The Snack Thief by
Andrea Camilleri
hbk out June 04
Published by Picador
at £15.99
Sicilian detective, Inspector Montalbano, is disgruntled to find two murder cases on
his desk - especially as bad weather has a direct adverse effect on his daily moods,
and it is about to pour down. An elderly man has been stabbed in a lift and a
crewman on a trawler has been shot by a Tunisian patrol boat off the Sicilian coast.
Montalbano suspects a link between the cases and his enquiries lead him to a cleaning
woman and occasional prostitute, Karima, whose young son is the snack thief of the
title. Montalbano, a passionate foodie who finds it hard to pass a good restaurant
without stopping off, sympathises with the boy's hunger. And he is appalled when
the investigation, which leads to dirty goings on in high places, puts the youngster in
danger. On top of all this, Montalbano's relationship with the woman in his life,
Livia, is fraught with uncertainty and his father is seriously ill.
Camilleri's world-weary policeman is a marvellous creation, combining a vituperative
tongue and keen intelligence with compassion and humanity. There are some
hilarious moments as he tries to deal with his inept subordinates and slippery
superiors and casts a jaded and exasperated eye over those he meets.
Manchester Evening News 31.7.04
(
Cath Staincliffe
author of the popular Sal Kilkenny mysteries set on the mean streets of Manchester)
The Snack Thief by
Andrea Camilleri
