Publishers Weekly
Happily, Grover Gardner eschews even a hint of an Italian accent in narrating the 11th installment of this series celebrating the life, loves, and investigations of the charmingly eccentric Sicilian Insp. Salvo Montalbano. Nearly every word in this comfortable but not cozy novel identifies its geographical setting, particularly the details of its food, scenery, characters, and, yes, crimes. In the case of the latter, it's what looks like a faux kidnapping and a murder that has the outspoken detective investigating a Catholic charity supposed to be saving the souls and bodies of beautiful young women from the wicked ways of local Mafia night clubs. Along with his avoidance of stereotypes and unfortunate accents, Gardner does quite well by the characters, from the weary but unstoppable Montalbano to his backup crew of memorable cops and the angry, offended, officious, and, in rare instances, grateful people with whom he has to deal. With the exception of a desk cop who's a bit too thick to be believed, these are three-dimensional, human creations, and Gardner treats them as such. A Penguin paperback (Reviews, Nov. 16). (Jan.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Andrea Camilleri and the Montalbano Series
“The idiosyncratic Montalbano is totally endearing.”—The New York Times
“Camilleri is as crafty and charming a writer as his protagonist is an investigator.”—The Washington Post Book World
“Hailing from the land of Umberto Eco and La Cosa Nostra, Montalbano can discuss a pointy-headed book like Western Attitudes Toward Death as unflinchingly as he can pore over crime-scene snuff photos. He throws together an extemporaneous lunch of shrimp with lemon and oil as gracefully as he dodges advances from attractive women.”—Los Angeles Times
“[Camilleri’s mysteries] offer quirky characters, crisp dialogue, bright storytelling—and Salvo Montalbano, one of the most engaging protagonists in detective fiction…Montalbano is a delightful creation, an honest man on Siciliy’s mean streets.”—USA Today
“Camilleri is as crafty and charming a writer as his protagonist is an investigator.”—The Washington Post Book World
“Like Mike Hammer or Sam Spade, Montalbano is the kind of guy who can’t stay out of trouble…Still, deftly and lovingly translated by Stephen Sartarelli, Camilleri makes it abundantly clear that under the gruff, sardonic exterior our inspector has a heart of gold, and that any outburst, fumbles, or threats are made only in the name of pursuing truth.”—The Nation
“Camilleri can do a character’s whole backstory in half a paragraph.”—The New Yorker
“Subtle, sardonic, and molto simpatico: Montalbano is the Latin re-creation of Philip Marlowe, working in a place that manages to be both more and less civilized than chandler’ Los Angeles.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“The novels of Andrea Camilleri breathe out the sense of place, the sense of humor, and the sense of despair that fills the air of Sicily."—Donna Leon
MAY 2010 - AudioFile
Grover Gardner is the perfect performer for Camilleri's series, giving a slyly funny reading of Inspector Montalbano and the Sicilian cops he works with. For instance, he gives the imbecile desk sergeant who can't spell, write clearly, or ever get a name right, an amusing Bronx accent. Great performance, but therein lies a problem. If Catarella is such a buffoon, why does he have a job? The writing (and/or translation) is clunky, and the plotting either predictable or unbelievable, not a good combination. The titular sphinx is a four-winged moth tattooed on a naked dead girl found in a dump on the first page or so. What follows doesn't quite succeed as farce or thriller, but Gardner keeps the experience fairly painless for the listener. B.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
