want to think about (yes, that's Lisbeth in my crosshairs), perhaps the ghoul crowd isn't tempted in. Taste being inarguable, granted, I still wonder at the reason for uninterest or dislike that I've seen mention far more than once.
Guess that's why there'll always be chocolate and vanilla.
This series is becoming even better.
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* Rounding the Mark (Inspector Montalbano, #7)
4* The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano, #8)
3* Acqua in bocca (Inspector Montalbano, #16.5)
4* Treasure Hunt (Inspector Montalbano, #16)
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 La paura di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.5)
TR Storie di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.7)
TR La prima indagine di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #8.5)
TR The Paper Moon (Inspector Montalbano, #9)
TR August Heat (Inspector Montalbano, #10)
TR The Wings of the Sphinx (Inspector Montalbano, #11)
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 Una voce di notte (Montalbano, #20)
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* Rounding the Mark (Inspector Montalbano, #7)
4* The Patience of the Spider (Inspector Montalbano, #8)
3* Acqua in bocca (Inspector Montalbano, #16.5)
4* Treasure Hunt (Inspector Montalbano, #16)
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 La paura di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.5)
TR Storie di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #6.7)
TR La prima indagine di Montalbano (Inspector Montalbano, #8.5)
TR The Paper Moon (Inspector Montalbano, #9)
TR August Heat (Inspector Montalbano, #10)
TR The Wings of the Sphinx (Inspector Montalbano, #11)
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 Una voce di notte (Montalbano, #20)
TR Un covo di vipere (Montalbano, #21)
TR La piramide di fango (Montalbano, #22)
TR La giostra degli scambi (Montalbano, #23)
He's really on it now. Everything that you want from a Montalbano, with the added extra of some weird trippiness thrown in
This is another excellent Montalbano story, in fact I'd say its the best one so far. the plot starts off very simple but as it gets towards the end it becomes much darker.