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The Shape of Water

The first thrilling mystery in the darkly funny Sicilian crime series

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The Shape of Water

By: Andrea Camilleri, Stephen Sartarelli - translator
Narrated by: Mark Meadows
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About this listen

The Shape of Water is the first in Andrea Camilleri's wry, brilliantly compelling Sicilian crime series, featuring Inspector Montalbano.

The goats of Vigàta once grazed on the trash-strewn site still known as the Pasture. Now local enterprise of a different sort flourishes: drug dealers and prostitutes of every flavour. But their discreet trade is upset when two employees of the Splendour Refuse Collection Company discover the body of engineer Silvio Luparello, one of the local movers and shakers, apparently deceased in flagrante at the Pasture. The coroner's verdict is death from natural causes – refreshingly unusual for Sicily.

But Inspector Salvo Montalbano, as honest as he is streetwise and as scathing to fools and villains as he is compassionate to their victims, is not ready to close the case – even though he's being pressured by Vigàta's police chief, judge, and bishop.

Picking his way through a labyrinth of high-comedy corruption, delicious meals, vendetta firepower, and carefully planted false clues, Montalbano can be relied on, whatever the cost, to get to the heart of the matter.

The Shape of Water is followed by the second in this phenomenal series, The Terracotta Dog.

 Crime Thrillers International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Thriller Crime Suspense Italy

Critic reviews

The novels of Andrea Camilleri breathe out the sense of place, the sense of humour, and the sense of despair that fills the air of Sicily. To read him is to be taken to that glorious, tortured island.
All stars
Most relevant

Would you listen to The Shape of Water again? Why?

Been waiting to have all the Montalbano novels on Audible for years. Had heard some narrated by Daniel Philpott which were good. This narrator is just awful! He has a lovely voice but no feel for the books at all and has little ability to do a range of voices. Still love the stories but whoever let this guy narrate the second novel when they heard how badly he did the first made a bad call!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shape of Water?

Story just as great as always but as already stated hard to find a high point in a poor narrative performance.

How could the performance have been better?

Another narrator!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, for the story.

Really sad

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A good plot and interesting variety of characters.
Very well read. It took me a little time to get used to the Italian names and accent, but then I was able to enjoy the story.
I’m now looking forward to the next book, the next adventure of Insoector Montalbano.

Very engaging story.

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I have to disagree with previous reviewer. Firstly it is not Camilleri's best book. It shows promise and obviously the Montalbano series went from strength to strength. I have read all translated so far, as reading in italian although possible is more of an intellectual exercise, and I certainly do not want to lose the flow of the story. In my opinion "the shape of water" is a great start but not a patch on the following books.
Secondly the narration is excellent to my mind, I am very choosy about narrators and often will not get books I consider great if the narration does not suit. I certainly dont want Montalbano done with a cheesy Italian accent.

Great Start to the series

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Sadly, although the narrator was very good, he just lacked a little pizzazz. All said, this no way detracts from the story.

I love the Montalbano books.

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A very enjoyable book. I got into the books following watching the tv series. It's read at a good pace and nice to hear where it all started

read following watching tv series

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