THE PAPER MOON
Andrea Camilleri
Picador, £12.99 Camilleri's likeable, idiosyncratic Sicilian Inspector Montalbano is an anxious sort, here worrying about ageing and death. Between meals and bouts of existential angst he tr
ies to solve the murder of a pharmaceutical salesman who lived beyond his means, and finds himself swaying between the victim's possessive sister and beautiful mistress. All you'd want in an Italian detective story: fascinating characters, murky politics, local atmosphere – and wonderful food. And a word must be said for the lively eye-catching covers.
Also try: Leonardo Sciascia, To Each His Own
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
Aline Templeton
Hodder & Stoughton, £11.99The fourth case for DI Marjory Fleming of the Galloway force. The allegiances, rivalries and petty jealousies of small town life are carefully but convincingly explored. A sheep is shot, then a landowner, followed by one of the town's wild boys. Are the crimes connected to the laird's likely refusal to sell land to a superstore? Two investigations build up – the official one by Fleming, and a sneaky unofficial enquiry by her sergeant – and come together in a dramatic climax.
Also try: Jill McGown, Unlucky For Some
DEATH ON A BRANCH LINE
Andrew Martin
Faber and Faber, £10.99 Summer 1911 and Jim Stringer, Steam Detective at York, is about to go on holiday when a young man is escorted through the station on his way to be hanged for killing his father. Scarborough is ditched for the village of Adenwold and Stringer spends a sweltering weekend trying to prevent a miscarriage of justice and another murder – abetted by his feisty wife Lydia. Bags of railway lore, enough historical detail and rural oddbods for a BBC serial, a baffling plot and – most important – good writing.
Also try: Edward Marston, The Excursion Train
The full article contains 301 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
