Inspector Montalbano #19

A Beam of Light – Andrea Camillieri

Released in 2012, this book recounts the nineteenth investigation by Commissioner Salvo Montalbano in the fictional Sicilian town of Vigata. In such a long-running series, it’s reasonable to expect the appearance of the usual characters and the usual situations which, after all, combine to make the series enjoyable. We fans like Officer Catarella’s inability to communicate, Fazio’s enthusiasm for accuracy and completeness, Augello’s winning ways with females, and foodie Salvo’s dinners by housekeeper Adelina and lunches at Enzo’s followed by his walk on the jetty to play with the crabs.

Nothing is missing – we even have a repetition of the theme of the passing of time, though we’re happy that Salvo is not having the usual health problems that we’d expect in a middle-aged Mediterranean male, a highly relatable genotype for this reader.

The core of the narrative sees the intertwining of three mysteries in which Montalbano is involved in a more or less direct way, and to which he must try to devise an explanation. The main thriller comes from the robbery of a beautiful young woman married to a wealthy middle-aged jealous man. It’s a complicated tangle to get one's arms around, but the relationships are plausible and plot twists surprise and satisfy.

A second story line is the hunt for three Tunisian immigrants suspected of arms trafficking. Again the characterization is economical and convincing.

The third story line is the love affair of Salvo with Marian, a fascinating gallery owner. The years may fly by but talented, good-looking, and passionate females still fall at Salvo’s feet despite his getting into trouble every time he opens his mouth. Salvo feels guilty about cheating on his long-time GF Livia. 

No fool, Livia has realized on some paranormal level that she has lost something. She falls into depression marked by isolation (she stops going to work and seeing friends), disturbed sleep, fatigue, loss of appetite, and slow-moving concentration and activity. Alarmingly to readers but not to Salvo the Knucklehead, she also suffers the classic anxiety symptom of feeling that something dreadful is going to happen. Poor Livia!

The ending is a bit forced but Camilleri’s writing is so good the reader doesn’t care. Salvo is a brilliant character because he has his faults just like anybody else. He does things his own way. He is smart like the memorable fictional detectives such as Sherlock Holmes and Poirot though there are times when he gets easily distracted because of his highly-strung emotions. Montalbano is an ordinary guy thrust into nutty situations brought on by other fallible humans.

Other Montalbano Mysteries: click on the title to read a review:

·         The Terracotta Dog — 2002 (Il cane di terracotta — 1996)

·         The Voice of the Violin — 2003 (La voce del violino — 1997)

·         The Scent of the Night — 2005 (L’odore della notte — 2001)

·         Rounding the Mark — 2006 (Il giro di boa — 2003)

·         The Paper Moon — 2008 (La luna di carta — 2005)

·         August Heat — 2009 (La vampa d'agosto — 2006)

·         The Wings of the Sphinx — 2009 (Le ali della sfinge — 2006)

·         The Track of Sand — 2010 (La pista di sabbia — 2007)

·         The Potters Field — 2011 (Il campo del vasaio — 2008)

·         A Beam of Light — 2015 (Una lama di luce — 2012)