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Commissario Montalbano #22
La piramide di fango
Si sono aperte le cateratte del cielo. I tuoni erompono con fragore. Nel generale ottenebramento, e sotto la pioggia implacabile, tutto si impantana e smotta. Il fango monta e dilaga: è una coltre di spento grigiore sulle lesioni e sulle frane. La brutalità della natura si vendica della politica dei governi corrotti, che non si curano del rispetto geologico; e assicurano appalti e franchigie alle società di comodo e alle mafie degli speculatori. A Vigàta dominano le sfumature opache e le tonalità brune delle ombre che si allungano sull’accavallato disordine dei paesaggi desolati; sui lunari cimiteri di scabre rocce, di cretti smorti, e di relitti metallici che sembrano ossificati. Questa sgangherata sintassi di crepature e derive ha oscuri presagi. E si configura come il rovescio tragico dell’allegra selvatichezza vernacolare di Catarella, che inventa richiami fonici ed equivalenze tra «fango» e «sangue»; e con le confuse lettere del suo alfabeto costruisce topografie che inducono all’errore. Del resto, macchiate di sangue sono le ferite fangose del paesaggio; e l’errore è consustanziale al labirinto illusionistico dentro il quale i clan mafiosi vorrebbero sospingere il commissario Montalbano per fuorviarlo, e convincerlo che il delitto sul quale sta indagando è d’onore e non di mafia. La vicenda ha tratti sfuggenti, persino elusivi. Un giovane ferito a morte ha inforcato una bicicletta e ha pedalato con fatica in quella solitudine di fango. Sua moglie è scomparsa. E con lei un presunto zio, che non ha nome, non ha volto, e non lascia impronte. Ci sono attentati, intimidazioni, delazioni, false confessioni e depistaggi spregevoli. Scorre altro sangue. E c’è una casa dei misteri. Montalbano stenta a farsi un quadro generale della situazione. Conduce le indagini con l’indolenza di chi sbriga una pratica burocratica. È in preda a una morbida malinconia. Pensa con tenerezza e apprensione a Livia lontana, al loro ménage, alla mestizia che asserraglia la donna. Prevale alla fine la saggezza dell’istinto; lo scatto leonino, che gli dà esattezza di visione. Ha nella mente un «romanzo»: il «romanzo» di un segreto, che i clan mafiosi custodiscono e occultano nella lutulenta piramide delle loro criminali macchinazioni. Capisce che deve fare «un buco nella parete della piramide», e decapitarla. Ci riesce con uno «sfunnapedi» o «trainello». Dimostra così la verità degli slarghi narrativi della sua «bella storia», del suo romanzo, della sua «opira di pupi». Intanto la natura si risveglia. Di tra le rughe polverose e le spaccature del fango essiccato, fanno capolino nuovi ciuffi di luminosa erba fresca. Montalbano può correre adesso all’abbraccio con Livia, a Boccadasse.
Salvatore Silvano Nigro
Salvatore Silvano Nigro
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2014
About the author
Andrea Camilleri
390 books2,355 followersAndrea Camilleri was an Italian writer. He is considered one of the greatest Italian writers of both 20th and 21st centuries.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
Originally from Porto Empedocle, Sicily, Camilleri began studies at the Faculty of Literature in 1944, without concluding them, meanwhile publishing poems and short stories. Around this time he joined the Italian Communist Party.
From 1948 to 1950 Camilleri studied stage and film direction at the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began to take on work as a director and screenwriter, directing especially plays by Pirandello and Beckett. As a matter of fact, his parents knew Pirandello and were even distant friends, as he tells in his essay on Pirandello "Biography of the changed son". His most famous works, the Montalbano series show many pirandellian elements: for example, the wild olive tree that helps Montalbano think, is on stage in his late work "The giants of the mountain"
With RAI, Camilleri worked on several TV productions, such as Inspector Maigret with Gino Cervi. In 1977 he returned to the Academy of Dramatic Arts, holding the chair of Movie Direction, and occupying it for 20 years.
In 1978 Camilleri wrote his first novel Il Corso Delle Cose ("The Way Things Go"). This was followed by Un Filo di Fumo ("A Thread of Smoke") in 1980. Neither of these works enjoyed any significant amount of popularity.
In 1992, after a long pause of 12 years, Camilleri once more took up novel-writing. A new book, La Stagione della Caccia ("The Hunting Season") turned out to be a best-seller.
In 1994 Camilleri published the first in a long series of novels: La forma dell'Acqua (The Shape of Water) featured the character of Inspector Montalbano, a fractious Sicilian detective in the police force of Vigàta, an imaginary Sicilian town. The series is written in Italian but with a substantial sprinkling of Sicilian phrases and grammar. The name Montalbano is an homage to the Spanish writer Manuel Vázquez Montalbán; the similarities between Montalban's Pepe Carvalho and Camilleri's fictional detective are remarkable. Both writers make great play of their protagonists' gastronomic preferences.
This feature provides an interesting quirk which has become something of a fad among his readership even in mainland Italy. The TV adaptation of Montalbano's adventures, starring the perfectly-cast Luca Zingaretti, further increased Camilleri's popularity to such a point that in 2003 Camilleri's home town, Porto Empedocle - on which Vigàta is modelled - took the extraordinary step of changing its official denomination to that of Porto Empedocle Vigàta, no doubt with an eye to capitalising on the tourism possibilities thrown up by the author's work.
In 1998 Camilleri won the Nino Martoglio International Book Award.
Camilleri lived in Rome where he worked as a TV and theatre director. About 10 million copies of his novels have been sold to date, and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and North America.
In addition to the degree of popularity brought him by the novels, in recent months Andrea Camilleri has become even more of a media icon thanks to the parodies aired on an RAI radio show, where popular comedian, TV-host and impression artist Fiorello presents him as a raspy voiced, caustic character, madly in love with cigarettes and smoking (Camilleri is well-known for his love of tobacco).
He received an honorary degree from University of Pisa in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
December 6, 2023
My ninth Inspector Montalbano mystery. These are police procedurals translated from the Italian.
It’s a fun read as the Inspector is known for his love of good food both at a local (Sicilian) trattoria and that cooked for him by his maid/cook. His excessive hours and his obsession with his cases tries the patience of his woman friend, so the relationship in on again/off again. The Inspector is aging and he worries about how that is affecting his hearing and vision.
This is a full-Mafia story. A man has been shot and his body found in a concrete tunnel in a sea of mud at a construction site. Little by little the investigation leads to a world of public construction contracts as slimy as the mud. The murdered man had a pretty German wife who, shall we say, is running a home business on the side while her husband is at work.
There’s a mysterious occupant in the house – her 'uncle' from Germany who only speaks Italian, and a vast secret room under the garage. There’s a possible kidnapping, a car on fire, threats against the family of a journalist, drugs planted in a baby stroller, and other dirty doings.
A good story with a lot of local color of Sicily. And you have to love the mouth-watering food scattered throughout the book: purpiteddri a strascinasale (boiled octopus) and a sartu (rice cooked in a mold around a meat and vegetable filling) and fine local wines. (There are websites featuring recipes from Camilleri’s books.) Some of the Inspector’s underlings speak a dialect that sounds almost like a Sicilian Brooklyn accent that can get annoying at times.
The author died in 2019 at age 94. He was best known for this Inspector Montalbano series, I think twenty-six in all, although some of the most recent ones do not yet appear to have been translated into English. The stories were made into a popular TV series in Italy. His hometown, featured under a fictitious name in his novels, has officially appended that name to attract tourists: Porto Empedocle Vigàta, Sicily.
Top photo Porto Empedocle Vigàta, Sicily from tripadvisor.com
Purpu a strascinasale from lapasticciona.it
The Camilerri statue in Porto Empedocle Vigàta from trs98.it
It’s a fun read as the Inspector is known for his love of good food both at a local (Sicilian) trattoria and that cooked for him by his maid/cook. His excessive hours and his obsession with his cases tries the patience of his woman friend, so the relationship in on again/off again. The Inspector is aging and he worries about how that is affecting his hearing and vision.
This is a full-Mafia story. A man has been shot and his body found in a concrete tunnel in a sea of mud at a construction site. Little by little the investigation leads to a world of public construction contracts as slimy as the mud. The murdered man had a pretty German wife who, shall we say, is running a home business on the side while her husband is at work.
There’s a mysterious occupant in the house – her 'uncle' from Germany who only speaks Italian, and a vast secret room under the garage. There’s a possible kidnapping, a car on fire, threats against the family of a journalist, drugs planted in a baby stroller, and other dirty doings.
A good story with a lot of local color of Sicily. And you have to love the mouth-watering food scattered throughout the book: purpiteddri a strascinasale (boiled octopus) and a sartu (rice cooked in a mold around a meat and vegetable filling) and fine local wines. (There are websites featuring recipes from Camilleri’s books.) Some of the Inspector’s underlings speak a dialect that sounds almost like a Sicilian Brooklyn accent that can get annoying at times.
The author died in 2019 at age 94. He was best known for this Inspector Montalbano series, I think twenty-six in all, although some of the most recent ones do not yet appear to have been translated into English. The stories were made into a popular TV series in Italy. His hometown, featured under a fictitious name in his novels, has officially appended that name to attract tourists: Porto Empedocle Vigàta, Sicily.
Top photo Porto Empedocle Vigàta, Sicily from tripadvisor.com
Purpu a strascinasale from lapasticciona.it
The Camilerri statue in Porto Empedocle Vigàta from trs98.it
June 5, 2018
Camilleri returns us to the gorgeous Italian island of Sicily with the intuitive and food obsessed Commissario Montalbano in this brilliant series. It begins with Salvo waking up from a nightmare in with there is a dead man in a tunnel, with a knife in his back. There are heavy rains with unbelievable levels of mud everywhere, and guess what, a man is discovered on a construction site in a pipe tunnel but shot in the back. The dead man is Giugiu Nicotra, a building company accountant, his apparently promiscuous German wife is missing, and secretly living with them was a mysterious man who has left no clues as to his identity, using gloves to ensure he leaves no fingerprints. All the familiar characters return, the diligent Fazio, the womanising Augello, the comic Catarella, Gallo and others.
Tano Gamberdella is trying to investigate the mafia and its links to the corruption in the building industry, a brave man but both he and his sources are in grave danger. Camilleri savagely exposes the mafia, corruption in the building contracts, political complicity, and the nonsensical and dangerous buildings on the island in a manner that would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Montalbano delves into this case of deception and murder, whilst key players try to pull the wool over his eyes. His biggest problem is that as he slowly unravels the complicated connections and truth, he has no proof. However, this does not stop Montalbano from devising a devious strategy. In the meantime, he worries about his Livia, in the doldrums and suffering from the deepest depression, ecstatic when it appears a dog is lifting her mood and pushing her on the path to back to her old self. Fantastic storytelling from the ever reliable Camilleri. Always a joy to return to Sicily and these well loved characters on the idyllic setting of Sicily where murder is always round every corner. Highly recommended!
Tano Gamberdella is trying to investigate the mafia and its links to the corruption in the building industry, a brave man but both he and his sources are in grave danger. Camilleri savagely exposes the mafia, corruption in the building contracts, political complicity, and the nonsensical and dangerous buildings on the island in a manner that would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Montalbano delves into this case of deception and murder, whilst key players try to pull the wool over his eyes. His biggest problem is that as he slowly unravels the complicated connections and truth, he has no proof. However, this does not stop Montalbano from devising a devious strategy. In the meantime, he worries about his Livia, in the doldrums and suffering from the deepest depression, ecstatic when it appears a dog is lifting her mood and pushing her on the path to back to her old self. Fantastic storytelling from the ever reliable Camilleri. Always a joy to return to Sicily and these well loved characters on the idyllic setting of Sicily where murder is always round every corner. Highly recommended!
November 21, 2021
Another rather pedestrian entry in Andrea Camilleri’s Sicillian mystery series about Inspector Salvo Montalbano. Salvo is aging, close to sixty, and this is supposedly the hook for aging readers; he complains all the time about his waning powers, ok. This series is for me beginning to feel like a long marriage that you just see to the end, though much of the spark has gone out of it. And I won’t be so age-ist to say it because Camilleri is now 90 in writing his 22nd of 28 novels in this series (and additional short story collections) (He died at 93). It's not a bad book, just not great.
The story is about mafia-mired construction industry corruption, and yeah, a related murder happens. And a lot of mud. In maybe two of these recent volumes I have noticed an acknowledgement that climate change has come to Sicily; extreme rains, flooding, and lack of infrastructure preparation and embezzlement of public funds. Buildings collapse because the rain pours down and no one prepared for it, and corruption is the ultimate cause. This is Camilleri's most common complaint about his beloved Sicily, but it’s a forgettable story, really, and a little confusing, even in the wrap-up.
What haven’t I said yet in any Salvo review? Camilleri has it that Salvo hates cliches, but Camilleri always has him say the same things: “bust my balls,” “Madre Santa,” and every time he has a sudden insight it is "like a bolt of lightning!" He always responds the same way to Cat(arella’s always the same language goofs: “personally in person,” “premisses” for premises, and so on. He responds the same threatening way to Fazio’s detail oriented reports “If you say one more thing about the guy’s mother and father and date of birth I will personally and in person throw you out of this office.” Salvo “curses the saints” all the time. The last four books open with Salvo awaking to a dream, eh. So this pattern is cute and endearing for, say, ten books, but at #22, the honeymoon is over. I appreciate what I see in people picking up a book here or there and liking it, though. Salvo is a likable, though irascible, guy.
But for a guy that quotes great literature all the time, Salvo never is seen reading; he watches films, he drinks whiskey, and eats. I like the food, though it is true he only names the food, such as rabbit cacciatore. But it does make me hungry. Oh, I like Salvo. I do see Mimi and Fazio getting a little better at solving crimes with their boss, but there’s no real character development. Camilleri's approach is to balance humor with the every day horrors of crime, and sometimes it works. This one was just sort of bland.
The story is about mafia-mired construction industry corruption, and yeah, a related murder happens. And a lot of mud. In maybe two of these recent volumes I have noticed an acknowledgement that climate change has come to Sicily; extreme rains, flooding, and lack of infrastructure preparation and embezzlement of public funds. Buildings collapse because the rain pours down and no one prepared for it, and corruption is the ultimate cause. This is Camilleri's most common complaint about his beloved Sicily, but it’s a forgettable story, really, and a little confusing, even in the wrap-up.
What haven’t I said yet in any Salvo review? Camilleri has it that Salvo hates cliches, but Camilleri always has him say the same things: “bust my balls,” “Madre Santa,” and every time he has a sudden insight it is "like a bolt of lightning!" He always responds the same way to Cat(arella’s always the same language goofs: “personally in person,” “premisses” for premises, and so on. He responds the same threatening way to Fazio’s detail oriented reports “If you say one more thing about the guy’s mother and father and date of birth I will personally and in person throw you out of this office.” Salvo “curses the saints” all the time. The last four books open with Salvo awaking to a dream, eh. So this pattern is cute and endearing for, say, ten books, but at #22, the honeymoon is over. I appreciate what I see in people picking up a book here or there and liking it, though. Salvo is a likable, though irascible, guy.
But for a guy that quotes great literature all the time, Salvo never is seen reading; he watches films, he drinks whiskey, and eats. I like the food, though it is true he only names the food, such as rabbit cacciatore. But it does make me hungry. Oh, I like Salvo. I do see Mimi and Fazio getting a little better at solving crimes with their boss, but there’s no real character development. Camilleri's approach is to balance humor with the every day horrors of crime, and sometimes it works. This one was just sort of bland.
February 7, 2017
Αν και ο προηγούμενος «Μονταλμπάντο» με είχε απογοητεύσει, δεν μπόρεσα να αντισταθώ σ’αυτόν τον Σισιλιάνο αστυνομικό ολίγον πριν τη σύνταξη, με την τρυφερή καρδιά ενός μαρουλιού και την αιώνια αρραβωνιστικιά. Βρε αθεόφοβε, πότε θα βάλεις στεφάνι στο κορίτσι;
Στη συγκεκριμένη υπόθεση, στη Βιγκάτα, οι ουρανοί έχουν ανοίξει και δεν λένε να κλείσουν, λάσπη παντού, στους δρόμους, στα εργοτάξια, στις επιχειρήσεις, στην πολιτική. Ένα πτώμα, ένα άδειο χρηματοκιβώτιο και μια Γερμανίδα σύζυγος που έχει πάει με το μισό χωριό…
Κλασικός Μονταλμπάνο, επιστρέφει στα καλά του, γιατί το προηγούμενον με είχε απογοητεύσει. Για τους λάτρεις του εν λόγω αστυνομικού ήρωα, θα φάτε ξανά μαζί στου Έντσο φρεσκοτηγανισμένα ψάρια, θα ζεστάνετε στο φούρνο τις μελιτζάνες της Αντελίνα, θα χτυπήσετε το κεφάλι σας στον τοίχο με τις απορίες του Καταρέλα γιατί λέμε «λασπουριά και όχι αιματουριά», θα βυθιστείτε στο βούρκο των δημοσίων έργων της Σικελίας και θα καταλάβετε επιτέλους πως δημόσιο χρήμα, δημόσια έργα, εργολάβοι, κακοτεχνίες, μαύρο χρήμα και άλλα τέτοια ωραία δεν είναι μόνο ελληνικό φαινόμενον…
Δεν χρειάζεται και πολύ λογοτεχνική ανάλυση το όλο βιβλίο, αν αγαπάτε τον Μονταλμπάνο είναι ένας καλός Μονταλμπάνο… εάν δεν μπορείτε να διαβάζετε συνεχώς την ίδια λογική, μην το επιχειρήσετε (οι ίδιοι ήρωες με τις εμμονές, τα προτερήματα και τα ελαττώματά τους είναι εδώ…)
Κάπου το ‘χασα γιατί ενώ είναι το τελευταίο βιβλίο από τη σειρά του Μονταλμπάνο που κυκλοφόρησε στην Ελλάδα, δεν είναι το αντίστοιχο στην Ιταλία. Ο Πατάκης άλλαξε λίγο τη σειρά κυκλοφορίας κι εδώ εμφανίζει τη Λίβια κάπως (είναι σε φάση ανάρρωσης από κατάθλιψη;;;), η γυναίκα του Μιμί πού είναι οέο;;; (δεν τον έχει τυλίξει ακόμα η άτιμη;;;)… Σ’αυτές τις λεπτομέρειες κάπου το χασα…
Παρ’όλα αυτά, αγαπώ Μονταλμπάνο γιατί με κάνει και ξεφεύγω…
Βαθμολογία 7/10
http://skorofido.blogspot.gr/2017/01/...
Στη συγκεκριμένη υπόθεση, στη Βιγκάτα, οι ουρανοί έχουν ανοίξει και δεν λένε να κλείσουν, λάσπη παντού, στους δρόμους, στα εργοτάξια, στις επιχειρήσεις, στην πολιτική. Ένα πτώμα, ένα άδειο χρηματοκιβώτιο και μια Γερμανίδα σύζυγος που έχει πάει με το μισό χωριό…
Κλασικός Μονταλμπάνο, επιστρέφει στα καλά του, γιατί το προηγούμενον με είχε απογοητεύσει. Για τους λάτρεις του εν λόγω αστυνομικού ήρωα, θα φάτε ξανά μαζί στου Έντσο φρεσκοτηγανισμένα ψάρια, θα ζεστάνετε στο φούρνο τις μελιτζάνες της Αντελίνα, θα χτυπήσετε το κεφάλι σας στον τοίχο με τις απορίες του Καταρέλα γιατί λέμε «λασπουριά και όχι αιματουριά», θα βυθιστείτε στο βούρκο των δημοσίων έργων της Σικελίας και θα καταλάβετε επιτέλους πως δημόσιο χρήμα, δημόσια έργα, εργολάβοι, κακοτεχνίες, μαύρο χρήμα και άλλα τέτοια ωραία δεν είναι μόνο ελληνικό φαινόμενον…
Δεν χρειάζεται και πολύ λογοτεχνική ανάλυση το όλο βιβλίο, αν αγαπάτε τον Μονταλμπάνο είναι ένας καλός Μονταλμπάνο… εάν δεν μπορείτε να διαβάζετε συνεχώς την ίδια λογική, μην το επιχειρήσετε (οι ίδιοι ήρωες με τις εμμονές, τα προτερήματα και τα ελαττώματά τους είναι εδώ…)
Κάπου το ‘χασα γιατί ενώ είναι το τελευταίο βιβλίο από τη σειρά του Μονταλμπάνο που κυκλοφόρησε στην Ελλάδα, δεν είναι το αντίστοιχο στην Ιταλία. Ο Πατάκης άλλαξε λίγο τη σειρά κυκλοφορίας κι εδώ εμφανίζει τη Λίβια κάπως (είναι σε φάση ανάρρωσης από κατάθλιψη;;;), η γυναίκα του Μιμί πού είναι οέο;;; (δεν τον έχει τυλίξει ακόμα η άτιμη;;;)… Σ’αυτές τις λεπτομέρειες κάπου το χασα…
Παρ’όλα αυτά, αγαπώ Μονταλμπάνο γιατί με κάνει και ξεφεύγω…
Βαθμολογία 7/10
http://skorofido.blogspot.gr/2017/01/...
February 2, 2018
Not for me :-(
September 7, 2024
3,5* Lai gan šis romāns ir 22. sērijā par izmeklētāju Montealbano, sanāca lasīt to pirmo. Standarta detektīvs ar labi veidotiem tēliem, loģisku sižeta līniju un atrisinājumu. Autors arī labi parādījis Sicīlijas īpašo vidi un cilvēkus.
October 8, 2019
I’m never happier reading police procedurals than when the investigator is Inspector Montalbano and the author is Andrea Camilleri.
Amazingly, this is number 22 in this wonderful series that resonates with Italian life and Sicilian culture, it’s language and food drips from every page.
The Pyramid of Mud is a complex novel about an unexplained murder and the unravelling of a building contractors corruption in obtaining state commissions to construct lucrative government projects.
A pyramid of mud is seen as an illustration of the financial and political duplicity that seems to be beyond the reach of the law.
That Montalbano is quite on his A game makes it a drawn out case which allows the reader the chance to absorb the investigation and speculate. Salvo’s mind is not so focused because he is concerned about Livia who has been overwhelmed by grief.
This makes for an interesting dialogue between the pair during their regular telephone conversations. It sums up much of what we see in previous novels about a love between them that is never fully declared but clearly sustains them.
As usual some of the witnesses and characters we meet during the course of their enquiries bring humour and wonder plain talking.
For me as much as I love these stories this one dragged at times and lacked some impetus. I love those comic moments when Montalbano feels age is creeping up on him; those doubts about his faculties and prowess. “Did the phone just ring?”
The ending is also clever but without it I fear the book would be as yet unfinished. You can count on the inspector pushing boundaries and it is good to feel the criminals acknowledge a fair cop. In every sense since the cast of police officers here are hard working and in their chief they have a person both TV audiences and readers have taken to their hearts.
Amazingly, this is number 22 in this wonderful series that resonates with Italian life and Sicilian culture, it’s language and food drips from every page.
The Pyramid of Mud is a complex novel about an unexplained murder and the unravelling of a building contractors corruption in obtaining state commissions to construct lucrative government projects.
A pyramid of mud is seen as an illustration of the financial and political duplicity that seems to be beyond the reach of the law.
That Montalbano is quite on his A game makes it a drawn out case which allows the reader the chance to absorb the investigation and speculate. Salvo’s mind is not so focused because he is concerned about Livia who has been overwhelmed by grief.
This makes for an interesting dialogue between the pair during their regular telephone conversations. It sums up much of what we see in previous novels about a love between them that is never fully declared but clearly sustains them.
As usual some of the witnesses and characters we meet during the course of their enquiries bring humour and wonder plain talking.
For me as much as I love these stories this one dragged at times and lacked some impetus. I love those comic moments when Montalbano feels age is creeping up on him; those doubts about his faculties and prowess. “Did the phone just ring?”
The ending is also clever but without it I fear the book would be as yet unfinished. You can count on the inspector pushing boundaries and it is good to feel the criminals acknowledge a fair cop. In every sense since the cast of police officers here are hard working and in their chief they have a person both TV audiences and readers have taken to their hearts.
February 24, 2018
ormai ho una certa età...
immagino sia per questo che le vicende dei gialli di Montalbano faccio sempre più fatica a capirle...
per fortuna alla fine ci pensa il commissario a spiegare, ma rimango lo stesso con un sacco di dubbi
immagino sia per questo che le vicende dei gialli di Montalbano faccio sempre più fatica a capirle...
per fortuna alla fine ci pensa il commissario a spiegare, ma rimango lo stesso con un sacco di dubbi
June 26, 2014
Un Montalbano che parte bene ma si perde strada facendo. Come al solito Camilleri inserisce nelle vicende del commissario temi di stretta attualità, in questo caso gli intrecci tra politica, mafia ed imprenditori negli appalti di opere pubbliche, argomento ahimè oggetto di ogni quotidiano telegiornale che si rispetti. Sebbene la tematica trattata sia impegnata, tuttavia il romanzo non convince del tutto: non mi ha convinto il modo di gestire l’indagine da parte del commissario, con trovate poco credibili o, se credibili, descritte con inutile lungaggine, che sembrano messe lì al solo scopo di raggiungere il numero di pagine richiesto dall’editore, neanche i soliti protagonisti sono convincenti, appaiono come spente macchiette stereotipe. Unico particolare che caratterizza il libro è il colore grigio, uniforme, dell’atmosfera siciliana stranamente piovosa ed umida, del fango che in siciliano stretto il nostro Catarella pronuncia “fangue”, con singolare assonanza con il liquido umano che scorre in uno dei cantieri edili di Vigata, sangue di vittime della criminalità dei colletti bianchi che purtroppo occupa da tempo le cronache nazionali.
July 10, 2017
Τα βιβλία του Camilleri στην παραλία ειναι πιο απαραίτητα ακόμα κι απο την ξαπλώστρα και τον καφέ.
November 27, 2018
read quite a while ago; just catching up here.
full post, no spoilers: http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/11/...
Well, here we are at book 22 in this series, and I'm still in love with Inspector Montalbano and have no intention of ever falling out of love with him. I'm looking at the Camilleri page at Stop You're Killing Me and there seem to be only two more novels coming our way. Oh, what a sad day turning the last page of the last book will be, but I'll enjoy them while I can. This installment takes on corruption, which reminds Montalbano of the serious issues faced by his country.
Quite frankly, as I've said before, the people in these books are what keeps me buying and reading them, well, that plus Camilleri's savvy examination of the ongoing problems faced by his country, as well as the humor in pretty much every story and okay, the ideas I get from the food.
As I say each time, do NOT start late in the series. Not only am I pretty much OCD when it comes to reading series novels in order, but with these books, readers who start at random will miss what came before, and each book builds on the others. I love Inspector Montalbano and the people who surround him , and I seriously doubt that there's ever been a mystery series that has given me as much joy as this one. And yes, book #23 was pre-ordered long ago.
full post, no spoilers: http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/11/...
Well, here we are at book 22 in this series, and I'm still in love with Inspector Montalbano and have no intention of ever falling out of love with him. I'm looking at the Camilleri page at Stop You're Killing Me and there seem to be only two more novels coming our way. Oh, what a sad day turning the last page of the last book will be, but I'll enjoy them while I can. This installment takes on corruption, which reminds Montalbano of the serious issues faced by his country.
Quite frankly, as I've said before, the people in these books are what keeps me buying and reading them, well, that plus Camilleri's savvy examination of the ongoing problems faced by his country, as well as the humor in pretty much every story and okay, the ideas I get from the food.
As I say each time, do NOT start late in the series. Not only am I pretty much OCD when it comes to reading series novels in order, but with these books, readers who start at random will miss what came before, and each book builds on the others. I love Inspector Montalbano and the people who surround him , and I seriously doubt that there's ever been a mystery series that has given me as much joy as this one. And yes, book #23 was pre-ordered long ago.
February 15, 2018
Inspector Montalbano is one of my favorite fictional characters. He can be cantankerous, short-tempered and willing to bend the rules, but that is balanced out with his sense of humor, his dedication, and his canny way of solving crimes. I also like the setting of the stories in Italy, and the interesting storylines that keep me turning pages. Another plus is the book covers; to me, they are works of art. All in all, a very solid mystery series that I have thoroughly enjoyed from the beginning.
January 27, 2018
A pretty weak effort by Camilleri. A convoluted story with a villain and the mafia working together to defraud the public with construction contracts using subpar materials. Starting off with a dead body at a construction site, which is dressed up as a lover's quarrel, Montalbano and his crew solve the complex crime, but have no solid evidence which the prosecutor can use for an arrest or even a warrant because the participants keep dying or disappearing. Money is the root of all evil.
July 12, 2019
Summertime and the reading is easy. Hot lazy cloudless days, so this mystery with endless rain was perfect. One of Camilleri’s better and realistic plots, and all the characters on the premisses (per Catarella) and in fine form.
September 18, 2024
Encore un bon Camilleri ! Je suis fan de Montalbano 😍
August 11, 2020
22 books into the series and the story of a grumpy detective with a love for fine food, irritating how superiors and solving mysteries remains that best of cliches, finely wrought comfort food.
August 24, 2017
Un libro in siciliano stretto in cui timidamente fa capolino qualche parola italiana. Abbandonato dopo poche pagine.
January 20, 2018
I love these books! Yet another winning addition to Montalbano's crafty ways to handle Mafia. Besides the puzzling events that begin with the shooting of an accountant, there are many colorful characters and the usual comic events that play out at the station.
There was a whole lot of rain pouring down on Italy throughout this story, and in fact a thunder clap starts off the story with a bang. At one point the lights go out at the station. Poor Catarella brings a candle on a saucer into Montalbano's office, but he is trembling with his fear of lightning and drops the candle on a stack of papers awaiting signature. As Montalbano swats at the papers to put out the fire sparks jump to Catarella who runs out of the office and into the rain to put out his fire.
"Ya know, Chief, soon as I catched fire, I tought it were best if I ran ousside inna rain to put ou' the fire Wuz I right?"
The main crime investigation revolved around construction contracts and money laundering.
There was a whole lot of rain pouring down on Italy throughout this story, and in fact a thunder clap starts off the story with a bang. At one point the lights go out at the station. Poor Catarella brings a candle on a saucer into Montalbano's office, but he is trembling with his fear of lightning and drops the candle on a stack of papers awaiting signature. As Montalbano swats at the papers to put out the fire sparks jump to Catarella who runs out of the office and into the rain to put out his fire.
"Ya know, Chief, soon as I catched fire, I tought it were best if I ran ousside inna rain to put ou' the fire Wuz I right?"
The main crime investigation revolved around construction contracts and money laundering.
June 3, 2014
Come tutti i libri di Montalbano mi ha attirata subito, e' bello seguire l'evoluzione dei personaggi, e un personaggio longevo come Montalbano forse puo' essere paragonato a Miss Murple o Hercule Poirit.... A mio parere negli ultimi anni sembra che il personaggio stia invecchiando insieme all'autore: i libri sempre piu' improntati dalle espressioni dialettali (nonostante io sia originaria del sud comincio a fare fatica a leggere un libro intero, almeno all'inizio) che possono sembrare ostiche, poi pero' ti coinvolgono visto che sono abbastanza ripetitive e la lettura inizia a scorrere... Non saprei dire se il personaggio sia stanco in se oppure stia solo attraversando un momento di stanchezza, mi sembra (almeno in questo libro) che manchi quel 'guizzo' tipico delle sue storie e che ti fanno finire il racconto in un battibaleno e aspettare il prossimo....
May 30, 2014
Camilleri, o forse solo Montalbano sta invecchiando. Qualcosa non torna nella trama di questo ultimo romanzo, scorre con qualche incertezza. Parallelamente ricompare, anche se alla distanza, Livia. Non uno dei libri migliori.
August 8, 2018
3,5 -4**** I thoroughly enjoyed this story and came to love Montalbano. I haven't read crime fiction in a while and had several reservations. Camilleri, however, writes beautifully, in a sort of relaxed manner. He lures you in with a pinch of mystery and then bam... Everything's happening too fast evidence comes and goes. The police can do nothing yet the crime cannot go unpunished. I was captivated all the way through and seriously consider buying the rest of the books in the series at once. Plus, this is a free pass to adventurous holidays in Italy, who would miss that?
November 25, 2022
A long awaited installment in the Montalbano series. It's been awhile since I treated myself to this. Since there is a finite amount of stories in this series I know I am putting off the end.
As usual, this was another great story in this series. The Inspector must figure out who killed an accountant and where the other people from the household are. This all seems to revolve around construction companies and possible Mafia connections.
As usual Salvatore, who has been doubting himself lately, is actually sharp as ever. The Inspector always figure out how to get around the red tape and get the results he needs.
Thank you Mr. Camileri for your writing and this beloved series.
As usual, this was another great story in this series. The Inspector must figure out who killed an accountant and where the other people from the household are. This all seems to revolve around construction companies and possible Mafia connections.
As usual Salvatore, who has been doubting himself lately, is actually sharp as ever. The Inspector always figure out how to get around the red tape and get the results he needs.
Thank you Mr. Camileri for your writing and this beloved series.
August 27, 2024
Kocham pana, komisarzu 😍
July 4, 2023
Montalbano metiéndose de lleno en una investigación con muchos tintes políticos.
Puedes leer mi reseña completa en mi blog
https://www.alarte.eu/cuadernodelectu...
Puedes leer mi reseña completa en mi blog
https://www.alarte.eu/cuadernodelectu...
September 10, 2015
Ho intravisto diverse recensioni meno entusiaste per quanto riguarda gli ultimi libri di Montalbano. Forse il lettore dovrebbe tenere a mente che ormai conosciamo bene questo commissario, i suoi collaboratori e le loro fissazioni. L'unico modo per venire davvero sorpresi vedrebbe un Montalbano fare cose in stile non-montalbanese, ma in quel caso mi posso immaginare le grida di rivolta che pretenderebbero il ritorno agli schemi classici.
Io mi diverto ancora tanto a leggerlo. Sì, è vero, magari intuisco più velocemente di un tempo come si svilupperà la trama, ma questo non mi impedisce di apprezzare lo stile e i dialoghi.
Il fango del titolo è sia reale sia metaforico. Il passare del tempo, che sembra turbare il commissario, non ne appanna le doti investigative. Il negozio abusivo della vecchietta dà un tocco di colore molto piacevole. Insomma, come sempre si tratta di un romanzo piacevole e coinvolgente, di un libro difficile da metter giù.
Io mi diverto ancora tanto a leggerlo. Sì, è vero, magari intuisco più velocemente di un tempo come si svilupperà la trama, ma questo non mi impedisce di apprezzare lo stile e i dialoghi.
Il fango del titolo è sia reale sia metaforico. Il passare del tempo, che sembra turbare il commissario, non ne appanna le doti investigative. Il negozio abusivo della vecchietta dà un tocco di colore molto piacevole. Insomma, come sempre si tratta di un romanzo piacevole e coinvolgente, di un libro difficile da metter giù.
February 22, 2018
Wars between the mafioso is the theme of the 22nd installment of the ever-engaging Inspector Montalbano series. Love.
"The Pyramid of Mud" might not be THE best representation to show what a genius Andrea Camilleri is as a crime writer but it is certainly up to his consistent standard- a tight plot with interesting characters, humorous, and engrossing.
The first half is easy to follow but when the plot gets down to the mafia war in the second half, all the names and the relationship between the big bosses and their subordinates was a little confusing. I needed to slow down and to digest several Montalbano's crucial speculations and conjectures when he was steps closer to the truth.
Love it. Reading the Montalbano series has always been a pure bliss.
"The Pyramid of Mud" might not be THE best representation to show what a genius Andrea Camilleri is as a crime writer but it is certainly up to his consistent standard- a tight plot with interesting characters, humorous, and engrossing.
The first half is easy to follow but when the plot gets down to the mafia war in the second half, all the names and the relationship between the big bosses and their subordinates was a little confusing. I needed to slow down and to digest several Montalbano's crucial speculations and conjectures when he was steps closer to the truth.
Love it. Reading the Montalbano series has always been a pure bliss.
June 2, 2014
ennesima indagine di montalbano- stavolta alle prese con un intrigo che parte da un morto ammazzato e si rivela essere più grande di quel che sembra. discreto, non fosse altro per l'atmosfera inedita- cupa e uggiosa, sia dal punto di vista metereologico che mentale del protagonista, senza tuttavia essere deprimente. mancano (ormai da troppo tempo) gli slanci e le trovate dei primi libri, ma si legge con un certo piacere.
August 11, 2022
3.5*
Grover Gardner once again gives a marvelous narration (and lots of Catarella in this one - I especially like the voice Gardner uses for him!). With this series, I am torn between listening to the audiobook and reading the print (or ebook) edition; I love Gardner's narration but miss translator Stephen Sartarelli's notes.
Grover Gardner once again gives a marvelous narration (and lots of Catarella in this one - I especially like the voice Gardner uses for him!). With this series, I am torn between listening to the audiobook and reading the print (or ebook) edition; I love Gardner's narration but miss translator Stephen Sartarelli's notes.
April 17, 2015
Il giallo non mi ha intrigato particolarmente, anzi l'ho letto a fatica, ma a differenza di molti (quasi tutti) ho davvero apprezzato ogni riga dedicata a Livia. Il fatto che Montalbano gioisca nell'essere finalmente di nuovo chiamato "scemo" è di una dolcezza da squagliare i rinoceronti.
May 29, 2018
The Pyramid of Mud – Another Montalbano Classic
The latest Montalbano thriller from Andrea Camilleri has been translated into English and the Pyramid of Mud is yet another classic. All the comedy, the characters, the food, and mystery packed into this book with the mafia hiding in the background.
A construction company’s chief account is found murdered in a tunnel, part of a construction that his company has been working on. At first, they have to find out why he is naked and where he was before he ended up dead in a construction tunnel. So, begins a mystery which has been set up to make the police think one thing, when in reality it is something completely different.
With his ever-faithful team of Fazio and his wayward deputy Mimi, they tackle the mystery head on, and let those who would lead the investigation astray, think they had confused the police investigation. But Montalbano can see through the smoke and mirrors that others keep throwing up trying to confuse them. He even plays along to dupe the main protagonists thinking they will slowly make mistakes and reveal their hands.
Once again Camilleri describes all Montalbano’s colleagues with wit and gusto, so we get all the chance encounters, the contents of his fridge and oven. The Montalbano series is one of the best crafted pieces of crime writing available today. Nothing is lost in translation, even the comedic characters that are dotted throughout the mystery.
The investigation may get off to a slow and slippery start, but it carries all the pleasures of reading Montalbano, and will always keep you reading and smiling throughout the book.
The latest Montalbano thriller from Andrea Camilleri has been translated into English and the Pyramid of Mud is yet another classic. All the comedy, the characters, the food, and mystery packed into this book with the mafia hiding in the background.
A construction company’s chief account is found murdered in a tunnel, part of a construction that his company has been working on. At first, they have to find out why he is naked and where he was before he ended up dead in a construction tunnel. So, begins a mystery which has been set up to make the police think one thing, when in reality it is something completely different.
With his ever-faithful team of Fazio and his wayward deputy Mimi, they tackle the mystery head on, and let those who would lead the investigation astray, think they had confused the police investigation. But Montalbano can see through the smoke and mirrors that others keep throwing up trying to confuse them. He even plays along to dupe the main protagonists thinking they will slowly make mistakes and reveal their hands.
Once again Camilleri describes all Montalbano’s colleagues with wit and gusto, so we get all the chance encounters, the contents of his fridge and oven. The Montalbano series is one of the best crafted pieces of crime writing available today. Nothing is lost in translation, even the comedic characters that are dotted throughout the mystery.
The investigation may get off to a slow and slippery start, but it carries all the pleasures of reading Montalbano, and will always keep you reading and smiling throughout the book.
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