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The Terra-Cotta Dog: An Inspector Montalbano Mystery Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,984 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Inspector Montalbano's latest case begins with a mysterious tête à tête with a Mafioso, some inexplicably abandoned loot from a supermarket heist, and some dying words that lead him to an illegal arms cache in a mountain cave. There the inspector finds two young lovers, dead for fifty years and still embracing, watched over by a life-sized terra-cotta dog. Montalbano's passion to solve this old crime takes him on a journey through Sicily's past and into a family's dark heart amidst the horrors of World War II bombardment.
Andrea Camilleri's Inspector Montalbano has garnered millions of fans worldwide with his sardonic take on Sicilian life. With sly wit and a keen understanding of human nature, Montalbano is a detective whose earthiness, compassion, and imagination make him totally irresistible.
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"Second book in Camilleri's fantastic series of commissary Montalbano. We find our hero still involve with intrigue and drama in Sicily where nothing is as it is elsewhere in Italy. Camilleri takes us on a trip of discovery of the way people in Sicily in small cities and village live, love and die. Old people, young people, mafia people and long forgotten buried secrets come to the light of day by chance. Having someone watched is never a simple task in Sicily and can have enormous consequences. Camilleri's Montalbano series is a wonderful escape into a society far removed from ours but still very close to our human self. The next title in the series : The Snack Thief is on hold at my library. Can't wait to read it."
— Writerlibrarian (4 out of 5 stars)
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“In Sicily, where people do things as they please, Inspector Montalbano is a bona fide folk hero.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Montalbano can discuss a pointy-headed book like Western Attitudes toward Death as unflinchingly as he can pore over crime-scene snuff photos. He throws together an extemporaneous lunch…as gracefully as he dodges advances from attractive women.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“Both farcical and endearing, Montalbano is a cross between Columbo and Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, with the added culinary ideosyncracies of an Italian Maigret.”
— Guardian (London) -
“A deep evocation of the Sicilian temperament, with all its complex darkness and ambiguity, is embodied in Inspector Salvo Montalbano…Camilleri writes in Sicilian dialect, and his translator has expertly captured the rhythms and nuances of that tongue in English.”
— Booklist -
“Montalbano’s deadpan drollery and sharp observations refresh as much for their honesty as their wit. All he wants is a quiet corner and an uninterrupted afternoon.”
— Kirkus Reviews
The Terra-Cotta Dog Listener Reviews
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Judy Sleigh, 5/13/2023
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" Great plot. I had trouble with the writting style until I got swept up in the story. I'll read another. "
— Paula, 2/15/2014 -
" The Terra-Cotta Dog had the lightness and wit that was missing in the first book in the series, The Shape of Water. Inspector Montalbano is a tough nut to crack, but if you can cook properly he will look at you with the eyes of a puppy brought in from the rain. So charming. "
— Megan, 2/11/2014 -
" Laugh out loud funny and a great, foreign setting. Inspector Montalbano is rude, petty, and wonderful! A perfect choice when you need a break from the really dark mysteries. "
— Janna, 2/8/2014 -
" I foind this bbok very slow and confusing at the biginning - not helped by only listening to it in the car. But about 1/2 way through it picked up and was enjoyable to the very end... "
— Nicola, 1/29/2014 -
" This was better than the first book. Camilleri is slowly introducing and expanding on his characters and in this one, Montalbano's three women are featured in three different ways and in showing how he is different with all three...bottom line, he's still an egotistical, self-centered work-centered butthead. But he can figure things out and his way of dealing with different people is interesting. There is also a priest (or maybe not a priest) who drinks from baby bottles in this one. . .fascinatingly wierd! This series is an acquired taste but if you want to try Montalbano out, you could start with this one if you wanted - you don't miss out on anything if you start with the second one. "
— Shannon, 1/23/2014 -
" that was fun and made me hungry "
— Kariss, 1/18/2014 -
" camilleri liegt mir nicht "
— Rivella, 1/6/2014 -
" I really liked this story. Montalbano is a genius. "
— Gayle, 1/4/2014 -
" even though the plot and the story was a little bit ridiculous, i really enjoyed reading this little italian novel. there are a lot of weird italian references which are explained at the back of the book. "
— Miss, 12/25/2013 -
" Enjoyable, particularly liked the character of Montalbano, annoying that there was one main strand of the story left hanging, but I suppose that's grist for the mill in Italy. Hayes, I imagine you eating like that every day - lucky you. "
— Carey, 12/3/2013 -
" Another good one. Story mostly about 50 year old crime concerning 2 lovers found in a cave. This discovery made along with a gun runners stash and the break-in at a super market. Both crimes solved with the aid of Inspecotr Montalbon and his crew with disparate personalities and agendas. "
— Jane, 2/26/2013 -
" Introduced to Montalbano through the TV series, then found the book. Although the TV version isn't totally accurate to the book, both are excellent. "
— Rachel, 1/17/2013 -
" The plots seem so dis jointed but come together so seamlessly... Thanks to those meals left for our detective. A detailed portrait of life as the fascists fled and the US ended WWII in Italy. "
— Riodelmartians, 1/17/2013 -
" I adore Montalbano. "
— Karen, 1/4/2013 -
" Interesting look into Sicilian life and gastronomy with the help of the interesting and funny Inspector Montalbano. "
— James, 11/14/2012 -
" Day at the beach reading. "
— Ann, 11/12/2012 -
" Magic rituals and a murder to solve for Inspector Montalbano "
— Chiara, 2/17/2012 -
" Sardonic character study...part satire, part mystery, part wonderful Sicilian mannerisms and culture. Great series. Recommended to dad! "
— Daniel, 12/17/2011 -
" I have read it in Italian. "
— Andrea, 10/27/2011 -
" This one sat on my TBR shelf for the longest time, but by the end of chapter one Montalbano had charmed me completely - I love his manner and sardonic view of the world. "
— Jessica, 10/10/2011 -
" wow<br/>I have really fallen into his writing.<br/>well crafted and enjoyable..but it will leave you hungry.[the food in his books sounds lush] "
— Joe, 6/13/2011 -
" i really liked it.when you understand his way of writing i think you'll love him.so bring me more Camilleri plz <br/>ps.ty Katerina for suggesting this book,i love you. "
— Jimmakos, 5/18/2011 -
" Laugh out loud funny and a great, foreign setting. Inspector Montalbano is rude, petty, and wonderful! A perfect choice when you need a break from the really dark mysteries. "
— Janna, 4/27/2011 -
" The entire Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri is delightful. Set in Sicily, focused on food, culture and characters, a fun read. "
— Millicent, 3/2/2011 -
" Enjoyable, particularly liked the character of Montalbano, annoying that there was one main strand of the story left hanging, but I suppose that's grist for the mill in Italy. Hayes, I imagine you eating like that every day - lucky you. "
— Carey, 1/30/2011 -
" This one drags on, in comparison to the other Montelbano books I've read so far, and I cared less about the case than I have in some of the others. Still, the inspector is always a pleasure to follow. "
— Yorgos, 12/12/2010 -
" Another good one. Story mostly about 50 year old crime concerning 2 lovers found in a cave. This discovery made along with a gun runners stash and the break-in at a super market. Both crimes solved with the aid of Inspecotr Montalbon and his crew with disparate personalities and agendas. "
— Jane, 11/5/2010 -
" Grover Gardner does a great job of narrating the Montalbano audiobooks. "
— Stef, 8/20/2010
About Andrea Camilleri
Andrea Camilleri (1925–2019) wrote the internationally bestselling Inspector Montalbano mysteries as well as historical novels. His books have been made into television shows in Italy and translated into thirty-two languages. His thirteenth Montalbano novel, The Potter’s Field, won the Crime Writers’ Association International Dagger Award and was longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
About Grover Gardner
Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.