The Cook of the Halcyon

Inspector Montalbano of the Vigata police station in Sicily has been called to a small factory making ship hulls due to a dispute with laid-off workers. He finds one worker has hung himself after being laid off. The owner Mr. Trincanato isn’t particularly sympathetic to the workers, but he’s known as a gambler and womanizer. Later, Montalbano notices a large sailing vessel, the Halcyon, in port, and it appears that Trincanato is responsible for some of the ship’s supplies. Montalbano suspects this boat is either a casino or a brothel, but he’s sent on mandatory vacation before he has time to investigate. If that weren’t enough, while he’s away, he’s fired, and his team of loyal officers disbanded. Montalbano is blindsided but determined to find out what’s going on at headquarters and on the Halcyon.

Camilleri has again crafted a fun and memorable mystery that showcases Montalbano in a way we haven’t seen him before. It also highlights Sicilian politics and bureaucracy. And of course, wherever we find Montalbano, there is sure to be a profusion of Sicilian culinary delights. With wonderful scenes and descriptions, I think fans of this series will be pleased with the complex, multilayered case of The Cook of the Halcyon.