The Shape of Water

Didn’t really connect with me. Wasn’t interested in the crime or the characters and there were some “men writing women” moments, something about curios nipples looking around. Will not continue the series.

There’s also some old fashion views and language on sex workers and anything under the pride flag, to put it mildly.

I'm delighted to discover this prolific series of mysteries. This book was like a perfect procedural, snappy, witty, plotty. Montalbano is a slightly less sexist pig in a land of pigs, so if that pushes your buttons you may want to skip these books. It did not turn me off, but YMMV. I'm planning on continuing the series.

Really amateur writing. There are jumps between scenes with no warning, there are characters who aren't explained for several full pages, most descriptions were perfunctory. And worst of all, even with all the murder and sex and whatnot, it was dull. Of all the things a book can be, boring is the only unpardonable sin.

The descriptions of Sicilian idiosyncrasies are accurate and intriguing. The story is oddly complex but it's the perfect kind of dilemma that allows us to learn Montalbano as not so much a man of the law, as a man fighting for justice in an unjust world.

All in all a good, entertaining read.