Inspector Montalbano: August Flame, Collection 4 Episode 1

This is where (apparently) the TV show differs from the source book.  This is number 10 in the Commisario Montalbano books which is called “August Heat”.

Please note that I watched this episode/read the book over two years ago and this post has been sitting around pretty much since then. I am aware I am out of sequence at this point. I decided to publish in order to clear up my scheduled posts. Apologies if i have missed something as a result.

August is the hottest summer month in Sicily and Montalbano is forced to remain at Vigata, taking care of police business.  Apparently in the book, Livia joins him, and brings  a friend (with husband and baby) and asks Salvo to rent a beach house for them. In the TV Programme, a heard but unseen Livia goes out on a boat with a friend called Gianfranco and is fed up with Salvo refusing to come out and join them.  It is Mimi who rents the rather nice house and all is well as the holiday develops nicely, until the day Mimi’s little boy Salvo disappears. Montalbano rushes into the garden to help in the search and discovers a tunnel that will reveal sensational surprises, including a trunk with the body of a missing girl who disappeared six years before.

As he begins his investigation, Montalbano makes the acquaintance of the victim’s twin sister Adriana Monreale. Suffering in the terrible August weather, and jealous of what might be happening with Livia on the boat, Salvo is grumpy, jealous and out of sorts. Having previously rejected the come-ons by various other women, it is the attentions of the much younger and very attractive Adriana – who makes no bones about finding Salvo attractive – that breaks his resolve one night when she strips on the beach to go swimming in the sea. Next thing, Salvo has come up behind her in the water, and one thing leads to another, with the pair finally making it back to the house to finish business.

Along with Fazio – who has spotted the underlying tension between the two and tries to warn Salvo not to take it forward – the pair hatch a plan to bring the killer to justice, using Adriana as bait. The following morning finds Salvo arriving at the holiday let, Adriana, Fazio and Galuzzo already in place. There’s a short, post-coital kiss between Salvo and Adriana (Salvo looks embarrassed and confused, as if he doesn’t want to be caught by Fazio, or is immediately regretting things) before he hides in the corner for the killer to arrive. Adriana tempts the killer into the basement before grabbing Salvo’s gun and shooting the killer dead.  Fazio and Galuzzo, who have been hiding outside, hear the gunshot and arrive after Salvo has taken the gun off Adriana and he takes responsibility for the killing. Despite suspecting otherwise Fazio and Galuzzo don’t argue with him.

It’s an interesting balancing act when it comes to the relationship between Salvo and Livia – he does seem to love her; has been faithful to her (apparently) all these years, despite the temptations – something Ingrid throws back in his face in a later episode – but he wont marry her and seems satisfied with them living a plane trip apart. It was therefore a case of “oh Salvo, really!?” when he follows Adriana into the sea – he chooses her (of all people) to have his mid life crises with? (she’s early 20s  and judging by elapsed time, he’s in his mid 40s . I did the maths at one point and I think Zingaretti’s actual age closely matches Montalbano’s in the series – there’s 15 years between the first episode and the last of series 9 in terms of both storyline and rate of episode production).

The heat of August is also reflected in the clothes the characters wear – they haven’t resorted to tshirts and shorts, but gone are the leather jackets and the long woollen overcoats favoured during the rest of the series (which is filmed in the off season in Sicily, and therefore relatively cool). Fazio looks suitably hot and out of sorts, and somehow Salvo has managed to acquire the only battery operated fan in the station.

Inspector Montalbano: Find the Lady, Collection 3 Episode 4

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Please note that I watched this episode over two years ago and this post has been sitting around pretty much since then. I decided to publish in order to clear up my scheduled posts. Apologies if i have missed something as a result.

“Find the lady” is an old card shark’s game, which links to the original Italian title of “The Game of the Three Cards’. which is not based on any of the books in Andrea Camilleri’s series but may be based on a Camilleri short story.

The episode stats with an old man taking a slow evening walk along a well-lit empty street, not noticing he’s being followed by a car. As he goes to enter a house, the car pulls up, and a man gets out, and “persuades” the old man (Girolamo Cascio) into the car.

On the way into work, Salvo sees a funeral with only one mourner. The dead man is Cascio, the mourner is his accountant Ciccio Monaco. Having got wet in the rain, we get the mandatory topless shot of Zingaretti as he changes shirt whilst talking to Fazio. Girolamo died in a hit and run which was dealt with by Mimi, who hasn’t been seen for days.

Salvo goes to lunch…..I’m beginning to recognise external sets!…..and is approached by Monaco, who says the death makes no sense….there are no skid marks on a well lit road, Cascio had been nervous due to phone calls, and had asked to be walked home after dinner with Monaco, which Monaco couldn’t do due to his sciatica.

Salvo visits Dr Pasquano in his private club, to hear that Cascio died at 2am, full of drink, covered in vomit, and hit with such force that his spine was broken in half.

Coming out of the club, Salvo finds Mimi and makes him sit and talk at a local cafe. Mimi’s had a tip that Tarantino is in town, a fraudster who robbed half of Vigata, then disappeared. Salvo complains that Mimi has spent no time on the Cascio case, then realises why as a beautiful woman in a tight dress comes sashaying down the street. It is Gloris, Tarantino’s wife, and Mimi is clearly in lust.

Salvo goes to visit one of the older judges, who tells him of the Rocco Pennisi case from 20 years earlier. Pennisi killed his lover’s husband, was convicted of murder, and had been released several days before and now Cascio is dead. Turns out that Cascio worked for Pennisi, and his fortune only started after Pennisi was jailed.

Pennisi comes to the station but the interview is unproductive. Salvo goes to visit Tommasino, who has appeared in previous episodes, who is Pennisi‘s cousin and he fills in some background. Renata was initially engaged to Rocco, but then got married to business partner Giacomo. Giacomo finds out about the affair, and when he is found dead, Rocco is blamed. Renata is the one to initiate everything, but was ambivalent at the trial. Tommasino thinks that with the conviction, she manages to get rid of Rocco and Giacomo in one go. There is good use of flashbacks, showing that Rocco in particular was much more dynamic and animated than when Salvo met him. It’s also rare to see people smoking on tv anymore, especially at the dinner table!

Salvo visits Gloris, who is a massive flirt, showing legs and cleavage a plenty. She takes the phone off the hook as they talk “in order to not be disturbed”. Salvo asks a few light questions, but mainly takes the chance to look round the rooftop of the house, which has a very nice garden connecting to other buildings.   Mimi is upset when he finds Salvo has visited Gloris, but calms down a little when Salvo points out what Mimi doesn’t see because he is thinking with the wrong part of his body…there are multiple escape routes from the house, Mimi needs to check out for garages or something similar that Tarantino could be hiding from. Taking the phone off the hook is to allow Tarantino to listen in, as he’s jealous, but it means he’s nearby.

Salvo visits Rocco’s sister Virginia who is blind. She tells of days leading to the murder where some gas men came to the house to do checks and went upstairs even though there were no pipes there. A few days later the gun that had previously been kept in the bedroom gets used in the murder.

Xavier Granieri, an Argentinian, is found dead, having being killed execution style. Pasquano thinks he was killed elsewhere and has had plastic surgery.  Investigations into Cascio show that he colluded with the Ricolo mafia family that got him the contracts that made the company rich. Salvo visits Monaco, who tempts Salvo to stay for dinner….it is pasta with broccoli after all!…..and manages to get Salvo talking as he eats. Monaco confirms the mafia connection, whilst giving detail of the voice calling Cascio having a weird accent and sounding rough.

The team get a recording of Granieri’s voice from his answer phone….well done Caterella! Monaco confirms it was the man calling Cascio. Rocco’s sister isn’t sure, but could have been the gas man.

Salvo returns to find Tarantino being taken away after being arrested. Mimi assures Salvo he’s stopped sleeping around but it seems more to convince himself.

It turns out that Granieri is not who they think he is, but is an ex Sinagra man called Salvatore Lucia, “leant” to the Riocolo family, and who emigrated to Argentina a few months after Rocco’s trial.

The team know that Lumia is the son of the shepherd they met when they found the body, so pay him a visit. He’s not home so Salvo waits alone. When the Shepherd comes back, it is clear he is old and probably ill. He admits his son returned after 20 years away, and admitted killing 8 people. It was when he admitted to killing a 9 year old that the father shot him with his own gun. He hadn’t killed himself as he wanted to square things with Salvo before dying. Salvo leaves the building, alone, and it is unclear as to whether the man is dead or alive – if the former, has he shot himself in Salvo’s presence, or, if Salvo did it himself?

Salvo calls Renata in, and puts a theory on table….Cascio had Giacomo killed and framed Rocco as a favour to Renata, Granieri returns to blackmail Cascio and put pressure on Renata but kills him when it doesn’t work. She kind of confesses, but believes it won’t go anywhere due to lack of evidence. The question therefore is….who killed Granieri?

Inspector Montalbano: The Spiders Patience, Series 3 Episode 3

The Patience of the Spider is book 8 in the series. In the book, Salvo is recovering from injuries from the previous book and having to pull himself out of self-imposed seclusion. This is different to the upbeat note on which we finished the previous TV episode Equal Time.

Please note that I watched this episode/read the book over a year ago and this post has been sitting around pretty much since then. I decided to publish in order to clear up my scheduled posts. Apologies if i have missed something as a result

Salvo is woken by Caterella who explains in his roundabout way that a girl has been reported missing. Her father went looking for her when she didn’t return home the previous evening, but he found nothing. Her moped was found by her boyfriend, off her usual route and facing the wrong way. The working theory is that it’s a kidnapping, so the team go to visit Susannah’s father Salvatore Mistretta at home. The house has a large hallway with impressive stained glass in one of the indoor doors. Rather than stand in the hallway, they go into a more private area, another large room that’s well-lit but heavily underused. There is no money to pay any ransom, with the house already mortgaged, and the mother lying upstairs dying from an unknown undefined illness.

Salvo goes to visit Tina, the girl Susanna was studying with the day before. A big fan of Salvo’s, she tries to delay him long enough to allow her friends time to come round for photos, and she lets it be known she’s single etc. Nothing really useful comes out from the interview and Salvo excuses himself as soon as possible (note to the set people: I think I’ve seen this apartment door before).

Salvo talks to Susannah’s boyfriend, who admits that they had had sex for the first time on the day she disappeared.

The Commissioner calls to say the kidnapping has been handed over to Valente as he is more experienced with kidnappings. A taped phone call is made to the house, and in talking things over with Valente…who Salvo calls Fifi….the theory is that these are not professional kidnappers and are therefore more dangerous.

Nicolò , the TV journalist, makes Salvo come to the office and plays him the kidnap tape – the same one that was played at the home. As they discuss whether to broadcast the recording, the rival station plays it anyway. It appears the tape has been sent everywhere which is contrary to what kidnappers usually do. It seems the family lost all their money about 6 years previously, Nicolo doesn’t know why.

Salvo gets a call from the Commissioner to say that Mimi has been in an accident, which means he will be out of action for a while. Salvo goes out with Galluzzo, who has some form of food poisoning. Whilst Galluzzo is on a toilet break in the bushes, Salvo looks around, sees a farm offering fresh eggs, but also thinks he’s found the girl’s moped helmet, which has been missing until now.

He visits the farm which does sell eggs, but the wife offers sex as a sideline, as a result of her husband losing his legs in an accident several years previously. She believes a car turned up one evening and turned around but she didn’t see who. Salvo says that she will be interviewed, but she must make out to be just an egg seller. The woman mentions Dr Mistretta (Susannah’s Uncle) in passing as the one who recommends pain relief, which costs money she doesn’t have.

Salvo visits Dr Antonio Peruzzo, who lives alone in a country home far too big for a single person. It was a working farm/press/grove but most is now shut up. Antonio says his Sister In Law Giulia was poisoned. Seems everything went downhill 6 years previously, where Giulia and her brother Antonio had been close after being orphaned as children. When Giulia got married she and Salvatore went to Uruguay, bringing Antonio with them. At this point of the interview, the phone goes….there’s been another ransom call. They ask for 6 billion lire, rather than euro, which gives a clue they are still thinking in old terms. Salvo wants to put pressure on Mistretta to come up with money, but Fifi is not sure…

The rest of the story comes out…Antonio Peruzzo makes money in Uruguay through shady deals, returns to Sicily, makes more shady deals, gets investigated, borrows money, doesn’t repay, companies are made bankrupt, everyone falls out. Giulia is now sick from life whilst her brother’s businesses are doing fine.

Salvo visits Mimi in hospital where he has broken ribs etc but is still walking. Salvo now thinks they didn’t kidnap Mistretta’s daughter but Peruzzo’s niece. The town’s gossips are split in two as to whether Peruzzo should made to pay of not. Photos of the girl, proving she’s still alive are sent in and Salvo has some of the photos enlarged, spotting something interesting on the wall. He also visits the Mistretta house, which looks a fabulous house, but the further in you get it is clearly in bad repair.

Mimi discharges himself from the hospital, reports that Peruzzo’s wife got recognised and attacked in the street and two lorries got set on fire the night before. Mimi thinks Peruzzo will pay up.

Salvo and Valente go visit Peruzzo’s lawyer Luna, who tells them the kidnappers rang Peruzzo 6 hours before they rang the police, to say that Peruzzo has the money but no instructions what to do next. Salvo doesn’t like the Lawyer’s use of the word “inexplicably” as he believes the lawyer has known a lot more for a long time.

Fazio pops round to tell Salvo that Susanna had been released an hour before with some drama.

Luna rings Salvo, all miffed, saying that Salvo didn’t think his client would pay up. Money was left in an old necropolis in a bag. Salvo goes to the necropolis and as he’s checking out the bag of money – it’s full of paper and no money -he gets a call from Fazio, saying Valente is on his way, being followed by journalists. Not wanting to be found on site, Salvo makes off, only to find boyfriend at police station having been dumped by Susanna – he realises the sex was a form of saying “Goodbye”. The mother has also died.

Inspector Montalbano: Equal Time, Collection 3, Episode 2

This is based on another short story, and therefore not based on a complete book.     

The episode starts with two men pulling up in a car, with one getting out and approaching a young blond girl on a moped. Scared, she throws her helmet at him and rides off, with the men giving chase. She nearly loses them a couple of times in the narrow backstreets, but decides to ditch the moped once out in the countryside. The men fire at her as she runs across the fields, missing her, but letting her go.

Inspector Montalbano: Turning Point, Collection 3, Episode 1

Based on the 7th book in the series, whose English title is “Rounding the Mark“, Salvo turns up to station to find workers getting rid of graffiti. He tries to keep Caterella’s spirits up, but when he goes through the eerily empty station, he decides to call the commissioner. Mimi over hears the conversation and realises that Salvo plans to resign after recent exposes as to police corruption.

 Mimi rails against him, telling him that he may feel betrayed, but his resignation would be a betrayal of those who actually work for and respect him.

Inspector Montalbano: The goldfish and the Cat, Collection 2, Episode 6

On the way to church, Mrs Todaro gets mugged, has her handbag taken, and a revolver is fired at close range but somehow misses.

Mimi comes in to pick up some papers, reminds Salvo re the wedding date and that he needs to pick up the rings, something Salvo has clearly forgotten, again. Meanwhile headquarters are sending cover for the month Mimi is off.

Inspector Montalbano: Turning Point, Collection 3, Episode 1

I cant tell which book this comes from – it’s certainly not known under this name anyway – so cant do a “compare and contrast”.  Salvo turns up to station to find workers getting rid of graffiti. He tries to keep Caterella’s spirits up, but when he goes through the eerily empty station, he decides to call the commissioner (who is out of the office). Mimi overhears the conversation, and realises that Salvo plans to resign after recent raids on the police.  Mimi rails against him, telling him that he may feel betrayed, but his resignation would be a betrayal of those who actually work for and respect him.

Inspector Montalbano, The Scent of Night, Collection 2, Episode 5

This is the 6th book in  the series, but slightly later in the TV series. The episode starts with Salvo turning up to a hostage situation, where the 80 year old Garzullo is holding Miss Consentino, the secretary of banker Gargano, hostage, claiming to have been robbed by Gargano. Salvo resolves the issue by pretending the banker has already been arrested, so holding the hostage is pointless. As usual, it’s great use of old Sicilian actor as the wronged man.

Inspector Montalbano: Montalbano’s Croquettes, Collection 2, episode 4

Montalbano’s Croquettes is not based on one of the books but rather a short story, Gli arancini di Montalbano, which is still not available in English.

When I came to watch this again, I barely remembered watching it the first time around – however, some things fell into place that I know I wouldn’t have spotted the first time round, and that come to play later in the series. In particular the presence of Pasquale, the son of Montalbano’s housekeeper and his involvement in what happens during the episode.

Inspector Montalbano: The Sense of Touch, Collection 2, Episode 3

Like the previous episode, The Artist’s Touch, this is another episode based on a short story, rather than an actual book.

The episode starts with an old blind man leaving his house with his guide dog Orlando. The house is not one of the more salubrious places in Sicily, which, despite being near the sea, is a one story structure with the basics. No lighting, a double bed, a chest of drawers, low ceiling. There is none of the wealth and high ceilings displayed in other episodes.
The man’s departure is watched by another man, his face shrouded by hat and upturned collar, who promptly breaks into the house to put something in the medicine bottle beside the bed