Esta entrada es bilingüe, para ver la versión española desplazarse por la pantalla hacia abajo
Translated by Stephen Sartarelli (2009). Originally published in Italian as Le ali della sfinge (Sellerio, 2006). Penguin Books, 2009. 240 pages. ISBN: 978-0-14-311660-8.
The publisher blurb reads: “Things are not going well for Inspector Salvo Montalbano. His long-distance relationship with Livia (better understood if you have read August Heat first) is on the rocks, he feels himself getting even older and he’s growing tired of the violence in his job.
Then the dead body of a young woman is found in an illegal dump, with half her face missing. Her identity at first unknown; a tattoo of a sphinx moth on her left shoulder links her with three other girls bearing the same mark, all recent Russian immigrants to Italy. Victims of an underworld sex trade, these girls have been rescued from the Mafia night-club circuit by a Catholic charity organization. The problem is, the other girls can’t help Montalbano with his enquiries. They are all missing.
As his investigations progresses, it seems that not everyone wants Montalbano to discover what really lies behind the organisation’s charitable façade. And not only does Montalbano have a case to solve, he has a demanding stomach to feed, and he must save his foundering relationship with Livia ..”
Once again Camilleri presents a new instalment on his series featuring Inspector Montalbano. On top of that I’ve had the opportunity to read the excellent English translation by Stephen Sartarelli, another fascinating experience. Fortunately, although I have not read the entire series in order, I had read before August Heat, highly recommended for a better understanding of Salvo relationship with Livia. But what can I say about this book. Montalbano is my favourite crime fiction character today. A philosopher with an exquisite taste for fine food. And Camilleri’s novels are delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.
Links
- Penguin Books (USA)
- Panmacmillan (UK)
- Official website of Andrea Camilleri (in Italian)
- Sellerio editore
- Andrea Camilleri Reader Website (in German, English, and Italian)
- Andrea Camilleri at Wikipedia
- From Montelusa to Vigata. On the trail of Andrea Camilleri and Inspector Montalbano (in English)
- The Wings of the Sphinx review by Maxine at Euro Crime
- The Wings of the Sphinx review by Karen at Euro Crime
- The Wings of the Sphinx review by Norman at Crime Scraps
- The Wings of the Sphinx review by Peter at Detectives Beyond Borders
- The Wings of the Sphinx review by Gloria Feit at Spinetingler
- The Wings of the Sphinx review by Sue Magee at The Bookbag
- Appreciating Camilleri (Part One) by Norman at Crime Scraps
- Appreciating Camilleri (Part Two) by Norman at Crime Scraps
Las alas de la esfinge de Andrea Camilleri
La propaganda editorial dice: “Las cosas no le van bien al Comisario Salvo Montalbano. Su relación a larga distancia con Livia (se entiende mejor si se ha leído antes Ardores de agosto) se encuentra encallada, él se siente que está más envejecido y se encuentra cansado de la violencia en su trabajo.
En esto el cadáver de una mujer joven aparece en un vertedero ilegal, le falta la mitad de su rostro. Su identidad, en un primer momento, desconocida. Sólo el tatuaje de una mariposa nocturna en el hombro izquierdo la relaciona con otras tres jóvenes que tienen la misma marca, todas inmigrantes rusas que acaban de llegar a Italia. Víctimas del comercio sexual, estas jóvenes han sido rescatados del circulo mafioso de los clubes de alterne por una organización católica caritativa. El problema es que ninguna de las tres jóvenes puede ayudar a Montalbano en su investigación. Las tres han desaparecido.
A medida que avanza su investigación, parece que no todo el mundo quiere que Montalbano descubra lo que realmente hay detrás de la fachada de esta organización caritativa. Y Montalbano no tiene sólo un caso que resolver, tiene un estómago exigente al que alimentar y tiene que salvar del naufragio su relación con Livia .. “
Una vez más Camilleri presenta una nueva entrega de su serie protagonizada por el Comisario Montalbano. Además he tenido la oportunidad de leer la excelente traducción inglesa de Stephen Sartarelli, otra experiencia fascinante. Afortunadamente, aunque no he leído toda la serie por orden, había leído antes Ardores de agosto, muy recomendable para una mejor comprensión de la relación de Salvo con Livia. Pero ¿qué puedo decir de este libro? Montalbano es mi personaje de ficción favorito hoy en día en las novelas de crimen y misterio. Un filósofo con un gusto exquisito por la buena comida. Y las novelas de Camilleri son una gozada. Disfruté mucho con este libro. Altamente recomendado.
Enlaces
A Crime is Afoot 
>Thanks for the links, Jose Ignacio.
>You are welcome, Norman.
>José Ignacio – Thanks, as always, for this fine review. Like you, I am a fan of Salvo Montlabano, so I am so glad you liked this novel as much as you did :-). And I also thank you for the links :-).
>Delicious is a good word for the Camilleri books (well the one I have read).
>I appreciate this review..especially with the links. I have read number of Camilleri's novels and feel like a close friend of Inspector Montalbano. I understand that there has been a TV series on RAI based on these stories. I attempted to watch it via RAI tv on the computer, but unfortunately my Italian is not nearly proficient enough to follow the dialogue.