This is the eighth book in Camilleri’s series about a Sicilian detective. They are fun police procedurals that always include a bit of humor and tempting Italian food.

This time around it’s a kidnapping. Inspector Montalbano is on leave after getting shot at the end of the previous book. He’s not the lead on the case but is asked to return to duty to assist. Because he’s not running the investigation it allows him some leeway to do his own thing on the side.

There are plenty of twists and turns and of course Montalbano figures it out but not without a couple of arguments with his love interest and a few delicious sounding meals along the way.

The audio editions of this series narrated by Grover Gardner are quite enjoyable. ( )

Una nuevo caso de Montalbano. El comisario Salvo Montalbano se encuentra convaleciente de las heridas recibidas en su último caso cuando recibe la noticia del secuestro de una joven. Aunque no está al frente de la investigación, Montalbano no puede evitar preguntarse si el hecho de que la familia de la joven perdiera su fortuna años atrás de forma repentina tiene relación con el caso. Todos sus libros ocupan habitualmente el primer puesto en las listas de éxitos italianas. Andrea Camilleri es el escritor más popular de Italia y uno de los autores más leídos de Europa. El comisario Montalbano protagoniza esta serie de gran éxito, que consta ya de nueve títulos.

Inspector Montalbano, still recovering from a minor wound, is called to what appears to be a kidnapping. He assists in the case, formally being handled by another detective, She disappeared on her way home after a study session. She took a different route than usual, her bike is parked in a wrong position, and her helmet is missing. The family's financial situation is well known although the girl has an uncle with hopes of a future political run capable of paying a hefty ransom. Montalbano pieces together seemingly trivial details to arrive at the correct solution. As always Grover Gardner does an excellent job narrating this installment. ( )

"Può un omo, arrivato oramà alla fine della sò carriera, arribbillarsi a uno stato di cose che ha contribuito a mantiniri?". Il commissario Montalbano sente il peso degli anni. E della solitudine. [...] "
La pazienza del ragno" è un giallo anomalo. Senza "delitto " e spargimenti di sangue. A meno che delitto cruento non venga considerato lo splendore di vite costrette a consumarsi e a sprecarsi nell'odio. Nell'attesa di una catarsi che [...] metta in calma le coscienze e le riposizioni nel gioco delle parti: dopo che l'agitazione "teatrale" della "ragnatela", pazientemente tessuta dall'odio, ha esaurito la funzione strategica di "menzogna" che sulla scena ha portato, irretendolo, il vero colpevole". (Salvatore Silvano Nigro).

Source: Amazon - January 11, 2022

A pretty young girl is kidnapped riding her scooter home after studying with a classmate. Inspector Montalbano is convelescing from his gunshot wounds, and is dragged in to assist in the case. Eventually, a large ransom is demanded from her family, which has been devastated by the financial trickery of her now-rich uncle. The uncle, who has political aspirations, is shamed into paying the ransom for the safe return of the girl. As always, Montalbano using his unorthodox policing style, figures out the mystery. ( )