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nimishdubey
When you talk of great detectives in fiction, you get to see a pretty predictable list: Sherlock Holmes and Poirot from the classical crowd, Morse, Wallander, Hole and Bosche from more modern readers of the genre. One name that we think most people will not utter, but which very much belongs there is: Savio Montalbano. You have to read about him, and well, if you can access translations, watch the series featuring him. This is one addictive you might not admire, but you will definitely love.
Let's get one thing straight: Montalbano is not your routine genius, action hero detective. He is not even heroic. He is just an inspector in his late thirties in the fictional Italian town of Vigata. Yes, he is solving crime, but he is also dealing with local politics, trying to maintain a long distance relationship with his lover, Livia. He also has his hands full with his colleagues in the police station, which include a constable who wrecks language and grammar at will and another who cannot keep his hands off the opposite sex. Round that off with plenty of elements of the famous Italian underworld and you have quite a cocktail. And thanks to author Andrea Camilieiri's very skilful and deft handling, a very intoxicating one too.
For the Montalbano book or TV series is really not about the tension around solving crime, but simply the slices of life that surround it all. The books are drenched in humane warmth and gentle humour. In many ways, this is like a super refined version of India's own Inspector Ghote, made immortal by HRF Keating (more on him later). These are books that are more about life than crime, and while those who prefer grittier and gory narratives might find these a little too gentle for their liking, we cannot help but fall in love with the well-intentioned if not super efficient Montalbano.
You are not going to be turning pages over feverishly to discover the next twist in the plot, but you will instead simply keep reading for the next moment to be touched when someone tries to save a criminal who's biggest crime was being poor or for the next smile when Montalbano's colleague butchers a message. The humour is dark, the humanity is gentle and even the plots are nuanced. This is literature wearing a mask of detective fiction, and you will love it, unless you are an action freak!
There are more than two dozen Inspector Montalbano books, and while they can be read in any order, it is always best to begin from, well, the beginning. So if you want to get into Montalbano's world (and I certainly recommend that you do), start with The Shape of the Water. You will find yourself drowning in the world of Vigata in no time. And won't call for help!