The Scent of the Night

In Andrea Camilleri's 'The Scent of the Night,' the sixth installment of the Inspector Montalbano series, the Sicilian detective finds himself embroiled in a perplexing case that tests his patience and wits. The story kicks off with an angry octogenarian holding a terrified secretary at gunpoint, forcing Montalbano into action. The core mystery revolves around the disappearance of the secretary's boss, a financial advisor who has vanished along with billions of lire entrusted to him by the trusting citizens of Vigàta. Adding another layer of intrigue, the advisor's young colleague has also gone missing, whose uncle coincidentally plans to build on the very site of Montalbano's cherished olive tree. Navigating the treacherous waters of local corruption, personal relationships, and the usual bureaucratic hurdles, the food-loving, commitment-phobic Montalbano, aided by his loyal and eccentric team, must unravel the threads of deceit. This 'comic detective novel' promises another delicious investigation, served up with Camilleri's signature style and a healthy dose of Montalbano's internal monologues and exasperation.