Book Review: The Shape of Water

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

The Shape of Water     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Andrea Camilleri
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Inspector Montalbano # 1

'The Shape of Water', the first Inspector Montalbano novel, introduces readers to the inspector, and to Sicily. Sicily tends to have a reputation for corruption and organized crime, but Inspector Montalbano is an honest police officer, deeply moral in a very imperfect world. In this book, as in the others, Montalbano not only solves mysteries, he also has to find ways to set things straight in a world in which the obvious, open, legal methods may not work.

This novel begins with the discovery of the body of a prominent local politician in an embarrassing location and condition. However, it is not a matter for extensive investigation - the autopsy reveals the man died of natural causes - and Inspector Montalbano is under considerable pressure to close the case. Some aspects of the case seem a little wrong to him, and he continues his investigation, uncovering far more than a rather embarrassing, although natural, death.

This is an excellent novel. The inspector - a well-developed character; with both faults and strengths - catches the interest of the reader. Another strength of this novel is the portrayal of Sicily and its inhabitants. The reader is left with the feeling that she knows the ocean, the bare, rocky scenery, and the food.

Cheryl - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Cheryl - RAM