La Nochevieja de Montalbano (Comisario Montalbano, 6)

This volume collects twenty stories in which the eccentric commissioner, a wise interpreter of the art of living, surpasses himself. A word out of place, a gesture too abrupt, or an incongruous detail is enough to set in motion the machinery of Sicily's most famous commissioner. The crimes and criminals under Montalbano's scrutiny are colorful and varied. The highlight of this delightful collection: Montalbano, about to celebrate New Year's Eve, suffers a bout of melancholy. The only glimmer of hope is the arancini cooked by the maid, a typical Sicilian dish that Adelina has transformed into a delicacy fit for the gods.