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The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, Book 1) Paperback – May 31, 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars 4,731

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Andrea Camilleri and the Montalbano Series

“Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano mysteries might sell like hotcakes in Europe, but these world-weary crime stories were unknown here until the oversight was corrected (in Stephen Sartarelli’s salty translation) by the welcome publication of The Shape of Water…This savagely funny police procedural…prove[s] that sardonic laughter is a sound that translates ever so smoothly into English.”—
The New York Times Book Review

“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)

About the Author

Andrea Camilleri is the bestselling author of the popular Inspector Montalbano mystery series, as well as historical novels that take place in nineteenth-century Sicily. He lives in Rome.

Stephen Sartarelli (translator) is an award-winning translator and poet. He lives in France.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Reprint edition (May 31, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0142004715
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0142004715
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.14 x 0.64 x 7.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 4,731

About the author

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Andrea Camilleri
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Andrea Camilleri is the author of the spectacularly successful Montalbano mystery series and many other novels set in nineteenth-century Sicily. His Montalbano novels have been made into an Italian TV series.

Photo by T cc-by-3.0 (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
4,731 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2013
11 people found this helpful
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3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2023
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Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2013
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Top reviews from other countries

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ROBERT M
5.0 out of 5 stars Alles wie erwartet
Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2023
Stefano Gaspardo
5.0 out of 5 stars Acquistato per altri
Reviewed in Italy on February 17, 2020
Peter Dunn
5.0 out of 5 stars My first Andrea Camilleri book, but not my last...
Reviewed in Canada on March 29, 2018
2 people found this helpful
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Shradhanjali Rai
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely read
Reviewed in India on May 20, 2018
Dog walker
3.0 out of 5 stars entertaining but not compelling
Reviewed in Australia on December 19, 2015
2 people found this helpful
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