Sometimes I buy books not because I know that they are a good read but because I like the look of them. It might be the weight or feel of the volume or it might be the cover design but sometimes there’s just something about the book that draws me to it. This was the case a while back when I first saw the paperback editions of Andrea Camilleri‘s Inspector Montalbano novels (translated into English by Stephen Sartarelli). “The Snack Thief” is the third Montalbano novel. Like the rest of the series (so far at least) the action is set in Sicily and although there is a crime (or two) to solve the books are really about the quirky characters of the Sicilian police and the bizarre goings on of the quirky Sicilian people. I enjoy these books because they are laced with subtle humour and charm. When I read them I feel like I should go to Sicily, but, perhaps surprisingly, it’s not the Mediterranean scenery that attracts me, it’s the food. Montalbano just adores traditional Sicilian food and throughout the books he is fed well by his housekeeper and by the chefs in the various cafes and restaurants he visits. These books make me want to eat food.
Just for completeness, I should add that The Snack Thief involves a murder, a small boy who steals other children’s lunch snacks, a snuggling racket, a secret service plot, another murder and lots of good food.
Did I remember to mention the food?
Tim O'Hare 