Excursion to Tindari is a puzzler that will intrigue both fans of Camilleri and mystery readers in general. A phone call lands Montalbano in the middle of the case of the dead man at Via Cavour 44. Just one bullet in the middle of the forehead killed young Emanuele 'Nenè' Sanfilippo, and since the captain of the Flying Squad and his second in command were laid up (one with dysentery after a visit to Beirut and the other in the hospital in New York after a mugging), Montalbano is told that the case is his. While he's just getting started on that case, a man shows up at the Vigàta station to ask for help with his missing parents, Mr. and Mrs. Griffo, and permission to break down the door of their apartment. Montalbano puts Gallo on the case until he finds out that the missing parents lived in the same apartment building as the dead Sanfilippo, then decides to handle it himself. After a spot on the television news regarding their disappearance brings forth several witnesses, the police discover that the Griffos were last seen on a bus tour to the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Tindari. After that, they might has well have dropped off the face of the Earth. Salvo just knows intuitively that the two cases must be connected -- but how? As he's delving into both investigations, he receives a call that he can't refuse: Don Balduccio Sinagra, the head of one of the two major crime families, wants him to stop by for a visit. And, on the personal front, Mimi Augello has just informed Montalbano that he's met a woman and is planning on marrying her, and Montalbano realizes he may be losing a good officer and a good friend. Mimi also informs him that the Commissioner, Bonetti-Alderighi, is happy about Mimi's plans, saying that it was "high time that the band of Mafiosi at Vigàta Police...started to break up." And of course, let's not forget Livia, who is still depressed over events from book four, Voice of the Violin. But his keen detective work, some subterfuge, and the amazing, mouth-watering Italian dishes he loves help to see him through once more.One of the funniest scenes in this series thus far is in this book -- in which Montalbano is at 'Nenè' Sanfilippo's apartment late one night reviewing some of the dead man's videocassettes. Camilleri's great sense of humor and timing are delightfully captured in English by Sartarelli the translator. The author also manages to drive home the point that although the Mafia's presence is everywhere, the game is changing and there's a new challenge to the police and indeed to the old ways -- the younger generation of Mafioso have become ruthless, unwilling to sit down and come to some agreement, preferring to solve their issues with knee-jerk violence. The core mysteries are enticing and well plotted, with very plausible and ingenious solutions. Camilleri also continues his well-defined sense of place that runs through the prior installments of this series, augmented by the richness of personalities and food found in the area.All of the books in this series are intelligent and very well-written novels, and with each book the characters become more real. I suggest that anyone considering this series start at the beginning -- your reading experience will be greatly enhanced as you follow Montalbano and his team at the Vigàta station in the order the books were written.
Rating: 4* of fiveThe Book Report: Fifth of Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano series set in fictional Vigata, Sicily, this outing sees Montalbano and his team dealing with a homicide, a double disappearance, and a bad case of lovin' you for the Inspector and his chief henchman as their respective relationships head into perilous waters. That is as nothing, though, compared to the murder of a too-wealthy twenty-year-old computer whiz who is in so far over his head that teasing out the whys and wherefores of his death leads Montalbano directly to the pinnacle of the Mafia food chain, and the resolution of the double disappearance...actually a double homicide...and the end of particularly vile, despicable, reprehensible, inexcusable business. For good? Probably not. For better, yes.My Review: Camilleri doesn't disappoint in this outing for the hapless Mimi Augello, the surprisingly astute Catarella, and the Inspector himself. A web spins around Vigata (modeled after Porto Empedocle, Camilleri's home, which has actually added "Vigata" to its name to capitalize on the tourists following Montalbano around!) that seems at first to mean one thing, then another, then when you're SURE it means ANOTHER thing, *bam* there it is, the real source of all the trouble...and this time it was one I so totally never saw coming that I reeled backwards in shock, just like in the old cartoons. (Never mind that I was comfortably recumbent in the bed, don't be a spoilsport, the image works.)Montalbano's highly imperfect character...too fond of his food yet never gets fat, treats Livia with what can charitably be called a highly trusting light maintenance, is so jealous of Augello's gal-pal in Pavia (like being from Massachusetts to a Texan) that he sets out with malice aforethought to get poor Mimi to forget her by introducing him to a witness in the double disappearance case, who just happens to be tall, blonde, blue-eyed, and a major foodie who has no family outside Vigata...which ploy works like a champ, may I add...grows deeper in this entry, and in some surprising ways. Upstanding yet spiteful, insubordinate yet deftly political, Montalbano makes each twist and every turn just that much more fun to take with Camilleri.These are hugely popular books in the rest of the world, and the TV series is huge in Europe, and they are like all fueled by the same basic engine: Real drama comes from inside complex characters, their different facets all whirling chaotically to create the energy to drive the story. Well, yes.Now will SOMEONE please translate Camilleri's non-Montalbano novel "Noah's Umbrella"?!? I *have* to know what it's about!
What do You think about Excursion To Tindari (2005)?
��Montalbano sono. Dovrei dire pronto, ma non lo dico. Sinceramente, non mi sento pronto��.All'altro capo ci fu un lungo silenzio. Poi arriv�� il suono del telefono abbassato.(...)Torn�� mestamente verso casa e gi�� da una decina di metri di distanza sent�� lo squillo del telefono. L'unica era accettare le cose come stavano. E, tanto per principiare, rispondere a quella chiamata.Era Fazio.��Levami una curiosit��. Sei stato tu a telefonarmi un quarto d'ora fa?��.��Nonsi, dottore. Fu Catarella. Ma disse che lei non era pronto. Allora ho lasciato passare tanticchia di tempo e ho richiamato io. Pronto si sente ora, dottore?��. *Macari Fazio, Catarella, Augello...!
—Piperitapitta
The fifth in the Montalbano series and the fifth I’ve read. Formally it is the most straightforward. There is a crime, it is investigated, it is solved. In the previous Montalbano stories there tends to be two crimes and as the investigations progress it is found that they are linked. In this one a young man is shot and then it is found that an elderly couple from the same apartment block have gone missing: Montalbano suspects the two cases are linked...and we, if we know the conventions of the genre, will know they are linked. And so it is. The previous Montalbano stories mixed the detective case with a series of other continuing narrative lines, but in this one the other lines have been restrained: there are still the tensions between Montalbano and his superiors, but they are now in the background; his relationship with Livia is still uncertain, but she remains a voice on the phone; Montalbano is less bullying to his men in this one, more likable, and his previously fraught relationship with his second in command is easier; there is still the humour (such as Montalbano’s ridiculous attempt to break into a hut), but it is restrained. There is more focus on the central detective plot, less interference from the other stuff. And in the end there is a certain horror when the criminal plot is revealed...but it remains a detective novel revelation, there is no method or room to investigate the horror...and if it did, it would be a very different sort of book. The Montalbano stories just seem to be getting more conventional as they go along.
—Nick Jones
Excursion to Tindari is the 5th installment of the Montalbano series. I love the work Andrea Camilleri creates. However this one left me desiring a little more, the plot was just OK for me; not bad, but not great either. In a nutshell an elderly couple disappear and within the same day or two, one of their neighbors is shot dead on his doorstep. Ingrid (woman from book 1 if memory serves)makes an appearance along with a doctor that is supposedly has big part in this situation. Of course, the mafia has alot to do with it too, it's left me unclear though as why they are are involved. Don't get me wrong, there were interesting twists; and Montalbano was just how I love him and have pictured him. I was just left feeling confused how conclusions were reached, and why something's were even addressed.
—Carmela Dutra
