Wednesday, January 26, 2022

The Pyramid of Mud by Andrea Camilleri

 
First Line: The Thunderclap was so loud that not only did Montalbano suddenly wake up in terror, but he gave such a start that he nearly fell out of bed.
 
Vigàta has been hit by days of rain and flooding, so it's a slippery slog when Inspector Salvo Montalbano is called out to a murder scene at a construction site that's buried in mud.
 
The investigation gets off to a slow start, but once it gets going, the man's death seems to have ties to the worlds of construction, public contracts, and the Mafia. Who better to get to the bottom of this slimy mess than the wily Montalbano?

~

This workmanlike twenty-third book in Camilleri's marvelous series shows us that no one knows the inner workings of the police, the media, and the Mafia like Salvo Montalbano. In fact, he knows these areas so well that I don't even bother trying to solve the mystery myself; I just sit back and enjoy watching the inspector do all the work. 

Although The Pyramid of Mud does show us some of the ins and outs of Italian construction work, it's a stand-out for me in a different area: Livia. Normally, I don't care for the mysteries in which Livia takes part because all she and Montalbano ever seem to do is to pick fights with each other. Relationships based on fighting and making up are big yawns for me. But in this book, Livia is ill, and I found Montalbano's lack of focus on the murder investigation due to his concern for her to be touching. Could these two be mellowing in their advancing years? I hope so!
 
After reading this book, I'm one step closer to the series' end, something I'd rather not acknowledge. I'd always hoped that Montalbano would go on forever and ever and ever...

The Pyramid of Mud by Andrea Camilleri
Translated from the Italian by Stephen Sartarelli
ISBN: 9780143128083
Penguin Books © 2018
Paperback, 272 pages
 
Police Procedural, #23 Inspector Montalbano mystery
Rating: B
Source: Paperback Swap

15 comments:

  1. A new author and story for me. Thank you for the review.

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  2. Now I want to read this series!

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    1. It's a wonderful series, Harvee. The translation is excellent, and you learn so much about Italy (Sicily in particular), its food, and what the country is like. And the humor!

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  3. A Camilleri book is always a treat for me, Cathy, even though they're not all at the top of the form, if I can put it that way. And you know, it makes sense that Livia and Salvo might mellow over time - even them! I'm not quite at this one in the series, but I will get there....

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    1. I don't think either one of us really wants to get to the end. All the books may not be at the top of the form, but they are all consistently good. I have read twenty-three of them now, and there's not a stinker in the bunch. That says so much about Camilleri as a writer.

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  4. Another series I'm not familiar with, but after reading your review, I want to make its acquaintance.

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  5. I like this serie,s have read most of it. Near the end though, I started to have deja vu all over again. I guessed the culprits in several stories, always suspicious for the innocent young woman Montalbana is infatuated with.
    But I will probably read this one as I Love Catarella and his botched oanguage skills.
    Only problem, when I read what Montalbano ate at home cooked by his housekeeper or at his favorite restaurant, I would nearly have a tantrum wanting good Italian good immediately.

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    1. I know... that food gets me every time. Yes, there is a formula to the books the longer the series progresses, but it's one that doesn't hit me over the head with an anvil, and I can sit back and enjoy myself. Sometimes that's just what the doctor orders.

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    2. Tes, Montalbano is sometimes what the doctor ordered. Right now I need a fun, light, but intelligent book. Have been in Australia in a tough, but worth reading, book. So I want to laugh. And Camilleri deliveries.

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    3. And here I am, about to head off to Australia in Chris Hammer's Opal Country.

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    4. I read Hammer's Scrubands and thought it quite good, except for the Cabot Covish ending. I didn't realize he's kept going on that series and now has a brand new book.
      Will look for your review.

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  6. Haven't read this series, but Camilleri goes on the list!

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    1. Two enthusiastic thumbs up here in Phoenix!

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