As I work my way through this series, Andrea Camilleri is quickly becoming one of my favorite crime fiction authors, and Salvo Montalbano one of my favorite characters. How can you not like him? He's grumpy, cantankerous, and crabby and yet he has a compassionate side. He lives for the best, most delectable food, and although flawed in many ways, he has an incredible handle on human nature. The Snack Thief is number three in this series, and I wasted absolutely no time after Terra-Cotta Dog to start this book. And after finishing this book, I opened up the next one, The Voice of the Violin. I have a feeling that when that one's over, it's going to be on to number five and on down the line until I've finished every book that's been published in this series. That's how good these books really are and how much I like them.The day starts out badly for Montalbano as the story begins, when he is awakened early in the morning by a call from Catarella at the Vigata station. A Tunisian man was killed when the trawler on which he was working was attacked by a Tunisian patrol boat. The trawler was in international waters, and since someone was killed, the government is forced to intervene. And because the boat came into Vigata, the nearest port, the police there are supposed to provide a detailed report because of the possible international repercussions. Montalbano would prefer not to get involved, and is happy when Mimi Augello takes it on. The Inspector has a more intriguing case to work on -- that of a businessman named Lapecora, who was found stabbed and dead in the elevator of his apartment building. As he's investigating this crime, another report is called in about someone stealing pre-lunch snacks from school children. As he focuses on Lapecora's death, more mysteries begin to reveal themselves, whetting Montalbano's appetite just as much as the promise of alalonga all'agrodolce prepared by his friend Calogero at a local restaurant. And while all of this is going on, Livia decides to come for a visit.The Snack Thief is a wonderful read. There are multiple layers of mystery at work in this novel, and as each one is revealed, the story becomes a bit more intriguing. The characters once again take center stage -- not only are the usual players here, but there are new ones who play off of Montalbano, bringing out different sides of his character. There are many humorous moments, in the police station, or when Montalbano's hunger makes him a bit grumpy, and especially in the way he deals with his growing (but unfounded) jealousy of Livia and Mimi Augello. Stephen Sartarelli's translation is so well done that the book just flows -- there is not a line out of place, nor is there any point at which the narrative comes off even a bit awkwardly. It's absolutely incredible how well the translation captures all the characters' eccentricities, especially those belonging to Montalbano.I can definitely recommend this one with absolutely no reservations. It will definitely appeal to all readers of crime fiction, from those who read cozy novels on through noir fans. I admire Camilleri's writing talent, and can't wait to get through the entire series.
The third Montalbano book and the third I’ve read in just over three months. Two things are happening: 1) I find I’m getting a little addicted to them and 2) I find I’m getting a little irritated by them...this is not a good combination. One problem is that I find the detectives in detective fiction smug know-it-alls. (My favourite detective stories tend to be ones where the detective gets it wrong: Trent’s Last Case or films such as The Conversation or Night Moves.) Of course Montalbano has his negative characteristics so he is not just a wonder guy: he’s a grumpy sod who takes his bad moods out on is subordinates, he is bullying and unfair to his second-in-command, he doesn’t meet the responsibilities of his personal relationships, he is emotionally childish...but I’m not convinced that any of this is really investigated, it fills out the character and gives him a certain sense of life beyond just being a detective. But finally he is the detective who solves the case and we can forgive him everything because of that...all the negative characteristics are finally personality quirks. (As is his constant gastronomic enthusiasm: I know many people delight in the lists of Sicilian dishes, but I get a bit irritated by them.) Compared to the first two in the series, the plot of The Snack Thief is more of a standard detective plot: Montalbano starts to investigate one case which leads onto another bigger case...it’s all professional enough. There is the engaging humour and Montalbano stands up to the secret services which shows at heart he is a noble guy. It’s fun enough but it all stays safely within the conventions of the detective story...but that’s why we read detective stories.
What do You think about The Snack Thief (2003)?
A surprisingly topical plot to this book with Tunisian immigrants off the shores of Sicily. The first puzzle is an Agatha Christie style 'death in an elevator' as Montalbano avoids taking another simpler murder. Inevitably the case develops to include wider matters including the 'snack thief'and the secret services. There's a thread running through the book about fathers and sons, and Montalbano is challenged by the prospect of having a boy in his 'family' as well as his relationship with his dying father. A good read, though I continue to wonder why the inspector's colleagues don't bump him off, as he is so egocentric in his working!
—Derek Winterburn
First, my compliments to Stephen Sartarelli on his translation and notes compiled for the reader to understand every nuance of Camilleri's written word.Some say that the pace of the book is slow, but, I enjoyed this differing flavor on a detective novel. Camilleri is able to immerse us in the world of Inspector Montalbano: his love and enjoyment of mediterranean food coupled with a detailed description of the sea and the warm and rocky Sicilian geography. With a mix of humor, cynicism, compassion, and love of good food, Montalbano goes into battle against the powerful and the corrupt who are determined to block his path. This is a"delicious" discovery for mystery afficionados and fiction lovers.
—Rose
This is the third book in Andrea Camilleri’s crime/mystery series featuring Inspector Montalbano. I love how cynical Montalbano can be, how he thinks things through in his own way...at times appearing to be heartless and mean without reason. But there is always a reason! Also love all the “food” talk. Find myself wanting to cook the Italian foods that are mentioned often throughout each of Camilleri’s books.Jacket notes: “When an elderly man is stabbed to death in an elevator and a crewman on an Italian fishing trawler is machine-gunned by a Tunisian patrol boat off Sicily's coast, only Montalbano, with his keen insight into human nature, suspects the link between the two incidents. His investigation leads to the beautiful Karima, an impoverished housecleaner and sometime prostitute, whose young son is caught stealing other schoolchildren's midmorning snacks. But when Karima disappears, the young snack thief's life-as well as his own-is endangered when Montalbano exposes a viper's nest of government and international intrigue.”
—Monica
