January 12, 2015
In Camilleri’s amiable 18th mystery featuring Insp. Salvo Montalbano (after 2014’s Angelica’s Smile), the Sicilian policeman faces several unusual problems. A bomb explodes in front of an empty Vigàta warehouse; someone vandalizes the car of Montalbano’s beautiful neighbor, Liliana Lombardo, whose husband, Adriano, is seldom home; an unexplained bullet hole appears in Montalbano’s car; and, as usual, TV newsman Pippo Ragonese and Commissioner Bonetti-Alderighi are giving him grief. Montalbano soon realizes that people are trying to lead him and his team into a “hall of mirrors” to derail the bombing investigation. Meanwhile, Liliana embarks on a not-so-subtle campaign to seduce him that is as enjoyable as it is suspicious. Series fans and newcomers alike will relish Montalbano’s appetite for good food and beverages, his love of a quiet think, and his ability to turn the tables on the criminals—and his tormentors. Agent: Donatella Barbieri, Agenzia Letteraria Internazionale (Italy).
February 1, 2015
Inspector Montalbano's growing obsession with an alluring neighbor may be clouding his judgment as he pursues an elusive bomber. On his way to work one morning, veteran Sicilian investigator Montalbano spots neighbor Liliana Lombardo fretting over her disabled car and offers her a lift to his mechanic. At the station house, he learns of the bombing of an empty warehouse, on the ground floor of a three-story building. The two investigating cops disagree on motive. Mimi theorizes that it's a reaction to nonpayment of protection money, but Fazio is skeptical and undertakes an investigation of the owner. Or perhaps the bomber was sending a message to a tenant on an upper floor. Montalbano, meanwhile, offers a morning ride to Liliana until her car is repaired and finds himself drifting toward a dalliance with the married woman, even as he realizes that she's duplicitous and probably has other lovers. Fazio learns that a couple of convicted felons list the bombed building as their addresses. Two anonymous letters implicate different people as the target of the bomb, while an anonymous caller claims it went off by accident. Montalbano can't stop obsessing about Liliana and can't resist checking her house for activity. Moreover, his longtime love, Livia, is currently in one of her rejecting phases. Divine intervention-that is, an ill-timed call from Fazio-prevents Montalbano from consummating his affair with Liliana. A second bombing with a similar M.O. and Liliana's disappearance bring the case to a head. Brisk, biting and cleverly plotted, Montalbano's 18th (Angelica's Smile, 2014, etc.) is both droll and suspenseful.
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March 1, 2015
A welcome return to form for the too-often bothered, beleaguered, and bewildered Inspector Salvo Montalbano. The simple fact is that the usually charismatic Sicilian police inspector has been whining too much latelyabout his age, about his superiors, about the seeming difficulty of his cases, about the agonies of resisting the charms of beautiful women. Get over it, Salvo, and show us some of that sleight-of-hand that you used to employ to frustrate the bosses, catch the bad guys, and toy with the ladies. Fortunately, that's exactly what he does here, in a thoroughly entertaining romp that involves all of the above: bosses ready to swallow an attempt to frame Montalbano for murder, Mafia thugs breaking bad over missing cocaine, and, yes, a beautiful woman seemingly smitten with Salvo but with an ulterior motive. Rather than just whining (he whines a bit, but we'll give him that), Salvo shows some mettle this time, fighting off the lady, confronting the bosses, and outfoxing the Mafia. Well done, Salvo; you've earned your plate of Sartu di Riso alla Calabrisa at Enzo's trattoria.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)