From the Bookshelf of DC Public Library…

[close] I read The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri. It’s set in Sicily and I chose it because after reading the Girl With the Dragon Tatoo books in quick succession, I was looking for something warmer and lighter. While this didn’t turn out to be exactly what I was looking for, I enjoyed it all the same. The heat in the book was oppressive, so instead of putting me in a vacation mindset, it heightened the feelings of claustrophobia felt by the people living in and around the small town of Vigata, where the story is set. When a prominent local politician is found dead in a car with his pants around his ankles, Inspector Salvo Montalbano unearths secrets, both public and private, while trying to discover the truth. The details of this mystery were not particularly compelling for me, but Montalbano was. He is both of and above Vigata- able to gain the trust of those he meets, and see the motivations behind their every move. He also eats fabulous meals. I would recommend this to anyone who likes sparse writing, Italian food, and cares more about character than plot.
-Kate

I also picked Andrew Camilleri's The Shape of Water and agree with all that Kate said. I actually rarely read international crime so I was happy that I enjoyed my selection. I will be reading more! I watched the Inspector Montalbano series on TV forever ago, so I hoping that his character was written (and translated) well and I was not disappointed. Montalbano may be one of the few non-corrupt people in his small Sicilian town but he certainly does not come across as sanctimonious. Instead, he is charming, clever, and respected by everyone – from the pimp on the corner and the garbage collector, to the local judge and bishop. The food, the people, and the landscape are what drive this mystery. I agree with Kate that the plot is not incredible, but it is not boring by any means. Also, I was often hungry while reading it. Yummmm Italy!
-Bobbie