The Smell of the Night (An Inspector Montalbano Mystery) (ISBN 0143036203)

The Charm of Inspector Montalbano:
I enjoy the t.v. series made in Italy and available here in Code 4 DVD, so much that I must have my Montalbano fix often. I read the novels that are so popular here and in Italy, and listen to the audio CD's like this one, Smell of the Night, which should have been titled: Scent of the Night because Vigata is on the sea and the fragrances of sea, salt, olive blossoms and basil, can become intoxicating. This episode is great because someone has dared to cut down an ancient olive tree where Salvo Montalbano goes to brood and to receive comfort, this make our volatile Chief Inspector very "pazzo!". Plus, Salvo has such an acute brain,he knows to get into his old wet suit, and go diving in dark waters to solve the puzzle; then gloats that he is still in good shape until he bends down to pick up something afterwards, and ouch! His constant battle with evading marriage with the patient and beautiful Milano resident, Livia, is always delightful and Salvo's love for Sicilian food makes me long to go there and try some of those dishes that are described so well. the other regulars are wonderful including the long-suffering Livai, Fazio, the loyal right hand man, Mimi, the skirt chaser, and Catarella, who has to the 4th of the 3 Stooges. The women are wonderful and either hags or voluptuous beauties. Italian drama always has comedy, and Sicilian is Italian cubed. For example, a sign of affection can be a smack on the back of the head. As for this CD Audio, if you can get past the stentorian voice of the narrator, which I did after fussing for awhile, you'll find that the character, Salvo Montalbano, will leave you wanting to walk beside him again and again. The novels are all available in English, the DVD's come with English titles, but alas there are only two other novels by Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Salvo Montalbano available on audio CD's. The Shape of Water, and The Terra Cotta Dog.

Not Up to His Usual Standards:
Trickery, unrequited love, longing, long-distance lovers, con-men, pyramid schemes and hidden sex. These all make up this sixth novel in the "Montalbano" series by Andrea Camilleri, but more than anything it's a chance for the author to rail against Italian society. Much of the book mocks the police and their fear of the mafia and use of the mafia as a 'whipping boy'. When a pyramid scheme falls apart with the disappearance of the con-man in charge, Montalbano has the case taken away and given to the 'regional authorities'. But since Salvo, and readers in the know (wink wink nudge nudge) understand what a bunch of 'boobs' these guys are, is incensed when they blame it on the Mafia. Sure, the con-man stole their money and so they killed him. But how did they know the money had disappeared? When Montalbano, on his own, finds the body of one of the co- conspirators with a 'sissy' 22 caliber bullet in his head, he knows it's not the Mafia. So, who? At the same time we are forced to sift through polemics of the problems with love and commitment. "Mimi" is thinking of calling off his wedding just as it is postponed because of an illness of his prospective father- in-law. Meanwhile, Salvo keeps wondering about his relationship and the distance between him and Genoa. This part has the feeling of being very set-up and forced. Even some of his side characters, who are usually so interesting, are dull. Not his best effort. Zeb Kantrowitz

Entertaining but not substantial:
This was a fun read but almost gauze thin. There's something to be said for that. At least there's no pretentiouness like Mankell. But one of Montalbano's assistant's dialog could have been delivered by Chico Marx.

Best Montalbano mystery:
Larger than life characters, the flavour of Italy in both the food and ambience, mixed with a bit of mystery and good writing and with a glass of Chianti you could be there. I came late to Camilleri's Montalbano novels, have enjoyed them all, but enjoyed this one more than previous titles ( I've not read them in order either). Montalbano is idiosyncratic, breaks the rules and has his own unique approach to procedure. There's a lightness and humour to the writing that borders on farce at times but never undermines the credibility of the stories. If you like mysteries, may have enjoyed Michael Dibden's Aurelio Zen and Donna Leon, try this, Montalbano is the icing on the cake.

Amusing Montalbano Quirks and Follies While Pursuing a Minor Mystery:
The Smell of the Night is the only one of the first six books to lack a decent mystery. Inspector Montalbano is as amusing as ever as he trashes an uninhabited villa, challenges a tease, deals with the remnants of incompetent laundering, desperately searches for new places to dine, tries to show he isn't really middle-aged, and solves a crime he isn't supposed to go near. There's the usual byplay at the station as Catarella mangles words and Fazio tries to inveigle Montalbano to sign stacks of paperwork for hours. In between, there are delicious meals and quiet interludes to think things over. The book's plot involves a missing financier, Emanuele Gargano, who appears to have been running a Ponzi scheme (paying out large returns to early investors by using the money deposited by new investors). When the payment date occurs, the financier is nowhere to be found. One of his staff members, Giacomo Pellegrino, is also gone. But the dedicated middle-aged teller, Mariastella Cosentino, still mans the office . . . despite threats from angered depositors. Another assistant, the attractive Michela Manganaro, is licking her wounds after not having been paid for two months. But she can dish the dirt, and Montalbano gets some helpful clues. On the serious side, headquarters has learned about the adoption Montalbano had arranged after another case, and Montalbano has to cover his tracks. As he does, he finds some good and not-so-good news. In addition, Mimi is getting close to marriage . . . but cold feet are also setting in. Will his nerve hold? Will Montalbano's relationship with Livia survive some prevarications on the part of each? If you are a devoted fan of the series, be sure to read the book. It contains some nice character development. But don't expect much of a mystery. After all, how hard can it be to solve a Ponzi scheme case with a missing financier? There has to be a money trail . . . and that can be turned into a physical trail. Enjoy a pleasant taste if Sicily!