With their dark sophistication and dry humor, Andrea Camilleri's classic crime novels continue to win more and more fans in America. The latest installment of the popular mystery series finds the moody Inspector Montalbano further beset by the existential questions that have been plaguing him of late. But he doesn't have much time to wax philosophical before the gruesome murder of a man--shot at point-blank range in the face with his pants down--commands his attention. Add two evasive, beautiful women as prime suspects, some dirty cocaine, mysterious computer codes, and a series of threatening letters, and things soon get very complicated at the police headquarters in Vigàta.

Well this was a nice surprise! For some reason I was expecting this to a rather dour & dated series but I was pleasantly surprised by the humour & slightly eccentric characters. An easy read but with a bit more about it than a cosy mystery.

As it's the first book but the ninth in the series there were one or two things from the past that I'd like to know more about, namely Catarella (I thought that Cat & Mimi were females at first!) & Montalbano's relationship with Livia. Not that either of these points affected my enjoyment of the story I'm just curious.....& as I'll no doubt read more, I'll find out one day ;o)

Added to Tanamo's "It's Out There" ring.

I've taken this from the "out there" book ring. It might be a while before I get round to reading it though.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series so I didn't know anything about Inspector Montalbano. He's not a stereotypical crime fiction detective and I really like him. The plot was interesting and the characters interesting.

Sending as a RABCK

Lovely, this was waiting for me when I came back from a rather unpleasant hospital procedure. Many thanks for sharing.

Another enjoyable book in this series, left on book exchange cupboard in foyer, hopefully it will find another appreciative reader.