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The Cook of the Halcyon

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About this listen

The Cook of the Halcyon is the twenty-seventh Inspector Montalbano mystery from the master of Sicilian crime, Andrea Camilleri.

Moments later the all-white schooner, which looked like a hospital ship, began to pass ever so slowly before him, as if wanting to show itself off in all its beauty. The name on the prow said: Halcyon.

Two deaths - the suicide of a recently fired worker and the murder of an unscrupulous businessman - lead Inspector Montalbano to the Halcyon, a mysterious ship that visits Vigàta's port each day. With very few crewmen, no passengers, and a stern large enough to land a helicopter, it piques the Inspector's interest straight away.

And whilst all this is going on, a rare trip to Genoa to visit Livia ends with the Vigàta police department in disarray, and Inspector Montalbano's position as the head of the commisariat in jeopardy. It will be up to Montalbano to fix the damage done.

 Crime Thrillers International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime Thriller Suspense

Critic reviews

Montalbano’s colleagues, chance encounters, Sicilian mores, even the contents of his fridge are described with the wit and gusto that make this narrator the best company in crime fiction today
Among the most exquisitely crafted pieces of crime writing available today . . . Simply superb
One of fiction’s greatest detectives and Camilleri is one of Europe’s greatest crime writers
All stars
Most relevant
fans of inspector montalbano will enjoy this penultimate tale. twists and turns . Close your eyes and go on an adventure.

gripping

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love all this series bit this one seemed too short, and a rather overly fantastic storyline. not much on the personal front with Livia! Still enjoyable

enjoyable but short!

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The master story teller Andrea Camilleri does not disappoint with his final adventure for Montalbano.

Montalbano’s Farewell

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I have loved Camilleri’s Montalbano books for very many years so it’s sad to have to write that this book is nowhere near the high standard he set over those years. It loses its way and is implausible and near the end I didn’t carry on reading, it filled me with too much sadness that this had been published as it’s not representative of his work at all. A financial decision to publish only??

Sad to say, very poor

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I have now read and/or listened to every Montalbano book except Riccardino as I am a real fan. i advise you not to bother with this one. The only redeeming feature is Mark Meadows' narration, which is excellent as always.

A ridiculous storyline which makes Montalbano and co appear as emty-headed idiots and clowns. So very disappointing of Camilleri to allow such inferior work to be published in view of his particularly excellent early books.

Very poor- from a Montalbano fan

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