The Voice of the Violin

Andrea Camilleri

Camilleri does it again! Another delightfully witty wander through the labyrinthine world of Inspector Salvano Montalbano’s Sicily.  A world which the owner of our local Italian restaurant assures me is captured perfectly.  The usual suspects are there – the Inspectors henchmen: Augello; the bumbling Fazio; Catarella, whose exaggerated language is more reminiscent of the New York Mafia hoods of  yesteryear; Judge Tommaseo, unfailingly supportive, except when being obstructive; and Livia, his love, ever frustrated and acutely aware of the true motivation behind everything that Montalbano does and says. [Tom]

  And more of those mouth watering breakfast, lunches and dinners. At times like this Montalbano proves more than a passing resemblance to Donna Leon’s Commissario Brunnetti. [Jerome]

  In The Voice of the Violin, the discovery of a naked young woman, suffocated in her bed, throws up a host of suspects, including one lady in particular to whom our hero finds himself inevitably drawn.  The corruption and false clues that inhabit Montalbano’s world conspire to lead him away from the real key to this crime; the mysterious violinist. [Nick]

Camilleri’s humour, observation of human nature, sense of place, and perfect plotting always make for a really enjoyable  - and fairly quick read -  This book is no exception.  Just the thing for a warm Summer day. [Craig]