Book Review: The Shape of Water

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

[4 stars]

The Shape of Water Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Andrea Camilleri
Class/Genre: Mystery
Series: Inspector Montalbano # 1

This is the first in a group of four new translations into English from a popular series written by Italian author Andrea Camilleri. The author introduces us to Inspector Salvo Montalbano - a polic officer in a small Sicilian town. The inspector has the confidence of his superior officer, the commissioner, and leads an engaging band of small town police officers. The group of policemen, while displaying delightful eccentricities and humorous intereactions, are nevertheless competent and completely loyal to the inspector. His mind often runs several laps ahead of the verbal expression of his thoughts, and we share the affectionate puzzlement with which his subordinates carry out his orders and instructions.

In this entry, an oh so proper Italian gentleman is found dead in his automobile, with his pants around his ankles. Rather obvious "clues" are found around the body, throwing suspicion on the wife of a local man. The inspector is rightly suspicious of the attempt to deflect the investigation from those who would have a believable motive. Following his intuition, and pulling seemingly unconnected observations together, he uncovers the truth.

Camilleri provides a wonderful scene of a Sicilian coastal village, a believable romance with a beautiful woman, and more than a few mouth watering descriptions of the inspector's many stops to eat and enjoy his food!

I particularly appreciated the approach of the translator, Stephen Sartarelli. He leaves the Italian phrase in place in the text in descriptions of food, places, monetary values, and literary references. At the back of the book he includes a few short pages of notes explaining the Italian in the text itself. This contributes to the strong sense of place and adds authenticity to the story.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM