Sunday, July 11, 2021

On My Radar: Andrea Camilleri's Riccardino


There's no two ways about it: this "On My Radar" is bittersweet because it's all about Andrea Camilleri's last Inspector Montalbano mystery. For those of us who are longtime fans, Camilleri is one of those authors whom we never wanted to die. We wanted the irascible Montalbano to live forever. The mysteries. The humor. The food. Sicily. Montalbano. Catarella. The list of things fans have loved about this series is a long one indeed. The only good thing that can be said for the last Montalbano is that Camilleri prepared for the end of the series, and you'll be able to see that in the synopsis that I'm about to share.

Let's take a look.

Synopsis:
 
" 'At eighty, I foresaw Montalbano's departure from the scene, I got the idea and I didn't let it slip away. So I found myself writing this novel which is the final chapter; the last book in the series. And I sent it to my publisher saying to keep it in a drawer and to publish it only when I am gone.' –Andrea Camilleri
 
Montalbano receives an early-morning phone call, but this time it's not Catarella announcing a murder, but a man called Riccardino who's dialed a wrong number and asks him when he'll be arriving at the meeting. Montalbano, in irritation, says: "In ten minutes." Shortly after, he gets another call, this one announcing the customary murder. A man has been shot and killed outside a bar in front of his three friends. It turns out to be the same man who called him.
 
Thus begins an intricate investigation further complicated by phone calls from "the Author" in a tour de force of metafiction and Montalbano’s last case.
 

It sounds like yet another winner from the master whom I've loved all these years. I'm not quite ready for Riccardino, having purposely kept myself a few books behind, but I'm happy to know that Camilleri got to end the series his way. Few authors get that chance.

For all of you who, for one reason or another, haven't read any of the books in this series, I really hope that you'll change your mind. You're missing out on something Choice.

11 comments:

  1. 'Bittersweet' is definitely the word for it, Cathy. I am looking forward to reading this one, but it is so sad to know it's the last. Camilleri is sorely missed...

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  2. I've read many Montalbano books, some of which have left me laughing my head off. And I like the TV series, too. The shows with the younger Montalbano show some very handsome young Italian actors, as noted by another woman fan of the series.

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    1. One of these days, I'll have to give the TV series a try.

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    2. The older Montalbano is gruff and fast-paced and issues orders. He's not quite the softer character in the book whose inner demons and anxieties show. Not on the TV shows.
      The younger Montalbano is cute and surrounded by handsome young actors. He is impulsive and yells, too, without the years of experience behind him.

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  3. I am one of those who haven't read these books. What an amazing thing to be able to see the end and to prepare for it before you are gone. That's quite a gift he gave to his readers.

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    1. You're absolutely correct, Gretchen. It is an amazing gift.

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  4. Nothing breaks the heart of a reader quite like the death of a favorite author. Not only do you lose the author, you lose some of your favorite characters and settings. It happens to me every so often...more and more, seems like...fairly recently with the deaths of Larry McMurtry and Pat Conroy.

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  5. Thank you for the post. I am keeping an eye out now.

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