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Inspector Montalbano is frustrated with the politics of the Italian police department. There have been several news stories recently where police officers acted unprofessionally or in a manner where innocent people were hurt. Montalbano has made his decision to resign from the police department -- now all he has to do is tell his superiors. Unfortunately, resigning is not as easy as it sounds, as events conspire against him. During one of his frequent swims, he brushes against a dead body. After dragging the body to shore, Montalbano feels obligated to investigate the victim's murder. The victim had been badly beaten so identification is almost impossible. In addition to this murder investigation, Montalbano is actively investigating a death the local police have ruled accidental. A young immigrant boy was killed in a hit and run, which Montalbano knows was intentional. He is unable to resign until these two cases are solved. By solving these crimes, Montalbano will be able to end some of the corruption he sees prevalent around him. Inspector Montalbano is a flawed hero. He has a strong sense of justice but will frequently break protocol or the law in order to give justice to the innocent. He is moody and frequently short-tempered with his men, yet he values their input and their actions. He can be insecure about his personal life and his professional role but does not allow his doubts to stop him from acting. The government and people who are merely political puppets aggravate Montalbano. The more time Montalbano spends in the police force, the less respect he has for his superiors. The majority of his superiors and equals are more concerned with playing games to get ahead than maintaining peace and order. While this frequently cause friction at work, it does make for good reading. A character with strong beliefs always makes a book more enjoyable. ROUNDING THE MARK is reminiscent of books written by Donna Leon and Magdalen Nabb. The protagonists of all of these authors are men struggling within the police department to bring justice to the community. These men must confront politics and racial tensions as well as criminals in their daily interactions. All of these men are jaded but still do a good job. In addition to the similarities between these protagonists, all three authors use culture and landscape to bring their stories to life. Italy, with its idiosyncrasies and manners, is vital to the actions of the characters. As I am a fan of foreign mysteries, it is always nice to see another book published in this sub-genre.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, August 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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