The Wings of the Sphinx

Camilleri never disappoints. Montalbano is in true form as he interacts with Fazio, Mimi and Caterella. These books come too slowly for me...I know there new ones in Italian, and hopefully they will also soon to be translated. I recommend reading the book before watching the RAI film...even tho they are true to the books, alot is left unexplained unless you have read it. My favorite crime writer and policeman ever--in or out of the US!

This is high octane, grand cru Camilleri. For those of you who read my damning 1 star review of the highly unsatisfactory 'August Heat', I personally in person urge you to order this one immediately. It's a sound storyline, full of the essential twists & turns, but also full of fun, humour and iron. Geddit!

"The Wings Of The Sphinx," takes the reader into familiar territory: Vigata,and the peculiarities of Sicilian (Italian)law and order. Author Andrea Camilleri, through his marvelous creation, Inspector Salvo Montalbano, explores some of these "peculiarities.' When the body of a young woman, with a distinct tatoo is discovered, it launches Montalbano on an investigation that will lead him into a shadowy world of exploited Russian women, and their managers. Interwoven with the Russians are the machinations of a benevolent society set up to rescue (or is it to exploit?)immigrant women headed for the flesh trade. Montalbano's efforts are not aided by the fact that the society has "friends in high places." The highest levels of both Church, and Government seem bent on thwarting his efforts to solve the murder, and restore moral order in his portion of the universe. All of this plays against the backdrop of Montalbano's own midlife uncertainties, and, as ever, his tumultuous relationship with Livia. She has been the love of his life for more than fifteen years. Now, as the story begins, they haven't spoken for weeks. Montalbano broods over the possibility that the rift created by their last fight is so wide that it may be beyond healing. At fifty-six he wonders if his life has counted for anything! In short the same themes he has been dealing with for some time. This book is like getting a phone call from an old friend who, in his late night call, pours out his, or her deepest doubts. Then, by conversation's end reassures his, or her, self, and us, that there is a moral order, and purpose to life. If one will have the courage to stay faithful to one's own vision of right and wrong--justice will win out. This is a good read. A welcome visit with a protagonist who is, by now an old friend.

Inspector Salvo Montalbano knows his territory--the Sicilian town of Vigata and environs--like the back of his hand, so when criminal activity occurs, he usually has some idea of who might be involved and why. In "The Wings of the Sphinx," another "slaughter of the innocent" has occurred--a beautiful young woman has been shot and her body discarded on a garbage heap. The increasingly world-weary Montalbano finds the crime almost more than he can stomach and starts again to consider retirement from the police. His dark mood is amplified by a crisis in his relationship with long-time girlfriend Livia--a relationship that has been demanding some kind of definition for some time. Eventually, Montalbano sorts through the professional challenges, uncovering some of the usual venal conspiring amongst leaders of the community, as well as more banal personal failings by the town's lesser lights. As always, author Camilleri gives the reader an insightful exposition of the good and bad in his native Sicily, but manages to end his story on the positive side of the human ledger. Along the way, there is plenty of cynicism, bombast, humor, serious dining on Sicilian cuisine and an inventive and serpentine story line. Great reading. Bring on the next one.

I pounce on any new Montalbano mystery, and have to fight my husband to keep possession. Every book is a treat. The setting is Sicily, where we expect plenty of scandals and skullduggery - and Camilleri delivers. In this book, Inspector Montalbano at 56 is having a crisis with his long-distance girlfriend Livia, while carrying on his usual lifestyle. He's consuming huge quantities of fabulous Sicilian food, making obscene wisecracks to superiors and stowing half-smoked cigarettes in his burnt-out jacket pocket. He's also digging too deeply into a case that's sure to bring trouble. A twenty-something woman has been found naked in an illegal dump with her face shot off. The main clue to her identity is the Sphinx moth tattooed on her shoulder blade. Montalbano eventually connects the victim, who is Russian, to an association called Benevolence that help young women imported from other countries escape prostitution. Montalbano suspects that Benevolence is hiding bad things behind a good cause. This is a political hot potato, since Benevolence naturally enough has attracted a lot of support from powerful people. But it's not so much the crimes and their solutions that make Camilleri great fun to read. It's the wacky atmosphere in the police station, with Montalbano at war with the system and his desk sergeant Catarella garbling every phone message and mangling every name. And it's the drama and colorful language that seem to surround every human interaction. Montalbano covers a lot of ground in his investigations, despite the fact that the government can't afford gasoline for the squad cars. Camilleri delights in portraying scandalous goings-on in Sicily. Montalbano fans who like to reconstruct the inspector's favorite dishes will find detailed and daunting instructions for making 'mpanata di maiali on page 159. I'd suggest that the Montalbano mysteries be consumed entire and in order for the fullest enjoyment.