What Montalbano should have been doing was resting, keeping the love nest warm with Livia tucked up against him, his official reason for withdrawing from society had something to do with the gun shot wound he received from his pervious job, but there was no doubt about it, this morning he could hear the telephone ringing. There were two options; the first, if he ignored the ringing he could carry on with his natural blissful way of life with Livia! Or secondly if he picked up, work, it only meant trouble, Montalbano reached for the phone.

One hour later he was standing at the scene of the crime, a kidnapping they said. A very pretty girl Susanna Mistretta, who lived with her father and mother in a country villa three miles outside of Vigata town. Susanna had gone to study at friends during the day but had not returned home as usual that evening. Her father of course was worried, time became late and he went searching for his daughter, but it was Susanna's boyfriend Francesco Lipari who finally spotted her abandoned moped about two hundred yards from her parents house. Montalbano was quite certain something had happened to the girl, as he made a closer inspection of the scene, it was the front wheel of the moped that clinched it, why was it facing towards Vigata? Backwards! It looked like it cared it was going the wrong way! As far as Montalbano was concerned this was his case, he'd just seen foul play.

This would be the Eighth book in the series and Camilleri has made a few slight changes with this one, which is charming and crafty. His given to us direct clues of which suspect could have done this crime and his done so quite blatantly, his thrown predictable right at us, but what Camilleri does not give away and therefore keeps us guessing till the last is the Psychology behind the crime, his showing how Montalbano forms his ideas quietly and goes about gathering evidence to support his facts and only then will he let us have the final verdict.

Some may also be disappointed that this time around Camilleri has left out some of that mouthwatering great-flavored foods but instead has spent more time on another intriguing passionate ingredients, Livia and Montalbano's relationship. Livia's presence and character begins to form nicely throughout this storyline remaining Montalbano's rock. Always happy to adjust her life to take care of her man, they argue but in a healthy way of dealing with one another, she takes the no nonsense approach in his darker moods but does understand what his trying to achieve in his world. Their relationship has the up's and down's of a long distance love, Nec tecum nec sine te - Neither with or without you.

Inspector Montalbano character is just fantastic to read, for his questionable brainstorms and unorthodox subversive opinions. Montalbano, a man approaching the end of his career, the rebel, the thinker, not afraid to explore all areas even into obsession. Sorting through a web of lies to find logic, searching for truth.

Andrea Camilleri has written a wonderful Montalbano mystery series. Having read all in the translation series, I love the characterization and language the usage of dialogue that has been kept real with sharp wit and ironic comedy moments, the sly comments on Italian life and culture keep things for me interesting and amusing.

A special mention to poet Stephen Sartarelli, I'm thoroughly enjoying his clear translation of each book and for the informative notes given at the back on wording. Thank you.

A Wonderful Read.

Andrea Bowhill ( )

8th in the Inspector Montalbano series.

Montalbano is still recovering from the serious gunshot wound he received in the previous case, recounted in Rounding the Mark. The brush with death has thrown Montalbano into a period of reflection on his mortality that even Livia’s presence can’t alleviate. But all this ends when a report comes in of a missing young woman, presumably kidnapped. However, there are oddities about the situation that leave Montalbano not entirely convinced that what appears to be happening is indeed the case.

While this novel exhibits all of Camilleri’s considerable gifts as a writer in the genre, the plot itself is a little sluggish. There really isn’t that much tension in the book, and we are taken along in the story more on the strength of the now-familiar stable of regular characters and the typical atmosphere of Vigáta itself. Montalbano’s mid-life crisis may be realistic but does not add much to the story itself.

In addition, the plot, unusually for Camilleri, is pretty predictable and the outcome only mildly interesting—certainly not dramatic.

Still an very good read if only as the latest in a superb series, The Patience of the Spider does not live up to the high standard set by the previous books. If a Montalbano fan, prepare to be just a tad let down. ( )

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/node/... ( )

Fun read -- although this Montalbano doesn't feature much from his police colleagues -- the sub-chief Mimi is almost absent, for example. A few vignettes with the irrepressable and fumbling Cat the sargent/receptionist are there, but not enough for my taste. Mostly Montalbano stuggling to make sense of a mysterious kidnapping on his own while recovering from a gun shot received during an earlier investigation. I'm getting tired of Livia the shrewish fiancee -- when will Montalbano ditch her? Or does their long distance romance suit our inspector's aversion to permanent and stable intimate relationships? I do have to say I figured out the culprit about 2/3 of the way through, although still enjoyed this one to the end and looking forward to reading more. ( )