Montalbano’s First Case and Other Stories

The Inspector Montalbano, Book 0.5

By: Andrea Camilleri

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

From the author of the New York Times best-selling Inspector Montalbano mystery series come 21 short stories spanning the beloved detective's career.

Inspector Montalbano has charmed readers and listeners in 19 popular novels. In Montalbano's First Case and Other Stories, Andrea Camilleri has selected 21 short stories, written with his trademark wit and humor, that follow Italy's famous detective through highlight cases of his career. From the title story, featuring a young Deputy Montalbano newly assigned to Vigàta, to "Montalbano Says No", in which the inspector makes a late-night call to Camilleri himself to refuse an outlandish case, this volume is an essential addition to any fan's collection and a wonderful way to introduce listeners to the internationally best-selling series.

©1998, 1999, 2002, 2008 Mondadori Libri SpA, Milano. Translation © 2016 by Stephen Sartarelli (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Interesting Stories

This was my first introduction to the inspector, and I really enjoyed the stories. Was put off with the bad language, though.

Not Just Good Mysteries; Good Stories

There is something so natural and easy about these stories—and about the other Montalbano collection I’m familiar with, Death at Sea—that they must have involved far more labor on the part of their author than their style and tone suggest. There’s a touch of Elmore Leonard’s hard-earned effortlessness here; or it may be the other way around. All I know is, unlike some other mysteries I’ve listened to, I didn’t find myself anxiously docketing clues and suspects, times when and motives for. In their easy-going southern Italian way, these stories simply happen. Per Camilerri's comments in his introduction, I enjoyed them first and foremost as stories about people and places. The crime was an added attraction.

Grover Gardener again hands in his usual superb performance. Some have caviled at his assignment of accents, but somehow that doesn’t bother me. As with his performances of Ross Macdonald’s Lew Archer novels, his matter-of-fact tone is the perfect vehicle for these simple, subtle stories.

A collection indeed

Like all collections a bit spotty. Some good, some excellent, all in their way Montalbano.

Good police work?

These stories are intricate. I had a hard time at first listening to the monotone voice. I adjusted the speed to 1.1x and it helped. I wonder if any real policemen go to all the trouble to find out what really happens as this detective does in this book. I like how the author drives your imagination along not revealing but hinting the path the detective is going. Will definitely try his other books. Reading the auntie poldie stories first helped with details about the people and locations in sicily.

Montalbano é un’uomo Italiano.

Love Camileri’s stories and Sartarelli’s translations. I didn’t understand that Caterella’s jerky speech was a way to indicate the Sicilian accent until I listened to the audiobook. I will miss the new books from both these guys. Glad I have one more to look forward to. Mr Gardner on this one has excellent Italian pronunciation
Complementi!