The End Justifies the Means – the law according to Montalbano

I have just finished reading – (more or less within 24 hours!)the latest Montalbano novel by Andrea Camilleri to be published in English – It is called the Potter’s Field so part of the plot relates back to Judas and his demise in this place, hereinafter associated with treachery.

Now that I know the characters in these stories so well – especially through the excellent TV series – but also from reading all the other translated books in the series – I was snuffling into my hands so much the BA air stewardess actually came up and asked me what I was reading, – she continued to watch me cautiously for further signs of madness as I tried to stifle other snorts of laughter!

This probably seems disrespectful for such serious stories of cronaca nera ( black crimes) set amongst all manner of thugs and mafiosi in Sicily but I am sure that Camilleri intends to amuse -particularly when he describes the ageing Inspector’s struggle against his own body – with some sympathy – you kinda feel he has felt these pains himself!

He also has to take a risk with the truth in order to resolve the situation within his team without embarrassing any of them – hence the reference to his Machiavelli’s advice in the Prince  that if the end is desirable and to the general good, immoral means can be justified to achieve those ends.

So thanks Signor Camillieri for a wonderful un-putdownable book – I am not sure where the relationship between Mimi Augello

and Salvo Montalbano can go after this breakdown in trust but I cant wait to find out by reading the next one!

Translators please note!