Customer Reviews

The Patience of the Spider (An Inspector Montalbano Mystery)

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What Montalbano should have been doing was resting, keeping the love nest warm with Livia tucked up against him, his official reason for withdrawing from society had something to do with the gun shot wound he received from his pervious job, but there was no doubt about it, this morning he could hear the telephone ringing. There were two options; the first, if he ignored the ringing he could carry on with his natural blissful way of life with Livia! Or secondly if he picked up, work, it only meant trouble, Montalbano reached for the phone.

One hour later he was standing at the scene of the crime, a kidnapping they said. A very pretty girl Susanna Mistretta, who lived with her father and mother in a country villa three miles outside of Vigata town. Susanna had gone to study at friends during the day but had not returned home as usual that evening. Her father of course was worried, time became late and he went searching for his daughter, but it was Susanna's boyfriend Francesco Lipari who finally spotted her abandoned moped about two hundred yards from her parents house. Montalbano was quite certain something had happened to the girl, as he made a closer inspection of the scene, it was the front wheel of the moped that clinched it, why was it facing towards Vigata? Backwards! It looked like it cared it was going the wrong way! As far as Montalbano was concerned this was his case, he'd just seen foul play.

This would be the Eighth book in the series and Camilleri has made a few slight changes with this one, which is charming and crafty. His given to us direct clues of which suspect could have done this crime and his done so quite blatantly, his thrown predictable right at us, but what Camilleri does not give away and therefore keeps us guessing till the last is the Psychology behind the crime, his showing how Montalbano forms his ideas quietly and goes about gathering evidence to support his facts and only then will he let us have the final verdict.

Some may also be disappointed that this time around Camilleri has left out some of that mouthwatering great-flavored foods but instead has spent more time on another intriguing passionate ingredients, Livia and Montalbano's relationship. Livia's presence and character begins to form nicely throughout this storyline remaining Montalbano's rock. Always happy to adjust her life to take care of her man, they argue but in a healthy way of dealing with one another, she takes the no nonsense approach in his darker moods but does understand what his trying to achieve in his world. Their relationship has the up's and down's of a long distance love, Nec tecum nec sine te - Neither with or without you.

Inspector Montalbano character is just fantastic to read, for his questionable brainstorms and unorthodox subversive opinions. Montalbano, a man approaching the end of his career, the rebel, the thinker, not afraid to explore all areas even into obsession. Sorting through a web of lies to find logic, searching for truth.

Andrea Camilleri has written a wonderful Montalbano mystery series. Having read all in the translation series, I love the characterization and language the usage of dialogue that has been kept real with sharp wit and ironic comedy moments, the sly comments on Italian life and culture keep things for me interesting and amusing.

A special mention to poet Stephen Sartarelli, I'm thoroughly enjoying his clear translation of each book and for the informative notes given at the back on wording. Thank you.

A Wonderful Read.

Andrea Bowhill

This brings Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano detective series into a Sicily of the new millennium. As with his distinguished literary predecessor Leonardo Sciascia, Camilleri's main interest lies in studying the social, psychological, and political protocols of this tight little island, as if they yet remain a curiosity--a terra incognita at once sullen yet grand. Fairly interesting in depicting a fairly cunning intrigue; but, as has been noted, fairly obvious. Especially interesting in displaying a contemporary Sicily more generally prosperous than a Verga or a Sciascia could have imagined--autostradas, motorcycles galore, grand homes, beachfront apartments, airplane trips back and forth to the north: a good life with decent vacation time and good restaurants. The focus here is on greed and moral malaise. (An acquaintance of mine, returning from a visit to the old sod, remarked that they don't know how good they have it.) Alas, so far I have been unable to secure videos of Italian television's productions of the Montalbano novels. As usual, Stephen Sartarelli's translation preserves the author's smooth, swift, elegant narrative style (a major feature of Italian narrative style for over six centuries), and offers useful notes. Oh yes, in this sequel there is not enough explicit eating--that is, no X-rated gourmandizing. Is Camilleri going puritan on us? Has political correctness conquered this last stronghold of sensual decency?

I always enjoy the Inspector Montalbano mysteries and will read them and enjoy them regardless of the reviews they get. I have to admit that I did not think this was one of Camillier's better efforts. The plot was not as interesting as most and there was not enough about the food!

First Line: He jolted awake, sweaty and short of breath.

Still recuperating from the events which occurred in Rounding the Mark, Salvo Montalbano is called back to work when a young woman is kidnapped. The investigation has the added bonus of giving him something to think about other than his own mortality. Unable to let his colleagues handle the case themselves, Montalbano finds himself focusing on very subtle clues, such as the direction in which the kidnapped woman's motorbike is pointed, and it doesn't take him long to believe that this case has more to do with extortion than it does kidnapping.

Although I love this series and enjoyed the book, it is a weaker entry in the series. The plot machinations leading up to the identity of the kidnapper were rather transparent, and there was a bit too much of Montalbano's solo ponderings and not enough of his excellent (and hilarious) team. There was also a bit too much of Livia in this one. I don't appreciate Livia as much as others might; it seems she flies into town just to argue with Montalbano, and I've never been a fan of prima donnas and fighting.

Be that as it may, this is still one of my favorite mystery series, and I can't wait to read Montalbano's next adventure!

The Inspector Montalbano series is well noted for the strong sense of place and ironic outlook on the foibles of mankind. This eighth installment in the series picks up with the protagonist recovering from a wound received in Rounding the Mark. He's immediately faced with a mystifying kidnapping of a beautiful young girl, provincial politics running wild with his superior, and journalists that make Howard Stern seem like a paragon of probity.

As with the rest of the series, not everything is as it appears. The sardonic Montalbano eventually figures out the twists and turns and justice is served.

Along the way, we learn much about Sicilian food, Italian politics, and how immigration has become the third rail of Italian politics. Readers of Henning Mankell will recognize this theme as well, and the author handles it as well as Mankell did in his excellent debut, Faceless Killers.

If you plan to read this book, you'll be well served to start the series in order. Be sure to read the translator's footnotes at the end of the books as you read through it as they will add substantially to your insights into all things Sicilian. Some of the best humor is in the translator's notes.

Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful and delightful mystery. In fact, the whole series is out of the ordinary and a unique sort of reading experience. Highly recommended for the thoughtful reader. Minimal violence but lots of thoughtful suspense.

Camilleri's newest book returns to what I had enjoyed in his first three books--more focus on character and less focus on what might make a good TV show.

Inspector Montalbano was wounded in Rounding the Mark, and The Patience of the Spider begins with Montalbano being on leave to recuperate. Livia has even returned to his side to take care of his, banishing the ministrations of his housekeeper and marvelous cook, Adelina Cirrincio. Montalbano is concerned that the doctors will find out that he has a heart condition, but that doesn't happen. Except for occasional love-making (which Livia isn't anxious for), Montalbano is leading a circumscribed life . . . even eating healthy, low-calorie foods. Bah!

Naturally, it is a relief when Montalbano is called temporarily back to duty as a kidnapping overwhelms the local force. But the case is not to be his; a colleague comes from a place where kidnappings are common events.

The kidnapped woman, Susanna Mistretta, is a pretty young university student . . . and her family doesn't have any money. Everyone fears the worst, that this is a sexual crime rather than extortion. And initially, there's no news from the kidnappers.

That set of circumstances seems strange to Montalbano. As he investigates, more little things bother him. Why is her motorbike facing in the wrong direction? Where is her helmet? As time passes, the little things seem to suggest of shadow of something else. What could it be?

But it's annoying to work on the case, because Livia alternately berates him for not doing enough . . . and for not telling her about every little development.

Will the young woman be saved? Will she get back in time to say good-bye to her dying mother? Your heart will be wrung as you consider those elements.

The story lacks the usual Montalbano zest for several reasons. He isn't able to indulge his gourmet and gourmand tendencies so the food side of the story is thin. The kidnapping's complications also reveal themselves in a very transparent fashion. I think you'll figure out the puzzle pretty early in the book. Montalbano also has fewer humorous interludes with the other members of the police. The energy, humor, and suspense are just at a low ebb. It's a pleasant mystery, but it's one that won't kick yourself if you don't read it.

The indirect development of the character of the kidnapped woman is quite well done. That was obviously the writing challenge that appealed to Mr. Camilleri as he wrote this book.

First Sentence: He jolted awake, sweaty and short of breath.

Inspector Montalbano is brought back early from his recovery after being shot. A girl has been kidnapped and her family has no money to pay a ransom. Because the family's financial situation is fairly common knowledge and the events following the kidnapping are more similar to an American film than an Italian kidnapping, Montalbano suspects there is something else going on.

As opposed to Donna Leon, whose books I love, it is interested to read Camilleri; a native Italian. Sartarelli, the translator, does a good job in translating and it's amusing to read how he handles different dialects. I suspect because this is the 8th book, you don't get a lot of character development and I did wish there were more. Because some of the names were similar, I had a bit of trouble remembering who was whom. Even so, Montalbano is an interesting character, a very good detective and completely cowed by his thoroughly unlikable girlfriend. There is some very good humor which would catch me off guard and make me laugh out loud. The investigation was interesting although I identified the villain fairly early on. Overall, it was good read.

This book is the eighth in a series by Andrea Camilleri. His Inspector Montalbano is an interesting and complex character, and the setting, in Sicily, is very atmospheric. Inspector Montalbano struggles with the aches and pains of age, balancing his work with his love for the beautiful Livia (who, very conveniently, lives in another city), the corruption and politics of everyday life in Sicily, and his (sometimes hilarious) co-workers. "The Patience of the Spider" is, on the surface, at least, about the kidnapping of a young woman and the ensuing investigation. What fans of Inspector Montalbano will particularly enjoy, however, are the insights into his character. Montalbano was injured in a previous investigation and has been temporarily brought back into service to help with this one. I think the plot -- regarding the case itself -- is not as developed as in some of the previous books, but is no less enjoyable for that.