I like the Inspector Montalbano TV series, based on the detective novels by Andrea Camilleri, and I enjoyed this story, which has the same great characters.
In this 18th novel in the series, Montalbano and his team investigate a bombing in Sicily. The story works fine as a standalone.
*****
A bombing in Inspector Salvo Montalbano's town of Vigàta in Sicily puzzles the top cop and his detectives. The explosion did little damage, and the location of the bomb - between a warehouse and a residential building - makes the target unclear.
Montalbano and his investigators look into the owner of the warehouse as well as the people living in the apartment building, to determine a likely mark.
In any case, the Mafia seems to be implicated in the attack, as it's at the bottom of many major crimes in the region.
As Montalbano is probing the case he 'coincidentally' meets his gorgeous married neighbor, Liliana Lombardo, who's having car trouble.
Liliana's husband, who represents a computer company, is away on business, and Montalbano's 'white knight' instincts prompt him to offer assistance. So Montalbano drives Liliana to her job as manager of a clothing store and puts her in touch with a mechanic.
To express her gratitude, Liliana invites Montalbano to dinner at her house. Liliana then inveigles Montalbano into accompanying her to various stores around town.....where she acts like they're a couple. Montalbano is aware Liliana has an agenda, but he's still drawn into her web - despite the fact he has a long distance girlfriend named Livia.
Before long Montalbano gets a little too cozy with Liliana, and his indiscretion - with embarrassing photos -threatens to get him on the front page of the local newspaper, whose editor lives to smear the Inspector's name.
In the meantime, Montalbano's team does its part to investigate the bombings and do other police work. The squad includes:
Mimi Augello - Montalbano's second in command. Mimi is a seducer who could teach Casanova a few tricks. Mimi uses his wiles to get friendly with a saleswoman in Liliana's clothing store, to get information about the temptress and a co-worker she's having an affair with.
Giuseppe Fazio - a detective who specializes in data mining, acquiring useful contacts, and getting information. Fazio likes nothing better than reciting names, addresses, occupations, etc. of persons of interest.
Agente Catarella - the front desk man at the police station. Catarella is overly excitable, clumsy, and can never get a name straight. Catarella is endearing, funny, and a favorite character in the series.
As the story unfolds, the plot gets very complicated: rumors spread, shots are fired, people disappear, informers provide information, bodies are found, and Montalbano's own life is endangered before he solves the case.
Through it all, Montalbano enjoys meals at his favorite restaurant as well as food prepared by his housekeeper Adelina....which he eats on his veranda overlooking the beach.
I'm very envious of Montalbano's beautiful house in picturesque Sicily.
Sicily
In any case, we're treated to tempting descriptions of food like antipasto, arancini, pasta with squid, pasta with salmon, beef with hot sauce, and more.
Antipasto
Arancini (rice balls)
Pasta with squid
Pasta with salmon
Beef with hot sauce
In my view, the story is overly complex, but still enjoyable. I'd recommend the book to readers who enjoy detective novels in exotic settings, especially fans of Montalbano. I also want to give a shout out to the TV series, which is very well done.
Rating: 3 stars
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