The smell of the night

Review by Booklist Review

When Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series made its U.S. debut in 2002, we noted that Montalbano put a comic face on the noir world, sorting through multiple layers of Sicilian corruption while still finding time for a good lunch. Things have changed a bit now that we're six novels into the series. Montalbano still finds time for a good lunch, but his world is growing steadily darker and more melancholy. This time, half the retirees in Vigata have been swindled out of their savings by the handsome, smooth-talking general manager of King Midas Associates, who may, in turn, have run afoul of the Mafia. Meanwhile, Montalbano's relationship with his lover, Livia, is disintegrating, as is the landscape of his beloved Sicily. It's all getting too much for the beleaguered Montalbano, and though he solves the case of the missing swindler, he is somehow diminished by everything around him. Camilleri's hero may be more vulnerable now, but the series is richer than ever, less smooth but with more bite, less Sangiovese and more Barolo. --Bill Ott Copyright 2005 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

---

Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

An intricate plot and a large cast of memorable characters help lift the sixth Inspector Montalbano mystery from Camilleri (The Snack Thief, etc.). When a ragioniere (financier) disappears with millions of lire after defrauding many investors in a pyramid scheme, the middle-aged Sicilian detective uses both official and unofficial channels, as the mood takes him, to form, test and eventually prove his own theories. The fun is in the process, as Montalbano flouts the law on occasion, tweaks his superiors, badgers his associates and wheedles information from various sources. The endearing inspector is, by his own admission, both glutton and gourmand, and the meals prepared for him both at home and in restaurants are large, frequent and lavish. Sly humor, an eye for beauty, a disdain for clich?s and fools plus a first-rate intelligence make him formidable both as a detective and as a companion. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

---

Review by Library Journal Review

When smooth-talking financier Emanuale Gargano disappears along with the pensioners' savings he's been investing, Sicilian inspector Salvo Montalbano (The Snack Thief) figures Gargano is either lounging with beautiful women on a tropical isle or feeding the fishes, courtesy of the Mafia. But Gargano's young male associate also is missing, and the inspector learns that both men are gay. Meanwhile, pensioners clamor for their savings, and Montalbano outfoxes his supervising commissioner on a personal matter while bickering with his lover Livia by telephone. A crisp, sassy series, even laugh-out-loud funny at moments, with a grounding of humanity that shows particularly at the end; Montalbano is a character worth getting to know. Camilleri lives in Rome. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

---

Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page   Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16   Author's Note Notes Praise for Andrea Camilleri and the Montalbano series "The idiosyncratic Montalbano is totally endearing." --The New York Times   "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 outbursts, fumbles or threats are made only in the name of pursuing truth." -- The Nation   "Once again, violence is muted, complications rule, politics roil, but humor ... prevail[s] in the end, Italy is good to visit, even if only in print. And what better way to shorten a flight to Palermo than by gobbling this tasty snack along the way?" -- 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 Sicily's mean streets." -- USA Today   "The Montalbano mysteries offer cose dolci to the world-lit lover hankering for a whodunit." --The Village Voice   "The reading of these little gems is fast and fun every step of the way." -- The New York Sun   "Wittily translated from the savory Italian, Camilleri's mysteries ... feature the sardonic Inspector Salvo Montalbano, whose gustatory adventures are at least as much fun as his crime solving." -- Rocky Mountain News   "Camilleri once again thrills with his fluid storytelling and quirky characters." -Publishers Weekly A PENGUIN MYSTERY THE SMELL OF THE NIGHT Andrea Camilleri is the author of many books, including his Montalbano series, which has been adapted for Italian television and translated into nine languages. He lives in Rome.   Stephen Sartarelli is an award-winning translator. He is also the author of three books of poetry, most recently The Open Vault. PENGUIN BOOKS   Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NewYork 10014, U.S.A. Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4P 2Y3 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell,Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi - 110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 1311, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa   Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England   First published in Penguin Books 2005     Translation copyright © Stephen Sartarelli, 2005 All rights reserved   Originally published in Italian as L'odore della notte by Sellerio editore. © 2001 Sellerio editore via Siracusa 50 Palermo.   Publisher's Note Excerpted from The Smell of the Night by Andrea Camilleri All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

---