Review. The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri

[d3i6amo7nds]

Set in Sicily in the fictional town of Vigata, this is one of a series of detective stories by Camilleri. Inspector Salvo Montalbano is a quirky, engaging character who has his own sense of justice ansd isn't afraid to use unconventional methods, such as bluff and blackmail to achieve his ends. Women find him attractive, and he doesn't lack opportunities, but has a long distance relationship with Livia, who lives in Genoa and makes occasional trips to Sicily. His main love though, seems to be for food!
Much of the interest lies with the characters in the Police HQ, the womanising Mimi, always in friendly competition with his superior, Fazio, ever meticulous and loyal and Catarella the resident buffoon who is employed on the switch board.
The Snack Thief sounds an unlikely title for a detective story, it refers to the discovery of a little boy who is stealing other children's snacks. At first this doesn't seem important but then Montalbano realises he provides a link between the stabbing of a man in the lift of his block of flats and the shooting of a Tunisian man on a fishing trawler.
The piecing together of the mystery and questioning of suspects is fascinating. Camilleri's
humour shines through in many ways, some of the odd characters who are questioned, and always Catarella, who introduces people to his superior "Personally, in person".
There is a human element too as Montalbano is moved by the plight of the little boy and determines to win for him what is rightfully his.
This is one of a series but they can be read in any order.I recommend it for an engrossing read.

[gali]

The series is on my TBR list.