August Heat

By Andrea Camilleri

Book Overview

"The novels of Andrea Camilleri breathe out the sense of place, the sense of humor, and the sense of despair that fills the air of Sicily." --Donna Leon

When a colleague extends his summer vacation, Inspector Salvo Montalbano is forced to stay in Vig ta and endure the August heat. Montalbano's long-suffering girlfriend, Livia, joins him with a friend--husband and young son in tow--to keep her company during these dog days of summer. But when the boy suddenly disappears into a narrow shaft hidden under the family's beach rental, Montalbano, in pursuit of the child, uncovers something terribly sinister. As the inspector spends the summer trying to solve this perplexing case, Livia refuses to answer his calls-and Montalbano is left to take a plunge that will affect the rest of his life.

Fans of the Sicilian inspector as well as readers new to the popular series will enjoy following the melancholy but unflinchingly moral Montalbano as he undertakes one of the most shocking investigations of his career.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143114050
• ISBN13: 9780143114055
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.47 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Andrea Camilleri è un buon scrittore di giallo!!!

I love Andrea Camilleri's mysteries. In this particular book his writing gives such a succulent taste of Sicilia (actually, all his mysteries do); it is an irrisitble part of the story--I could "feel" the heat of August as I read along. Inspector Montalbano is a complex character, always facing moral dilemmas--I want to meet this man!!!

August Heat

This book is one of the best in Italian mysteries and draws you into the place where it takes place. Its almost like a travel book in descriptions of the food. The author Andrea Camilleri can't write fast enough for me.

I couldn't put it down

I think this is the eighth Inspector Montalbano book -- at least it's the eighth one I've read -- and I loved it. The ending was superb. It made sense and it was full of the right kind of ending emotions: revenge, anger, love, lost love -- the works. I think Mr. Camilleri has gotten better with age. The plot seemed clearer to me than some of the other Montalbano stories and with the Italian names to remember a bit of clarity sometimes helps.

Keeps getting better

This is a series which just keeps getting better with each installment. If you liked any of the earlier Montalbano cases August Heat will entertain and raise temperatures. Highly recommended.

A perfect pleasure

I anxiously await the appearance of every Camilleri novel. Why must the publisher and translator work so slowly? I pounced on August Heat on the publication date, and savored it like those the wonderful Sicilian dishes Inspector Montalbano's housekeeper leaves in his refrigerator. This is a perfect book. Lots of nice plotting, starting with a cursed house. Lots of irresponsible breaks from detection, while Montalbano enjoys a multi-course lunch or takes a long swim. There's trouble with women, too, which is always fun with an aging detective. It's over all too soon. We can only hope the translator is at work on the next one.