TV News w/c 7 Feb 2016

Lots of exciting new programmes this week on the BBC (and the return tonight of the X-Files on Channel 5!).

If you missed it last night, you can catch up with Montalbano and Me: Andrea Camilleri on iPlayer.

An intimate portrait of the man behind Inspector Montalbano, as acclaimed Italian novelist Andrea Camilleri gives us access to the man himself, his work and personal history.

Camilleri shares the name and beginning of what will be the final Montalbano novel which he wrote when he was 80 - worried that Alzheimer's would strike. [He is still writing new ones.] The interviewer notes how all the Montalbanos are the same length and Camilleri explains that it is deliberate. There is a brief interview with Luca Zingaretti and how he got the job of playing Montalbano.

Tomorrow night sees the return of Happy Valley at 9pm on BBC One:

Eighteen months have passed, and Catherine is spinning plates at work and at home, where Ryan approaches his tenth birthday. Tommy, serving a life sentence in a high-security prison, finds a way of keeping a watchful eye over Ryan from behind bars, while Catherine becomes a murder suspect after finding a dead body.

and lastly on Saturday, on BBC Four from 9pm, the first two of the ten episodes of Icelandic drama, Trapped:

In a small Icelandic fishing port, a ferry docks. That same day a dismembered body is found in the river, sparking an investigation and a call to Reykjavik for detective reinforcements to assist the small local police force. With the ferry held in dock and a bad snowstorm threatening to cut off the town, chief of police Andri is under pressure to deliver results quickly.

Molto Montalbano

Now Cordon is finished (I have the last 3 episodes to watch), its Saturday night slot - 9pm on BBC Four - will be taken by a repeat of series one of The Young Montalbano.

BTW, you can buy this t-shirt from the MHz Network store.









Book-wise we're being spoilt this year with the release of Game of Mirrors which came out in May, with the paperback out in August together with the hardback release of Blade of Light (US: A Beam of Light in September). Both translated by Stephen Sartarelli.

In February 2016, a collection of short stories will be released also, I believe, translated by Stephen Sartarelli: Montalbano's First Case and Other Stories. Montalbano's First Case is already available as an ebook from Mondadori (2013) translated by Gianluca Rizzo and Dominic Siracusa.

Here's the blurb for the short story collection:

This brilliant collection of short stories, personally chosen by Andera Camilleri, follow Inspector Montalbano from his very first case in Vigata, in which he stumbles upon a young girl lurking outside a courthouse with a pistol in her handbag. When she is taken in for questioning and won't utter a single word, Montalbano must find another way to learn who this mystery girl is trying to kill, and why . . .

Other cases include a missing woman who has run away from the love of her life; an old married couple who appear to be rehearsing their suicides; and a crime so dark there's only one person the inspector can call for help.

With twists and turns aplenty, these stories have all the the wit, mystery and culinary gusto that Camilleri's fans have come to love him for.

TV News: Inspector Montalbano and a Ray of Light

The fourth and final episode in the latest series of Inspector Montalbano is A Ray of Light on Saturday 9nd November at 9pm on BBC Four:

A woman is attacked and robbed on her way home late at night, but the case leaves Montalbano wondering whether there isn't more to the story than he's being told. An abandoned cattle shed in the countryside has been boarded up by unknowns and used for mysterious purposes.

A Ray of Light is based on Andrea Camilleri's nineteenth Montalbano novel, Una lama di luce, which has not yet been translated into English. It was published in Italy in 2012.

The following Saturday sees the Return of Borgen.

TV News: Inspector Montalbano & a Voice in the Night

The third episode of the latest series of Inspector Montalbano is A Voice in the Night on Saturday 2nd November at 9pm on BBC Four:

A supermarket controlled by a Mafia family is robbed, setting off a chain of events in which the Mafia's political links start to transpire. Montalbano finds himself having to conduct his investigation using even more unconventional methods and this time he does something he's never done before.

A Voice in the Night is based on Andrea Camilleri's eighteenth Montalbano novel, Una Voce di Notte, which has not yet been translated into English. Though published in Italy in 2012, I believe the story is set a few years earlier.

TV News: Inspector Montalbano & the Hall of Mirrors

The second episode of the latest series of Inspector Montalbano (with Luca Zingaretti) is Hall of Mirrors on Saturday 26th October at 9pm on BBC Four:

A bomb goes off outside an empty store-room in a quiet Vigata street. Montalbano commences his investigation, but is soon disorientated by a series of disparate events, including the acquaintance of an attractive and mysterious woman

Hall of Mirrors is based on Andrea Camilleri's eighteenth Montalbano novel, Il gioco degli specchi, which has not yet been translated into English. The title comes from the film Lady from Shanghai.

TV News: Ol' Salvo's back in Town (ie the return of Inspector Montalbano)

Inspector Montalbano (with Luca Zingaretti) returns to BBC Four on Saturday 19th October at 9pm with the first of four episodes (from 2013):

Angelica's Smile

A series of burglaries takes place at the houses of wealthy Vigata residents. One of the victims is a beguiling young bank manager called Angelica, to whom Salvo finds he is soon attracted. As the investigation progresses, Montalbano starts to suspect that the burglaries might be a cover for something rather more sinister.

Angelica's Smile is based on Andrea Camilleri's seventeenth Montalbano novel, Il sorriso di Angelica, which is the next book to appear in English in June 2014 in both the US and the UK. At the rate I'm watching these I will have read the book first! But as the saying goes, one can never be too rich, too thin ... or have too much Montalbano (whatever his age).

TV News: Young Montalbano Ep.6 Seven Mondays

The final part of the six-episode run of Young Montalbano - Seven Mondays - is on Saturday 12 October at 9pm on BBC Four.

As Livia and Salvo prepare to go on their first holiday together, Vigata is shaken by the murder of a rich old man. Meanwhile, a series of strange occurrences takes place involving the shooting of a number of animals at the hands of an elusive gunman. With little evidence to go on, Montalbano and his team struggle to understand the logic behind the animal killings and fear that the worst may be yet to come.

The series is co-written by Andrea Camilleri and Francesco Bruni with the stories drawn from several short story collections.

According to Wikipedia a second series will begin shooting in late 2013.

TV News: Young Montalbano Ep.5 The Third Secret

The fifth part of the six-episode run of Young Montalbano - The Third Secret - is on Saturday 5 October at 9pm on BBC Four.

Montalbano receives an anonymous note predicting the death of a local construction worker, only to realise that the note has been delivered too late. Meanwhile, the public notice board announcing the town's forthcoming weddings is stolen. What at first appears to be an innocent prank gradually turns out to have more sinister overtones. Carmine Fazio's young son Giuseppe joins the investigating team following his father's retirement, but there are minor clashes between the enthusiastic new recruit and his boss.

The series is co-written by Andrea Camilleri and Francesco Bruni with the stories drawn from several short story collections.

TV News: Young Montalbano Ep.4 Mortally Wounded

The fourth part of the six-episode run of Young Montalbano - Mortally Wounded - is on Saturday 28 September at 9pm on BBC Four.

Some unusual posters appear around Vigata in which the moral status of one of its female inhabitants is questioned. This soon becomes the talk of the town and Montalbano finds himself attempting to navigate the local gossip and resulting squabbles. But a murder forces more serious events onto the agenda, as Montalbano investigates the private and business life of the victim, uncovering a string of unsavoury facts in the process. Fazio returns to Vigata police station asking to be reinstated in his job following a bout of serious ill health. Salvo's father makes the acquaintance of new girlfriend Livia.

The series is co-written by Andrea Camilleri and Francesco Bruni with the stories drawn from several short story collections.

TV News: Back to Basics for Young Montalbano

The third part of the six-episode run of Young Montalbano - Back to Basics - is on Saturday 21 September at 9pm on BBC Four.

Just as he's starting to settle into his new job, Montalbano is surprised, and somewhat irked, by the unexpected arrival of the new deputy inspector, Mimi' Augello. The two soon find that their personalities are as alike as chalk and cheese. Together, they investigate the kidnapping of a young child and make the acquaintance of a beautiful Genoese architect, Livia Burlando. A rivalry immediately ensues for the girl's attentions.

The series is co-written by Andrea Camilleri and Francesco Bruni with the stories drawn from several short story collections.

TV News: Next on Young Montalbano

Young Montalbano which started last Saturday appears to have been well received [I am of course still on the classic series of Inspector Montalbano and cannot comment yet!]. The second part of the six-episode run is New Year's Eve, and is on Saturday 14 September at 9pm on BBC Four.

A man is shot dead in his hotel room on New Year's Eve, so Montalbano spends his first New Year's Day in Vigata investigating a murder. The case presents several unusual conundrums, not least the fact that the victim was co-owner of the hotel.

The series is co-written by Andrea Camilleri and Francesco Bruni with the stories drawn from several short story collections.

TV News: Young Montalbano on BBC Four

Young Montalbano is a six-part series, with Michele Riondino as Montalbano. The first episode, on Saturday 7 September at 9pm on BBC Four, is The First Case:

Young detective Salvo Montalbano is posted to a remote village in the Sicilian mountains, where he struggles to adapt to the somewhat unwelcoming climate, but a promotion and transfer bring him to the more agreeable seaside town of Vigata. Here he finds himself supervising a team of local policemen, including veteran Carmine Fazio and affable but bumbling agent Catarella. Montalbano's first case in Vigata involves investigating an attempted murder at the hands of a vulnerable young woman whose motives appear unfathomable.

The series is co-written by Andrea Camilleri and Francesco Bruni with the stories drawn from several short story collections.

Favourite Discoveries 2012 (9)

Today's instalment of favourite discoveries of 2012 comes from Terry Halligan.

Terry Halligan's Favourite Discoveries of 2012

My favourite TV discovery of 2012 was Inspector Montalbano, which has been highlighted several times on this blog as being shown on BBC4. As I generally don't watch much TV apart from news bulletins, I neglected to watch it until one Saturday evening a couple of months ago when I saw it for the first time and I was totally blown away. It was brilliant, but also amusing and well plotted and it reminded me of Inspector Morse, but in Italian. It was half-way through the third series that I started watching, and after the series finished I viewed a few further programmes that were on the BBC iPlayer but then all of the remaining programmes were removed I suppose to make space for The Killing. So to get more fixes of Inspector Montalbano, before any more are shown in the future on BBC4, I've bought the box set of Series 1, which I'm currently viewing and enjoying immensely now. Hopefully, I'll be able to buy more DVDs in the January Sales.

Looking over the list of books that I've read during 2012, two American authors that I read as alternates to Euro Crime books stand out. The first is Brian Haig who is the son of Gen Alexander Haig who served as US Secretary Of State under President Ronald Reagan. Brian Haig was also in the US military and when he left he became a full time thriller writer and many of his books involve a Special Forces officer turned Army JAG lawyer Major/Lieutenant Colonel Sean Drummond. His books are very fast and fun and I see that I've read four this year starting with Private Sector (2005).

Another American author that I discovered this year is John J Nance who wrote the book Pandora's Clock (1995). Nance is an American pilot who served as an international airline pilot and knows what he is writing about when you read one of his thrillers as they always happen mainly aboard air-planes. Pandora's Clock is the first thriller by him that I read and it is about a 747 crossing the Atlantic to Europe but not being allowed to land as someone on board has a deadly virus!

For Euro Crime a favourite author that I discovered is Anne Perry who has written over 40 historical mystery books under that name and I read and I reviewed Dorchester Terrace, which is in her Inspector Pitt series. Whilst researching her books, I discovered that she was born in England but had a troubled childhood as her parents were always moving but she changed her name to the present one and after spending some time in the USA, moved to Scotland where she now lives as a very successful author. Since doing my review I have obtained her first four 'Inspector Pitt' books which start with The Cater Street Hangman. Her books are characterised by well observed period detail and very good plots. I hope to read more of them.

Read Terry's Euro Crime reviews here.

The Final (for now) Episode of Inspector Montalbano

The final episode in the current run of Inspector Montalbano, at 9pm on 10 November, is Treasure Hunt, based on Andrea Camilleri's as yet untranslated (into English) La Caccia al Tesoro:

An elderly couple, both religious fanatics, barricade themselves in their home and begin shooting from the windows for no apparent reason, until Montalbano's men finally succeed in disarming them.

There seems to be no justification for the couple's insane actions, but police find a strangely disfigured inflatable doll inside their home. A few days later, an identical doll is discovered in a rubbish bin and Montalbano has a bad premonition.

Soon enough, a series of strange occurrences develops - disquieting letters bearing riddles are delivered to Montalbano at Vigata police station, while a young woman is reported missing. A disturbed maniac is playing a macabre game of treasure hunt with the inspector and the riddle must be solved before it's too late.

The good news is that there are 4 more episodes in the pipeline and that the third series of The Killing will take Inspector Montalbano's place on BBC4 from the 17th.

Montalbano goes to The Potter's Field

The penultimate episode in this second run of Inspector Montalbano, at 9pm on 3 November, is The Potter's Field, based on The Potter's Field book, the thirteenth in Camilleri's series. The Potter's Field (which I loved) is arguably a perfect crime novel and won the 2012 CWA International Dagger.

As torrential rain pours down on Vigata, a plastic bag containing a body cut into pieces is found in a clay field. All the signs point to an old-fashioned Mafia killing. But why is Montalbano's trusted colleague and friend Mimi Augello suddenly irritable and short-tempered, and why is he insisting that the investigation be assigned to him? Could Mimi somehow be involved in the case?

Montalbano & The Gull's Dance

The next and tenth episode in this second run of Inspector Montalbano, at 9pm on 27 October, is The Gull's Dance, based on The Dance of the Seagull book, the fifteenth in Camilleri's series. The Dance of the Seagull is to be published in the US in February 2013 (and hopefully later in March 2013 in the UK).

Fazio is missing. He's not at home, his mobile is switched off and his father is worried. Believing that the young officer had been working a secret investigation on his own, Montalbano fears that Fazio may be in serious trouble and a frantic search is mounted in an effort to find him alive.

Montalbano's Age of Doubt & some good news

The next and ninth episode in this second run of Inspector Montalbano, at 9pm on 20 October, is The Age of Doubt, based on The Age of Doubt book, the fourteenth in Camilleri's series. The Age of Doubt is published in the UK on 22 November though it was released in the US in May.

The yacht of a wealthy woman docks at Vigata's harbour as a disfigured body is discovered at sea. Coastguard Laura Belladonna is assigned to the case to assist Montalbano and the two soon become close. The investigation casts doubts on the motives and sincerity of the yacht's crew and Montalbano begins to suspect that there may be more to the story they have given him.










The Age of Doubt is actually the last episode shown in Italy however there is good news. Luca Zingaretti is reprising the role for four more episodes. From (a Google translation of) Sorrisi.com:

How many new episodes of Montalbano is running?

"Four, the last two novels out," The game of mirrors "and" The smile of Angelica, "and two as yet unpublished," A blade of light "and" The Voice of night. '"

Inspector Montalbano: The Paper Moon

The next and eighth episode in this second run of Inspector Montalbano, at 9pm on 13 October, is Paper Moon, based on The Paper Moon book, the ninth in Camilleri's series.

(Whereas the episodes have been shown in two series in the UK, in Italy they were shown in eight series over twelve years. The Paper Moon is the the last episode in the seventh series, shown in Italy in 2008. The  final set of four episodes were shown in 2011.)

A distressed woman arrives at Vigata police station to report the disappearance of her brother. Soon enough, the man is found murdered in what appears to have been a crime of passion. But Montalbano is reluctant to give too much credit to appearances and digs into the victim's past, talking to anyone who might have had an involvement in the case. Meanwhile, a number of high-profile businessmen and politicians die as a result of cocaine overdoses.

Montalbano's The Track of Sand is next

The next episode in this second run of Inspector Montalbano, at 9pm on 6 October, is The Track of Sand, based on the book, the twelfth in Camilleri's series.

Montalbano wakes up one morning to find the carcass of a dead horse stranded on the beach below his house. Soon after, a beautiful woman walks into Vigata police station to report the abduction of her racehorse. A line of investigation emerges that brings Montalbano into contact with the elegant world of horse racing, via some illegal horse betting rackets organised by the Mafia.

Montalbano's Wings of the Sphinx

Last night's episode of Inspector Montalbano, was The Wings of the Sphinx, based on the book, the eleventh in Camilleri's series.

It's available to watch online for two months and is repeated on Wednesday at 00:45.

The naked body of a young woman is discovered on a beach near Vigata. The girl was shot in the face, her identity is unknown and the only clue police have to go on is a butterfly tattoo on her shoulder. Montalbano sets to work trying to establish the girl's identity and investigates possible links between the murder victim and a local charity with connections to the Church. Meanwhile, his relationship with Livia continues to suffer as a result of his poor work/life balance.