The Snack Thief (Inspector Montalbano Series #3)

Another complicated world

If multiculturalism is not a dirty word to you, and you are from an English speaking background, then this book might be of interest. You can soak up the ambience of other societies, in the format of a fictional narrative. As contrasted perhaps to reading a dry sociology text. The backdrop of the book is complicated. Set in Sicily, it depicts the interleaving of Italian, Arab and French cultures. The plotline has these intricately entangled, due to geography and history. Plus, there are allusions to the different Italian regions and the concomitant stereotypes. For example, the hero is Sicilian, but his girlfriend is Ligurian. At one point, he contrasts their backgrounds in a brief remark. An Italian would catch these immediately, based on her background. But for me, and possibly for you too, these remain opaque. An analogy might be familiar to you. Think of the various British regional demotics: The dour Scot, the garrulous, overfriendly Cockney, the bloody minded Yorkshireman. Please understand that I do not say these are at all correct, or that I agree with them. But if you are British or American, these should be known to you. Well, something similar is going on in this novel.

Great Book

This book was a very interesting read. It kept me on the edge of my seat for hours. I finished it in one day! Andrea knows how to write a mystery.

Camillieri gets better and better

After reading The Terra Cotta Dog, I was hooked, but this book hooked me even more. Camillieri's writing flows well and evenly. Ideas aren't choppy, and the effect of writing from different angles makes the book glow even more. I love the fact that food, as it should, is never EVER overlooked. This book will not let you down.

Good action mystery

At about the same time a Tunisian patrol boat kills a worker on an Italian fishing trawler, an unknown assailant stabs to death a retiree, Mr. Lapecora, in the elevator of his apartment building. Montalbano is assigned the local homicide while his Lady Macbeth-like ambitious superior Mimi Augello takes ¿public¿ charge of the international incident.

Montalbano seeks Mr. Lapecora's house cleaner, Karima, who supplements her income with prostitution and the lady¿s son. When the Inspector catches up to the lad, he begins to understand the elevator homicide and it¿s surprisingly link to the trawler killing. Though warned to stay out of the Tunisian murder by both sides of the law and others, Montalbano digs deep into cases filled with government corruption packed tighter than a can of sardines.

Even though this is a translation from the original Italian, fans of police procedurals will appreciate this tight sans Mafia Sicilian mystery. The story line never slows down as the hero investigates one crime that takes him to the second murder and much more. Montalbano is a delightful protagonist who sub-genre readers will want to follow. Hopefully more of Andrea Camilleri¿s novels are translated into English rather quickly or many Anglo-speaking fans will learn Italian rather soon.

Harriet Klausner

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