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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 853.914
EAN num: 9780143112037
ISBN number: 0143112031
Label: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 256
Printing Date: April 24, 2007
Publishing house: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Sale Popularity Level: 45199
Studio: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The latest mystery in Andrea Camilleri’s internationally bestselling Inspector Montalbano series
Winning fans in Europe and America for their dark sophistication and dry humor, Andrea Camilleri’s crime novels are classics of the genre. Set once again in Sicily, The Patience of the Spider pits Inspector Montalbano against his greatest foe yet: the weight of his own years. Still recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in Rounding the Mark, he must overcome self-imposed seclusion and waxing self-doubt to penetrate a web of hatred and secrets in pursuit of the strangest culprit he’s ever hunted. A mystery unlike any other, this emotionally taut story brings the Montalbano saga to a captivating crossroads.
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Rated by buyers 
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"The Patience Of The Spider" by Andrea Camilleri.
Translated by Stephen Sartarelli. Penguin Books, 2007.
Over the past few years, I have submitted a few reviews on the "Inspector Montalbano Series" by Andrea Camilleri. I have always been impressed by the manner in which the author carries the story along by the use of dialogue, and this book is no exception.
The Inspector speaks to the victim and you learn a little about the plot. The Inspector questions a policeman about the scene of the crime, and another puzzle piece is filled in. In this present work, "The Patience Of The Spider", you even have Inspector Montalbano talking to himself as he recovers from a gunshot wound. Marvelous dialogue.
But then, think about it. Andrea Camilleri, the author, writes in Italian. His collaborator, Stephen Sartarelli, translates everything into good English. I sense a touch of Brooklyn, or at least, New York City, in the translated English. So, this marvelous dialogue is doubly impressive. As you read, you get the sense of (perhaps) disgust of the Inspector with the bureaucratic inertia in the police, the TV stations, and in the judicial system. The annoyance of the Inspector comes across distinctly in the written words, translated from the Italian into English. Marvelous.
Dialogue lets you know that the motor bike of the kidnapped girl, (Susanna), is pointing the wrong way on the road. More conversation is focused on the location of her helmet. Then, you begin to wonder if this is truly the usual kind of kidnapping in Sicily (if there are typical kidnappings anywhere...).
As usual, in the Inspector Montalbano mysteries, the reader does not get a hint at the origin of the title until late in the book. This did not happen until page 207 of this book, which is only 244 pages long. You will have to read the book to discover who is the spider sitting in the web, waiting for the prey... with the patience of a spider.
Rated by buyers -
The Sicilian Inspector Montalbano is still recovering from the gunshot he sustained in "Rounding the Mark" when he's called in on a kidnapping case; a pretty university student snatched off her moped on a country path. But it wasn't her usual route, her abandoned bike is facing in the wrong direction and her family has lost all their money.
The reader may solve this one before the Inspector (who's still a bit off his game), but no matter. This is a witty, character-driven series and the acerbic Montalbano is going through some changes. The long recuperation has made him a bit more introspective and conscious of his age and his girlfriend Livia's lengthy sojourn with him has not been entirely smooth. Particularly since it deprives him of the marvelous cooking of his housekeeper (she and Livia don't get along). Fans will also miss the mouthwatering food this series is known for, but the Sicilian milieu is as transporting as ever.
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This is a wonderful and delightful mystery. In fact, the whole series is out of the ordinary and a unique sort of reading experience. Highly recommended for the thoughtful reader. Minimal violence but lots of thoughtful suspense.
Rated by buyers 
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Inspector Montalbano was wounded in Rounding the Mark, and The Patience of the Spider begins with Montalbano being on leave to recuperate. Livia has even returned to his side to take care of his, banishing the ministrations of his housekeeper and marvelous cook, Adelina Cirrincio. Montalbano is concerned that the doctors will find out that he has a heart condition, but that doesn't happen. Except for occasional love-making (which Livia isn't anxious for), Montalbano is leading a circumscribed life . . . even eating healthy, low-calorie foods. Bah!
Naturally, it is a relief when Montalbano is called temporarily back to duty as a kidnapping overwhelms the local force. But the case is not to be his; a colleague comes from a place where kidnappings are common events.
The kidnapped woman, Susanna Mistretta, is a pretty young university student . . . and her family doesn't have any money. Everyone fears the worst, that this is a sexual crime rather than extortion. And initially, there's no news from the kidnappers.
That set of circumstances seems strange to Montalbano. As he investigates, more little things bother him. Why is her motorbike facing in the wrong direction? Where is her helmet? As time passes, the little things seem to suggest of shadow of something else. What could it be?
But it's annoying to work on the case, because Livia alternately berates him for not doing enough . . . and for not telling her about every little development.
Will the young woman be saved? Will she get back in time to say good-bye to her dying mother? Your heart will be wrung as you consider those elements.
The story lacks the usual Montalbano zest for several reasons. He isn't able to indulge his gourmet and gourmand tendencies so the food side of the story is thin. The kidnapping's complications also reveal themselves in a very transparent fashion. I think you'll figure out the puzzle pretty early in the book. Montalbano also has fewer humorous interludes with the other members of the police. The energy, humor, and suspense are just at a low ebb. It's a pleasant mystery, but it's one that won't kick yourself if you don't read it.
The indirect development of the character of the kidnapped woman is quite well done. That was obviously the writing challenge that appealed to Mr. Camilleri as he wrote this book.
Rated by buyers -
What Montalbano should have been doing was resting, keeping the love nest warm with Livia tucked up against him, his official reason for withdrawing from society had something to do with the gun shot wound he received from his pervious job, but there was no doubt about it, this morning he could hear the telephone ringing. There were two options; the first, if he ignored the ringing he could carry on with his natural blissful way of life with Livia! Or secondly if he picked up, work, it only meant trouble, Montalbano reached for the phone.
One hour later he was standing at the scene of the crime, a kidnapping they said. A very pretty girl Susanna Mistretta, who lived with her father and mother in a country villa three miles outside of Vigata town. Susanna had gone to study at friends during the day but had not returned home as usual that evening. Her father of course was worried, time became late and he went searching for his daughter, but it was Susanna's boyfriend Francesco Lipari who finally spotted her abandoned moped about two hundred yards from her parents house. Montalbano was quite certain something had happened to the girl, as he made a closer inspection of the scene, it was the front wheel of the moped that clinched it, why was it facing towards Vigata? Backwards! It looked like it cared it was going the wrong way! As far as Montalbano was concerned this was his case, he'd just seen foul play.
This would be the Eighth book in the series and Camilleri has made a few slight changes with this one, which is charming and crafty. His given to us direct clues of which suspect could have done this crime and his done so quite blatantly, his thrown predictable right at us, but what Camilleri does not give away and therefore keeps us guessing till the last is the Psychology behind the crime, his showing how Montalbano forms his ideas quietly and goes about gathering evidence to support his facts and only then will he let us have the final verdict.
Some may also be disappointed that this time around Camilleri has left out some of that mouthwatering great-flavored foods but instead has spent more time on another intriguing passionate ingredients, Livia and Montalbano's relationship. Livia's presence and character begins to form nicely throughout this storyline remaining Montalbano's rock. Always happy to adjust her life to take care of her man, they argue but in a healthy way of dealing with one another, she takes the no nonsense approach in his darker moods but does understand what his trying to achieve in his world. Their relationship has the up's and down's of a long distance love, Nec tecum nec sine te - Neither with or without you.
Inspector Montalbano character is just fantastic to read, for his questionable brainstorms and unorthodox subversive opinions. Montalbano, a man approaching the end of his career, the rebel, the thinker, not afraid to explore all areas even into obsession. Sorting through a web of lies to find logic, searching for truth.
Andrea Camilleri has written a wonderful Montalbano mystery series. Having read all in the translation series, I love the characterization and language the usage of dialogue that has been kept real with sharp wit and ironic comedy moments, the sly comments on Italian life and culture keep things for me interesting and amusing.
A special mention to poet Stephen Sartarelli, I'm thoroughly enjoying his clear translation of each book and for the informative notes given at the back on wording. Thank you.
A Wonderful Read.
Andrea Bowhill
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