The Patience of the Spider

An Inspector Montalbano Mystery

By: Andrea Camilleri

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Winning fans in Europe and America for their dark sophistication and dry humor, Andrea Camilleri’s crime novels are classics of the genre. Set once again in Sicily, The Patience of the Spider pits Inspector Montalbano against his greatest foe yet: the weight of his own years. Still recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in Rounding the Mark, he must overcome self-imposed seclusion and waxing self-doubt to penetrate a web of hatred and secrets in pursuit of the strangest culprit he’s ever hunted. A mystery unlike any other, this emotionally taut story brings the Montalbano saga to a captivating crossroads.

©2004 Sellerio Editore; Translation 2007 by Stephen Sartarelli (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Delivers what fans have come to expect: a perfectly blended mix of comedy and melancholy, and a hero whose joie de vivre is perpetually under siege from an absurd world.” ( Booklist)

“The witty writing and acerbic protagonist should appeal to fans of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Typical Montalbano

Which means, of course, typically excellent. But don’t jump into the series at this point; go back and start at the beginning. While every installment presents a unique, satisfying mystery, the real meat of the books – the characters and their evolving relationships – is one unbroken story. And Grover Gardener tells it perfectly.

Montalbano does it again!

Montalbano becomes involved in an unusual case even as he is recovering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder from his last case and while his amore, Livia, remains on leave from her job and is still at his home. Unlike his usual cases, this is a kidnapping and the detective assigned to the case asks for his help. With characteristic wit, dry humor, and self deprecation the plot unfolds and is very convoluted and unusual in every way. Another fine mystery solved!
Grover Gardner is perfect to narrate this series.
Stephen Sartarelli is the perfect translator!

Another terrific story and engaging performance

Andrea Camilleri and Grover Gardner are a perfect team. I can't get enough of their collaboration!

Enjoyable but not up to usual standards.

I like Camilleri's mysteries about Inspector Montalbano but this is a fun read, it is below average for this series. Who the villain is isn't too hard to figure out, although his precise motivation remains hidden for a long time. Grover Gardner performs his usual high quality narration.