Camilleri's gripping seventh Inspector Montalbano mystery (after 2005's The Smell of the Night) successfully integrates serious political themes with a hero reminiscent of Colin Dexter's beloved Inspector Morse. Frustrated by his department's repressive handling of security for the G8 summit in Genoa, Montalbano seriously considers resigning. His attempt to unwind with a casual swim along the Sicilian seashore fails when he discovers a corpse in the water. The inspector's pursuit of the cause of death intersects with another mystery-the inquiry into a hit-and-run that claimed the life of a young boy who may have been victimized by human traffickers. When Montalbano realizes that he may have inadvertently aided the boy's victimizers, his internal turmoil intensifies. Despite Camilleri's hard look at modern-day slavery and child abuse, he maintains Montalbano's gallows humor, making this far from a run-of-the-mill police procedural. (Aug.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

In his seventh outing (after The Smell of Night), Sicilian Inspector Salvo Montalbano is on the verge of resigning, beset as he is by life-police corrupted by politics, his favorite trattoria's chef resigning-and feeling that his investigative skills are dulling. Then two deaths presumed accidental and unrelated catch more than just his attention-he literally bumps into one body while swimming and feels a responsibility for the other-and Montalbano's instincts sharpen. Ingrid, an old friend whose marriage is in distress, supplies pivotal information (while provoking the jealousy of Montalbano's long-distance lover, Livia), and a journalist provides background on the illegal trafficking of children. Montalbano's lone-ranger tactics, undertaken despite the occasional pains of his aging body, infuriate his engaging staff, but the inspector is clearly back in top form. And he's also found a trattoria whose chef's cooking leaves him blissful, a discovery no less significant than Odysseus finding his long-lost Ithaca. A worthy addition to a smart, entertaining series.-Michele Leber, Arlington, VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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

Having narrated several of the Inspector Montalbano mysteries, Grover Gardner is thoroughly comfortable in the persona of the feisty middle-aged Sicilian detective. Here Montalbano considers retiring, goes for a relaxing swim, and comes face-to-face with a corpse. He's also dealing with possible child trafficking in his jurisdiction. Though his Italian is impeccable, Gardner elects to define the characters through their personalities rather than give them Sicilian accents. He's particularly adept at bringing out Montalbano's humorous side as well as his frustration with the pervasive corruption he sees. Add a strong-willed mistress and an office full of independent fellow police, and you have a fast-moving and affecting audio story. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine