Inspector Montalbano and his team along with countless volunteers have their hands full dealing with the waves of refugees arriving night after night on the Sicilian coast. What he doesn't need is Livia promising their presence at a friend's wedding. Not only that, but she insists he has a new-- tailored-- suit. Montalbano grudgingly agrees and meets Elena Biasini, the master seamstress.
While on duty one night at the dock, the inspector is called to the tailor's shop where a woman has been found murdered. Now Montalbano not only has to manage the crowds dockside, but he also must enter the world of the garment industry to solve this murder.
~
I found Montalbano's twenty-fifth case, The Other End of the Line, to be one of his strongest. Yes, there's the element of humor, with the tech-leery Montalbano trying to deal with a GPS for the first time, and Catarella trying to take care of the victim's cat. Yes, there's the mouth-watering Sicilian food. Yes, there's Livia with her demands and arguments and Montalbano's intuition and dreams that always seem to lead him to the right path in his investigation. But there's more.
The Other End of the Line is firmly rooted in the crisis so many European countries have faced with thousands of refugees seeking asylum. Author Andrea Camilleri skillfully shows the logistics of dealing with frightened people almost every night and brings an even more human side to the situation with the plight of a young refugee girl.
The mystery is a tough one to solve. Montalbano has to deal with a member of his team trying to fit up a rival with the murder of the woman in the tailor's shop, and the victim herself is so secretive that it makes the investigation even harder.
This book's treatment of the refugee crisis makes it one of the strongest in this long-running series. We get to observe both Montalbano's heart and his considerable skills. I'm looking forward to his next case even though it means that I get closer to the end of one of my favorite series.
The Other End of the Line by Andrea Camilleri
Translated from the Italian by Stephen Sartarelli
ISBN: 9780143133773
Penguin Books © 2019
Paperback, 304 pages
Police Procedural, #24 Inspector Montalbano mystery
Rating: A
Source: Paperback Swap
Sounds like a oood one to read. The plight of migrants is such a sad one, unless they reach countries that will help them.
ReplyDeleteIt is a good one. Montalbano shows so much common sense in preparing for the refugees... and he proves that he's not quite the curmudgeon he wants everyone to think he is.
DeleteHe has a heart underneath that curmudgeonly exterior.
ReplyDeleteYes, he does.
DeleteI always loved the way Camilleri was able to weave in a discussion of more serious issues without sounding 'preach-y,' Cathy. And I do love Montalbano as a character. I'm not as far along as you are in the series, but with this series, I always feel I'm safely going to have a great reading experience.
ReplyDeleteI've been taking my own sweet time reading the series, Margot, for much the same reason. It's of such high quality that I know each book is a Sure Thing.
DeleteEverything about this one sounds so good! This is a series I've seen, but never tried. But Montalbano sounds like a great character.
ReplyDeleteHe is, Lark, and the translation is wonderful.
DeleteI read and enjoyed a couple in this series some years back and I'm not sure why I never read any more. Perhaps I should rectify that oversight.
ReplyDeleteSo many books...
DeleteI tried the 1st in this series a while ago, but it didn't take. I probably need to give it another try, because it has all the ingredients I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIf you're anything like me, Kate, when a book "doesn't take" (and I know exactly what you mean), I very seldom ever go back and give it another try. As I said to Dorothy-- So many books...
DeleteThat's usually the case for me, too. Sometimes, though, the fear of missing out makes its presence felt. Whether I try another in this series will probably depend on serendipity delivering one to me when I'm in the right mood.
DeleteWe do share reading DNA. The thought of missing out has sometimes persuaded me to give a book/series another try. :-)
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