For years one of my favourite traditions when going back to Italy to see the family was buying a book in the ‘Inspector Montalbano’ series. In Italy they’re published in a gorgeous edition, with blue covers and fabulous creamy paper. They’re small edition, easily held in one hand, absolutely perfect to slip in your pocket, or a handbag.
These are my latest reads, I’m sure I’ve missed a few through the years, I’ll needs to check.
The first one came out in 1994, and although I’ve been reading them in Italian you can also find them in English, (here, are the titles in chronological order). I would recommend reading them in the right order so you can get to know all the recurring characters… I promise you they’ll become friends! In the original language they’re written in ‘Sicilian’, which is not always easy for me but very colourful and endearing… I heard that the translation is brilliant and there are notes at the end of the books to explain certain essential traditions and quirks…. I’d be interested to hear what you think?
Salvo Montalbano is an inspector of police, in the imaginary town (but not less real) of Vigata, in Sicily. He’s approaching retirement, he is honest and stubborn and hates talking while eating. He loves food and the description of his legendary meal prepared by his housekeeper will make you mouth water. He’s a ferocious social critic of the Italian and Sicilian condition. He navigate with skills the political waters, the contradictions between North and South ways of thinking and doings and all this with the support of the most extraordinary sets of characters. I grew up in a police environment and ‘nothing’ is exaggerated. Nothing. It makes me chuckle all the time.
If you like clever crime stories without blood dripping down the pages onto your sheets, if you’re interested in contemporary social issues subtly intertwined in the story, if you like well drawn up characters and you like Italy… then these books are for you.
Andrea Camilleri, the author, died a couple of weeks ago and I’m really sad the adventures of Montalbano will now stop. I’ll miss him.
while you're ahead... 
Hi – I can also highly recommend the books by Antonio Manzini featuring his very flawed detective Rocco Schiavone. Also published in the Sellerio series and, as you say, perfect for keeping in a handbag or taking on holiday.
LikeLike
oh thank you! I’ll definitively check them out!! Do you know the title of the first one?
LikeLike
Pista Nera is the first one. What’s also great is that our hero/antihero has been ‘exiled’ to Aosta having blotted his copybook in Rome but we don’t know why. The back story about this and also the death of his wife are slowly revealed over the course of several books, but each one is complete in itself.
LikeLike
Fantastic, thank you so much!
Monica
>
LikeLike