The food-loving Italian Inspector Montalbano returns for his 19th outing in two cases – one where a robbery ends with a kiss, the other where a farmer suddenly finds a lock on a barn door that isn’t his and shouldn’t be there. He’s distracted, falling under the spell of a beautiful gallery owner, putting at risk his relationship with long-term girlfriend Livia.
Recurring elements such as Catarella’s wrong pronunciation of names and Mimi’s womanising make you feel among old friends, but Montalbano’s reflections on ageing and loneliness bring an added dimension for long-term fans.
If you haven’t read one before or seen the series on BBC Four, there is still much to enjoy without worrying about the backstory.
