Search - The Shape of Water (Inspector Montalbano, Bk 1)

The novel that introduced series hero Salvo Montalbano has rough spots. Near the beginning and in the middle, passages seem stilted, with sentences made lengthy by adjective clauses and appositives. Also, the banter between Salvo and his buddy Gege comes off like "What's Gross" jokes I used to tell and hear when I was twelve. What makes up for literary grammar and foul talk is the information about Sicily's social and political culture in the 1990s and experimentation with narrative – not like a mystery’s safe, easy to gobble prose. I'm glad I read it but I came to the novel already a Montalbano fan.

Really good book, gives you a bitter sweet portrait of life in Sicily (home of my ancestors). Lots of twists and turns in the plot, great character development. I can't wait to read more!