The Snack Thief. Andrea Camilleri (Writer), Stephen Sartareelli (Translator) Picador (1996)

Compelling, charming and very engaging Sicilian crime story. Inspector Montalbano is determined to avoid any involvement with the case of a crew member of a fishing boat who is killed by a Tunisian patrol boat. The case of an elderly man found fatally stabbed in the lift of his apartment block is much more interesting. As the investigation into the murder unfolds, the victims life becomes much more complicated and the actions of his cleaner become very significant. The investigation twists and turns and becomes emeshed in very dangerous national and international security. The conclusion is wholly satisfying, arising naturally from the story and delivering exactly the punch it should.
Frequently in crime fiction the lives of the leading players are put in at the margins of thier professional work, here the investigation has to push very hard to find space in the larger context of Montalbano's life and in particular his pleasure in eating.
This is wonderful as Andrea Camilleri provides a deep and complex context for the investigation and allows Montalbano to truly reveal himself. In doing so he does not crowd out the rest of the cast, rather they are given the room to show off themselves and capture the reqade's attention.
The plot mechanics take their force from the context and they reveal a darkness in the Sicilian sunshine that is cold and powerful. There is sharp humour but no one is comic relief, not even the obvious comic relief player.
Charm is a tricky quality in a crime story, it runs counter to the grain of the genre. Montalbano is not a charming man, he is prickly and difficult,his deep pleasure in eating is a pleasure for the reader. Charm comes from the sly commentry of the author on the story, the cast and the context.Such confident storytelling with the lightest touch is a demonstration of tremendous depth of talent. There are no rules for talent and  Andrea Camilleri proves that charm is no barrier to being gripping and thoughtful.
Stephen Sartareelli transparent translation and very useful notes at the back of the book are  wonderful, they allow the full, rich, flavour of the story to rise up and entice the reader.