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Commissario Montalbano #6
Ароматът на нощта
„Мафията никога не е главният герой в книгите ми“ – казва доайенът на италианската литература и остава верен на принципа си в „Ароматът на нощта“. Андреа Камилери търси човешкото във всеки персонаж – полицай, престъпник, жертва и дори мернал се епизодично странник. Затова и в шестия роман с комисар Монталбано криминалната интрига минава през плетеница от житейски драми и обрати.
Финансов брокер и неговият помощник изчезват безследно. Хиляди измамени осъзнават, че няма да видят парите си. Личен мотив насочва Монталбано към случая, макар че разследването се ръководи „от високо“. Когато е намерен прострелян в лицето труп, началството бърза да оповести версията за отмъщение на мафията. Комисарят обаче открива следи – и в буквален, и в преносен смисъл, които отвеждат до изненадваща и поразителна развръзка.
Финансов брокер и неговият помощник изчезват безследно. Хиляди измамени осъзнават, че няма да видят парите си. Личен мотив насочва Монталбано към случая, макар че разследването се ръководи „от високо“. Когато е намерен прострелян в лицето труп, началството бърза да оповести версията за отмъщение на мафията. Комисарят обаче открива следи – и в буквален, и в преносен смисъл, които отвеждат до изненадваща и поразителна развръзка.
183 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
303 people are currently reading
1,821 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
440 books2,380 followersAndrea Camilleri was an Italian writer. He is considered one of the greatest Italian writers of both 20th and 21st centuries.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
June 16, 2022
The seventh investigation by Montalbano on the disappearance of a Sicilian Madoff who ruined a few dozen savers, some of whom, perhaps, were a little vindictive.
February 6, 2023
3/5 Estrellas
Este es el que menos me ha gustado hasta ahora.
Un conocido personaje de Vigata, realiza una estafa piramidal entre los vecinos y desaparece con la pasta. El fino instinto de Montalbano le lleva a mirar donde nadie se lo espera: ¿Mafia, asesinato pasional, simple desaparición a un paraíso del Pacífico? La resolución es previsible y se mezcla con una especie de "deja vu" onírico de Montalbano, que no se sabe muy bien a qué viene.
Un poco más de lo mismo, pero un poco menos disfrutable que en entregas anteriores. Montalbano sigue siendo el mismo cabrón con el corazón de oro. Un poco cansino esto de que todas las tías buenas que desfilan por los libros pasen por la piedra del subcomisario Augello y que se queden con las ganas de hacer lo mismo con nuestro comisario, menos mal que está Livia con su carácter transalpino que lo tiene recto como un palo. Un poco de machismo le rezuma por las costuras al bueno de Camilleri.
En fin esperemos que la siguiente entrega por esa Sicilia "hecha de tierra avara de verdor y de hombres avaros de palabras", vuelva por sus fueros.
Este es el que menos me ha gustado hasta ahora.
Un conocido personaje de Vigata, realiza una estafa piramidal entre los vecinos y desaparece con la pasta. El fino instinto de Montalbano le lleva a mirar donde nadie se lo espera: ¿Mafia, asesinato pasional, simple desaparición a un paraíso del Pacífico? La resolución es previsible y se mezcla con una especie de "deja vu" onírico de Montalbano, que no se sabe muy bien a qué viene.
Un poco más de lo mismo, pero un poco menos disfrutable que en entregas anteriores. Montalbano sigue siendo el mismo cabrón con el corazón de oro. Un poco cansino esto de que todas las tías buenas que desfilan por los libros pasen por la piedra del subcomisario Augello y que se queden con las ganas de hacer lo mismo con nuestro comisario, menos mal que está Livia con su carácter transalpino que lo tiene recto como un palo. Un poco de machismo le rezuma por las costuras al bueno de Camilleri.
En fin esperemos que la siguiente entrega por esa Sicilia "hecha de tierra avara de verdor y de hombres avaros de palabras", vuelva por sus fueros.
June 9, 2019
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.
August 29, 2021
Andrea Camilleri said he got the idea to write his sixth Commissario Montalbano mystery series novel from a news article about financial fraud. So, it’s a Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, eh, my least favorite crime so far in the series. Oh, yes, there’s terrific food, beautiful women, and goofy colleagues. The tension with lover Livia, continues, check. There’s a touching moment where Montalbano reunites briefly with Francois, the orphan he and Livia might (have?) adopt(ed?), but there’s (again) no real movement on that front yet.
I like it that Montalbano breaks rules, has a bad temper, and has an almost erotic relationship to Sicilian food. I like that he can also be tender and empathetic. I like it that he makes lots of references to his favorite literary works. I do like him a lot, and I like the series a lot. And this volume is good, but for me not special. Okay, what makes this book a little special, the highlight, is the connection Montalbano makes in the resolution of the case to the William Faulkner short story, “A Rose for Emily;” and the surprising glimpse we get at the end into madness. The ending is strong and well done. I recommend the series, for sure.
I like it that Montalbano breaks rules, has a bad temper, and has an almost erotic relationship to Sicilian food. I like that he can also be tender and empathetic. I like it that he makes lots of references to his favorite literary works. I do like him a lot, and I like the series a lot. And this volume is good, but for me not special. Okay, what makes this book a little special, the highlight, is the connection Montalbano makes in the resolution of the case to the William Faulkner short story, “A Rose for Emily;” and the surprising glimpse we get at the end into madness. The ending is strong and well done. I recommend the series, for sure.
July 8, 2022
Ein Montalbano-Krimi mit allem was das Herz begehrt (und von Montalbano erwartet): ein mürrischer Kommissar, der damit hadert älter zu werden, eine Fernbeziehung zu Livia, die ihm immer wieder Gewissensbisse verursacht, aber ohne die er nicht leben kann, der Reiz einer jungen, attraktiven Zeugin ("Sie könnten meine Tochter sein" - "Ja, Papa") und natürlich die unvergleichliche sizilianische Küche mit Gerichten, deren Namen allein schon die Geschmacksnerven anregen. Dass sich vor diesem Setting ein Kriminalfall abspielt, den Montalbano letztendlich mit einem gehörig Maß an Intuition löst, rückt dabei beinahe in den Hintergrund.
November 14, 2022
If something about this series does get lost in the translation into tv series (which I love), it's the books' intertextuality and Montalbano's own love and knowledge of literature. Each of these books (and the short stories as well) contains myriad references about some work of literature that he loves, rereads, stumbles into during the investigation, or uses as a key to unlock the mystery he is working on. I love that. It's unfortunate though that those who know only the tv series don't know this side of our beloved commissario.
March 19, 2023
Познат до болка и за българските читатели сюжет - лъскав измамник обещава нечувани печалби, ако му доверите парите си. И естествено, след няколко месеца от тях и от него няма и следа...
Във Вигата и околните сицилиански градчета хората са привърженици на две версии за развитието на сиуацията:
- Гаргано е взел милиардите лири и си ги харчи с кеф на някой екзотичен остров
- Гаргано е настъпил някой сериозен мафиот и отдавна храни рибите
Но нашият верен комисар Монталбано има други идеи и се заема да разплете този финансов кошмар.
P.S. Много ме нажали участта на сарацинската маслина...
Във Вигата и околните сицилиански градчета хората са привърженици на две версии за развитието на сиуацията:
- Гаргано е взел милиардите лири и си ги харчи с кеф на някой екзотичен остров
- Гаргано е настъпил някой сериозен мафиот и отдавна храни рибите
Но нашият верен комисар Монталбано има други идеи и се заема да разплете този финансов кошмар.
P.S. Много ме нажали участта на сарацинската маслина...
December 28, 2015
N-am mai avut răbdare și-am citit-o și pe-asta, așa că iar am rămas fără Montalbano. Asta e, nu m-am putut abține, pentru că deja a devenit ca un drog. Din păcate, însă, Emanuel Botezatu nu poate traduce toate romanele cu Montalbano într-un singur an, Nemira nu le poate scoate pe toate într-un an, iar cu dialectul sicilian nu am nimic în comun. Așa că va trebui să aștept cuminte până la anul, când sper că vor ieși măcar două noi romane cu detectivul meu preferat. O anchetă tenebroasă, miliarde de lire italiene dispărute în neant, un escroc de talie mondială și mult umor, iată rețeta unui nou roman de succes. Ce păcat că autorul deja a împlinit frumoasa vârstă de nouăzeci de ani și că nu va mai putea scrie măcar vreo douăzeci de volume în această serie. Asta e, esențele tari se țin în sticluțe mici. Mai multe, pe Blogul FanSF: http://wp.me/pz4D9-2jC.
September 19, 2011
So I was joking to a friend the other week about how I was going to try and get into Italian crime fiction. After all, I said, this fashion for gruesome stuff from Scandinavia can’t go on for other, other countries/regions will have to have their turn and as such I could try to get to the front of the queue on the next trend. Then, a few days later, I saw that BBC4 were broadcasting a documentary about the new wave of Italian crime writers and I realised this was yet another bus I’d missed.
Anyway I watched the documentary and this brings me to: ‘The Scent of the Night’ by Andrea Camilleri.
Sometimes when you review novels translated from other languages, you wonder whether you’re reviewing the work itself or the translation. For example, some of the prose is pretty pedestrian in this, but is that the fault of Camilleri, or is it some scribe who has not made the effort to properly render some colourful Italian descriptions? Similarly, the menial characters in this book seem to speak in a very cod ‘itsa lika this’ style Italian. That’s a bit distracting as everyone else’s dialogue is in normal English, and then someone arrives who seems to be doing a Joe Dolce impression. But again, who should I blame for that?
The plot is diverting enough and the style is very gossipy (certainly more so than all that stuff pumped out of Sweden), while Montalbano – our hero detective – is an intriguing and interesting character. But in the end this is a moderately diverting read, rather than a gripping one.
Anyway I watched the documentary and this brings me to: ‘The Scent of the Night’ by Andrea Camilleri.
Sometimes when you review novels translated from other languages, you wonder whether you’re reviewing the work itself or the translation. For example, some of the prose is pretty pedestrian in this, but is that the fault of Camilleri, or is it some scribe who has not made the effort to properly render some colourful Italian descriptions? Similarly, the menial characters in this book seem to speak in a very cod ‘itsa lika this’ style Italian. That’s a bit distracting as everyone else’s dialogue is in normal English, and then someone arrives who seems to be doing a Joe Dolce impression. But again, who should I blame for that?
The plot is diverting enough and the style is very gossipy (certainly more so than all that stuff pumped out of Sweden), while Montalbano – our hero detective – is an intriguing and interesting character. But in the end this is a moderately diverting read, rather than a gripping one.
June 28, 2021
Another day another Montalbano story and I have got quite a few to read in my personal library, I seem to have bought quite a few instalments of this series in hardcover. What happened is found this series on Netflix and found these TV movies very enjoyable and made me laugh quite a lot, and enjoyed the gorgeous ladies that made Montalbano's life so much fun, even if he is in a long steady relationship with Livia. And I do get upset when he is not fully involved with her but another dame fatale. But in the TV show those ladies are really breath-taking beautiful women who play their own game opposed to the commissioner's.
Montalbano gets involved in a case originally investigated with his aide Mimi, when an old pensioner tries to take a woman hostage who is as much a victim of deceitful swindler who has taken off with a lot of savings of ordinary folks who believed they could get richer quick. He saves the innocent lady in distress and everything about the disappearance of this money swindler does look off to Montalbano and that never sits well with him.
We get some culinary escapades, Livia based discussions about love and relationships, the hard lives of Sicilians who prove to be just a susceptible to a golden pot at the end of a rainbow. And of course something from Montalbano's past comes to haunt him due to some anonymous letter delivered to his chef.
And excellent tale from the early days of the series that is quite good and fun to read, Montalbano is quite wicked but a policeman that believes in justice.
Montalbano gets involved in a case originally investigated with his aide Mimi, when an old pensioner tries to take a woman hostage who is as much a victim of deceitful swindler who has taken off with a lot of savings of ordinary folks who believed they could get richer quick. He saves the innocent lady in distress and everything about the disappearance of this money swindler does look off to Montalbano and that never sits well with him.
We get some culinary escapades, Livia based discussions about love and relationships, the hard lives of Sicilians who prove to be just a susceptible to a golden pot at the end of a rainbow. And of course something from Montalbano's past comes to haunt him due to some anonymous letter delivered to his chef.
And excellent tale from the early days of the series that is quite good and fun to read, Montalbano is quite wicked but a policeman that believes in justice.
November 10, 2019
Libro sexto de la serie protagonizada por el comisario más irascible, insoportable y carismático que pueda haber, Salvo Montalbano.
En este caso Montalbano investiga la desaparición de un estafador que trae de cabeza a media Vigàta, mientras soporta los primeros fríos y le entra la crisis de los cuarenta.
El libro está bien, pero no sé si es porque hacía poco que había visto este caso en la serie TV que tan bien refleja los libros, o porque Montalbano está más llorica que nunca, el caso es que le doy un aprobado alto, pero no sobresaliente como en anteriores ocasiones.
En este caso Montalbano investiga la desaparición de un estafador que trae de cabeza a media Vigàta, mientras soporta los primeros fríos y le entra la crisis de los cuarenta.
El libro está bien, pero no sé si es porque hacía poco que había visto este caso en la serie TV que tan bien refleja los libros, o porque Montalbano está más llorica que nunca, el caso es que le doy un aprobado alto, pero no sobresaliente como en anteriores ocasiones.
August 11, 2024
The case in this book starts not with murder but with a disappearance and a fraud!
Montalbano is not the lead investigator this time, but he gets interested in solving the puzzle since the detective who investigates is dead set on blaming the mafia! A narrative that doesn't sit well with Montalbano!
As in every other book in the series, there are gastronomic elements, references to movies and books, and, of course, the humorous exchanges between Montalbano and his coworkers!
Montalbano is not the lead investigator this time, but he gets interested in solving the puzzle since the detective who investigates is dead set on blaming the mafia! A narrative that doesn't sit well with Montalbano!
As in every other book in the series, there are gastronomic elements, references to movies and books, and, of course, the humorous exchanges between Montalbano and his coworkers!
October 17, 2019
Camilleri’s writing is effortless and enjoyable. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Montalbano series so far and this is no exception. What struck me most, was the deeply empathetic and human side of the Inspector that was shown in this novel. I admit that the plot line surrounding a financial adviser isn’t my favourite of the series. But the endings is one I will certainly remember most!
February 16, 2021
Ed eccomi giunto alla sesta indagine di Montalbano, L'odore della notte. Ritroviamo un Montalbano cupo, che fa incubi, con ferite aperte e rapporti burrascosi con Livia. Gli capita fra le mani un caso forse troppo banale: un tizio che ha truffato dei vecchietti si è portato via i loro soldi ed è sparito. Ma indagando scoprirà una realtà più complessa, fino al tragico epilogo.
Ripeto Camilleri scrive bene, è piacevole, e le indagini di Montalbano sono ambientate a casa mia potrei dire, visto che abito in un piccolo borgo di mare siciliano. La storia non mi è dispiaciuta, ma manca quel qualcosa in più rispetto alle altre indagini.
P.S. povero maglione!
Ripeto Camilleri scrive bene, è piacevole, e le indagini di Montalbano sono ambientate a casa mia potrei dire, visto che abito in un piccolo borgo di mare siciliano. La storia non mi è dispiaciuta, ma manca quel qualcosa in più rispetto alle altre indagini.
P.S. povero maglione!
June 22, 2024
Octavo libro del comisario Montalbano. El pueblo está alborotado, un inversor que hace un año llegó al pueblo desapareció misteriosamente junto al dinero que le había dado la mitad del pueblo para invertir. Unos lo buscan para matarlo, otros para encontrar el dinero y otros sólo quieren saber que pasó.
Salvo Montalbano decide inmiscuirse en la investigación por simple curiosidad y para molestar al jefe de policía (un ser de pocas luces y muy malicioso) y al encargado de la investigación (un comisario de estafas que fue estafado hace un año...).
Entre medio Salvo debe luchar con la verdad inexorable de que esta envejeciendo, los 50 le pegan fuerte. Se encuentra solo, con una novia que vive en la otra punta de Italia y cada vez recordando más a sus padres muertos.
Los libros de Camillieri siempre dan lo que prometen, una ambientación de Sicilia espectacular, mucho humor, un buen toque de drama y personajes super sólidos y entretenidos.
Uno lee sus libros y se siente viviendo en esos pueblitos italianos, siente que a la vuelta de la esquina se encuentra con el comisario de mal humor, o el recepcionista de la comisaría iletrado que se conduce como una tromba o con el subcomisario que es un mujeriego y en que todos los libros se está por casar con una mujer distinta para decidir no hacerlo.
Son personajes humanos que más allá del estereotipo tienen muchas emociones que pujan por salir, y que muchas veces la represión de las mismas hacen que exploten.
Es de esos libros que seguro una buena parte te la pasas riendo, ya solo por eso vale la pena leerlo.
Salvo Montalbano decide inmiscuirse en la investigación por simple curiosidad y para molestar al jefe de policía (un ser de pocas luces y muy malicioso) y al encargado de la investigación (un comisario de estafas que fue estafado hace un año...).
Entre medio Salvo debe luchar con la verdad inexorable de que esta envejeciendo, los 50 le pegan fuerte. Se encuentra solo, con una novia que vive en la otra punta de Italia y cada vez recordando más a sus padres muertos.
Los libros de Camillieri siempre dan lo que prometen, una ambientación de Sicilia espectacular, mucho humor, un buen toque de drama y personajes super sólidos y entretenidos.
Uno lee sus libros y se siente viviendo en esos pueblitos italianos, siente que a la vuelta de la esquina se encuentra con el comisario de mal humor, o el recepcionista de la comisaría iletrado que se conduce como una tromba o con el subcomisario que es un mujeriego y en que todos los libros se está por casar con una mujer distinta para decidir no hacerlo.
Son personajes humanos que más allá del estereotipo tienen muchas emociones que pujan por salir, y que muchas veces la represión de las mismas hacen que exploten.
Es de esos libros que seguro una buena parte te la pasas riendo, ya solo por eso vale la pena leerlo.
December 2, 2017
One of my favorite mystery series. A con artist runs a financial scheme that might have gotten him killed by the Mafia...leaving his loyal secretary behind to deal with an entire island's worth of angry retirees. Inspector Montalbano inestigates...even though it's not his case.
Perfect.
Perfect.
September 17, 2023
A wonderful comment that I cannot make, and you will understand.
May 12, 2024
Great stuff. My proper review is here: https://patricksherriff.com/2024/05/1...
December 20, 2022
(reseña conjunta con El miedo de Montalbano)
“Admiración. No, mucho más que eso: respeto. Por la serena valentía, por la tranquila determinación de aquel hombre. Una vez había leído un verso que decía más o menos que lo que ayuda a vivir es el pensamiento de la muerte. Ya, el pensamiento puede que sí, pero la certeza de la muerte, su cotidiana presencia, su diaria manifestación, su atroz tictac (…), todo eso ¿no habría tal vez provocado en él, Montalbano, un indecible e insoportable terror? ¿De qué estaba hecho el hombre que tenía delante? ”
A golpe de martes os traigo las reseñas de los libros de bolsillo de Montalbano 8 y 9, una novela y una antología de relatos que siguen siendo toda una delicia para los seguidores del comisario:
🌘El olor de la noche. Un financiero (estafador, conocedor de todas las triquiñuelas del mundo) ha desaparecido después de desvalijar a medio pueblo, por lo que está el ambiente caldeado. ¿Se habría trasladado a una isla de la Polinesia burlándose de los que habían confiado en él? ¿O se había aprovechado del dinero de un mafioso y está sirviendo de alimento a los peces del mar? Este libro tiene uno de los comienzos más graciosos que he leído en esta serie: Augello va a cambiar de vida, Montalbano necesita esconder un suéter y hay un loro que canta La Internacional (y cantaba tan bien que tuvo que felicitar al maestro). En contraposición con esto, en El olor de la noche también vemos al comisario con una crisis bien fuerte, por lo que además de darle vueltas al caso lo acompañaremos en sus reflexiones sobre el paso del tiempo, con uno de los finales más poéticos que recuerdo.
🏔️El miedo de Montalbano. Está compuesto por 6 relatos (3 más largos) donde somos partícipes de su manera de entender la vida: Salvo sale de Sicilia y tiene que ir a Roma -Salvo odia salir de Sicilia, odia ir a Roma- , aparece un personaje nuevo por el que acaba teniendo total admiración, y una de las mejores cosas… ¡Cataré tiene más protagonismo en esta antología! Son historias bastante simples donde se disfruta tanto del contexto como de la resolución de los casos.
Y vosotros ¿queréis a Salvo tanto como yo? 🤎
“Admiración. No, mucho más que eso: respeto. Por la serena valentía, por la tranquila determinación de aquel hombre. Una vez había leído un verso que decía más o menos que lo que ayuda a vivir es el pensamiento de la muerte. Ya, el pensamiento puede que sí, pero la certeza de la muerte, su cotidiana presencia, su diaria manifestación, su atroz tictac (…), todo eso ¿no habría tal vez provocado en él, Montalbano, un indecible e insoportable terror? ¿De qué estaba hecho el hombre que tenía delante? ”
A golpe de martes os traigo las reseñas de los libros de bolsillo de Montalbano 8 y 9, una novela y una antología de relatos que siguen siendo toda una delicia para los seguidores del comisario:
🌘El olor de la noche. Un financiero (estafador, conocedor de todas las triquiñuelas del mundo) ha desaparecido después de desvalijar a medio pueblo, por lo que está el ambiente caldeado. ¿Se habría trasladado a una isla de la Polinesia burlándose de los que habían confiado en él? ¿O se había aprovechado del dinero de un mafioso y está sirviendo de alimento a los peces del mar? Este libro tiene uno de los comienzos más graciosos que he leído en esta serie: Augello va a cambiar de vida, Montalbano necesita esconder un suéter y hay un loro que canta La Internacional (y cantaba tan bien que tuvo que felicitar al maestro). En contraposición con esto, en El olor de la noche también vemos al comisario con una crisis bien fuerte, por lo que además de darle vueltas al caso lo acompañaremos en sus reflexiones sobre el paso del tiempo, con uno de los finales más poéticos que recuerdo.
🏔️El miedo de Montalbano. Está compuesto por 6 relatos (3 más largos) donde somos partícipes de su manera de entender la vida: Salvo sale de Sicilia y tiene que ir a Roma -Salvo odia salir de Sicilia, odia ir a Roma- , aparece un personaje nuevo por el que acaba teniendo total admiración, y una de las mejores cosas… ¡Cataré tiene más protagonismo en esta antología! Son historias bastante simples donde se disfruta tanto del contexto como de la resolución de los casos.
Y vosotros ¿queréis a Salvo tanto como yo? 🤎
February 12, 2024
Un Montalbano più malinconico, preso da un'indagine diversa dal solito.
Resta comunque un libro fantastico; con Camilleri non si sbaglia mai.
Resta comunque un libro fantastico; con Camilleri non si sbaglia mai.
November 19, 2024
Este livrinho escrito por Andrea Camilleri em 2001 vive na minha estante desde que foi editado pelo jornal Público na sua coleção mil folhas, em 2003. É um livro muito engraçado! O detetive Montalbano investiga o desaparecimento do burlão Emanuel Gargano, que levou com ele uma grande quantidade de dinheiro pertencente aos seus clientes. De uma forma bem disposta e descontraída acaba por deslindar o mistério que acaba por ter um final bem inesperado!
September 12, 2017
Montalbano pursues a case which is not really his, although Aguello in his team has played a supporting role - a financier and one of his staff are both missing after a major scam is uncovered. Montalbano's unique style of well-fed investigation gets him to discover a startling and personally emotional ending. I really enjoy these books set in a fictional Sicilian town.
March 6, 2020
continuing to deliver the inspector montalbano brand essence which is:
- constant, horny thoughts about seafood
- answering the question "what if Elmore Leonard was weirder and italian and slightly more literary"
this one gets wild when montalbano's beloved, possibly clairvoyant olive tree gets chopped down by a guy building a condo ("new construction" is a glorious b-plot antagonist emerging in the last few of these). (also montalbano commits legit and hilarious property crimes to secure vengeance for his tree)
anyway the condo builder turns out to tie into this emerging plot about a bernie madoff type swindler, and then you can pretty much run the tape of the shtick from there. some unfortunate and backwards-looking ideas about women get thrown around but it's not like camelleri paints the male characters as less flawed and captive to bad ideas. this was written by like an 80 year old guy 20 some years ago. there is also curveball where the denouement involves montalbano hallucinating that he is living inside the william faulkner short story "a rose for emily"
all of these get 4 stars because they are wonderful and brainy but also dumb when needed and blessedly short
- constant, horny thoughts about seafood
- answering the question "what if Elmore Leonard was weirder and italian and slightly more literary"
this one gets wild when montalbano's beloved, possibly clairvoyant olive tree gets chopped down by a guy building a condo ("new construction" is a glorious b-plot antagonist emerging in the last few of these). (also montalbano commits legit and hilarious property crimes to secure vengeance for his tree)
anyway the condo builder turns out to tie into this emerging plot about a bernie madoff type swindler, and then you can pretty much run the tape of the shtick from there. some unfortunate and backwards-looking ideas about women get thrown around but it's not like camelleri paints the male characters as less flawed and captive to bad ideas. this was written by like an 80 year old guy 20 some years ago. there is also curveball where the denouement involves montalbano hallucinating that he is living inside the william faulkner short story "a rose for emily"
all of these get 4 stars because they are wonderful and brainy but also dumb when needed and blessedly short
![Profile Image for Anna [Floanne].](/https://www.goodreads.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1566911038i%2F4459724._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
October 24, 2017
Dopo aver letto qualche titolo più recente che non mi era piaciuto granché, ritorno con piacere ad uno dei primissimi romanzi della serie di Montalbano e la differenza si sente.
I protagonisti sono sempre loro - Montalbano, Augello, Fazio, Catarella nei loro ruoli che ben conoscono gli appassionati della serie - ma questa volta il giallo è ambientato nel mondo della finanza, con l'immancabile truffa destinata a finire male e l'ombra del delitto che aleggia dietro la duplice sparizione del truffatore e del suo braccio destro. Quel che sorprende, però, è la particolarità dell'epilogo, che onestamente non mi aspettavo.... Voto: 4 ****
I protagonisti sono sempre loro - Montalbano, Augello, Fazio, Catarella nei loro ruoli che ben conoscono gli appassionati della serie - ma questa volta il giallo è ambientato nel mondo della finanza, con l'immancabile truffa destinata a finire male e l'ombra del delitto che aleggia dietro la duplice sparizione del truffatore e del suo braccio destro. Quel che sorprende, però, è la particolarità dell'epilogo, che onestamente non mi aspettavo.... Voto: 4 ****
July 28, 2023
A threat to an employee of an "investment" company gets Montalbano and his crew involved. From there, they start to make progress on the disappearance of the head of the company when the Commissioner's new pecking order comes into play, and they have to pass the case on to another department. It's a mistake.
Montalbano does what he does....they investigate on the down low and then throw some hints to the official investigators.
Then he makes a connection, as he is wont to do, and his hunch pays off. Again, he gets the ball rolling before handing it off to the official guys, who never would have figured it out.
In the middle, there is back and forth with Livia, Montalbano's excellent meals, and a little drama within his team.
I know there are a finite number of these books, but I am savoring life in Vigáta, Montelusa and Marinello ~ I love a book that is so engaging and characters who make me laugh out loud.
Montalbano does what he does....they investigate on the down low and then throw some hints to the official investigators.
Then he makes a connection, as he is wont to do, and his hunch pays off. Again, he gets the ball rolling before handing it off to the official guys, who never would have figured it out.
In the middle, there is back and forth with Livia, Montalbano's excellent meals, and a little drama within his team.
I know there are a finite number of these books, but I am savoring life in Vigáta, Montelusa and Marinello ~ I love a book that is so engaging and characters who make me laugh out loud.
August 28, 2019
Finished this afternoon. Enjoyable story of financial crime. Based in part on William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily.
Plus, Maldonado goes off the deep end a couple of times. Maybe he was having mid-life crises. Not sure when it takes place but Camilleri makes it clear that he is my age.
Plus, Maldonado goes off the deep end a couple of times. Maybe he was having mid-life crises. Not sure when it takes place but Camilleri makes it clear that he is my age.
November 11, 2019
Pues un poco de batiburrillo y confusión, un poco de humor (no mucho, en este no aparece casi Catarella, que es el más gracioso), y como no una muchacha jovencita y macizorra que por supuesto se le insinúa a Montalbano, así se puede resumir este libro, y me parece que toda la serie.
August 8, 2022
Started out slow and confusing, but turned around to be a really interesting mystery. I did not catch the reference to the prior work the author references, but when I heard it in the endnote I knew the reference.
September 18, 2024
No es la primera novela que leo de Andrea Camilleri, y probablemente no será la última, lo que sí es seguro es que no es la mejor.
No ha conseguido engancharme, y mira que es complicado no engancharme a mí con una novela policiaca. Eso sí, su estilo característico impecable.
No ha conseguido engancharme, y mira que es complicado no engancharme a mí con una novela policiaca. Eso sí, su estilo característico impecable.
March 30, 2021
Oblonul se izbi de perete cu atâta forţă, încât Montalbano, care taman în secunda aceea se visa prins într-un tir încrucişat, sări îngrozit din aşternut, crezând că-l atinsese vreun glonţ: era leoarcă de sudoare, dar în acelaşi timp – poftim de mai înţelege ceva, dacă poţi! – îi clănţăneau dinţii de frig. Şuierând blestemăţii printre dinţi, se repezi la geam să-l închidă. Vântul sufla dinspre nord, rece şi cu atâta dârzenie, încât, în loc să învioreze culorile dimineţii ca de obicei, pur şi simplu le alunga, ştergându-le parcă din contur şi lăsând în urmă un soi de sinopii – amestecuri cromatice estompate, precum lucrarea în acuarelă a unui diletant, vreun pictor de duminică. Se vedea treaba că vara, intrată de la o vreme în agonie, hotărâse peste noapte să-şi încheie socotelile cu viaţa, lăsând loc anotimpului care venea la rând – şi care, nu-i aşa, ar fi trebuit să fie toamna. Mda, bine zis „ar fi trebuit”, pentru că, în realitate, după cum se prefigurau lucrurile, toamna asta părea iarnă, şi-ncă o iarnă cum scrie la carte.
Întinzându-se la loc în pat, Montalbano îşi îngădui o elegie în memoria anotimpurilor de tranziţie – astăzi dispărute, din câte se părea. Oare ce se întâmplase cu ele? Te pomeneşti că, purtate la rândul lor de ritmul infernal al existenţei umane, n-avuseseră încotro şi se adaptaseră: înţelegând că nu reprezentau altceva decât un interval de respiro, or fi dat bir cu fugiţii, pentru că-n ziua de azi nu pot fi îngăduite momente de respiro în această cursă delirantă care se hrăneşte cu verbe la infinitiv: a se naşte, a mânca, a învăţa, a da la buci, a produce, a butona telecomanda, a face shopping, a vinde, a se căca, a muri. Verbe la infinitiv, da, însă cu o durată mai mică de o nanosecundă. Bine, dar nu fusese oare o vreme când existau şi alt fel de verbe? A gândi, a chibzui, a asculta şi, de ce nu, a da frâu liber fanteziei, a visa, a divaga?
Întinzându-se la loc în pat, Montalbano îşi îngădui o elegie în memoria anotimpurilor de tranziţie – astăzi dispărute, din câte se părea. Oare ce se întâmplase cu ele? Te pomeneşti că, purtate la rândul lor de ritmul infernal al existenţei umane, n-avuseseră încotro şi se adaptaseră: înţelegând că nu reprezentau altceva decât un interval de respiro, or fi dat bir cu fugiţii, pentru că-n ziua de azi nu pot fi îngăduite momente de respiro în această cursă delirantă care se hrăneşte cu verbe la infinitiv: a se naşte, a mânca, a învăţa, a da la buci, a produce, a butona telecomanda, a face shopping, a vinde, a se căca, a muri. Verbe la infinitiv, da, însă cu o durată mai mică de o nanosecundă. Bine, dar nu fusese oare o vreme când existau şi alt fel de verbe? A gândi, a chibzui, a asculta şi, de ce nu, a da frâu liber fanteziei, a visa, a divaga?
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