Voice of the Violin

An Inspector Montalbano Mystery

By: Translated by Stephen Sartarelli, Andrea Camilleri

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Audie Award, Mystery, 2009

Montalbano's gruesome discovery of a lovely, naked young woman suffocated in her bed immediately sets him on a search for her killer. Among the suspects are her aging husband, a famous doctor; a shy admirer, now disappeared; an antiques-dealing lover from Bologna; and the victim's friend Anna, whose charms Montalbano cannot help but appreciate. But it is a reclusive violinist who holds the key to the murder.

Montalbano does not disappoint, bringing his compelling mix of humor, cynicism, compassion, and love of good food to solve another riveting mystery.

Solve another mystery with Inspector Montalbano.©1997 Sellerio Editore (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Camilleri is as crafty and charming a writer as his protagonist is an investigator." ( Washington Post)

Lags in the middle, but not bad overall.

The title gives away too much, and the victim (already dead before the story begins) is the most interesting character. But overall, other than some rather dull filler in the middle, an entertaining mystery. The narrator reads clearly and expressively.

Good story, but not the best of Camilleri

Interesting plot, somewhat funny, but not the best of the Montalbano series. South Italy, landscape, relationship and routine. easy listening

Designer Italiano

Gucci of mysteries.…Ferrari performance and pace…listen to this book......you'll love it.

Made me go to the mapping function on my phone to view the geography of Sicily.

Typically great Camilleri Inspector Montalbano

Very good. Funny. Dark at times. Yearning in a man snuffed out by choice and need. Bad, immature and ignorant people along with the strange portrayed very well.

A Tragedy of Errors

Unlike other Montalbano stories I’ve heard, this one is more of a straight-ahead whodunnit, the action largely uninterrupted by the inspector’s relationship with Livia or any other ancillary characters, crimes, or complications. As Montalbano reflects at the end, it’s a story of “one mistake after another”, people and things being mistaken in ways that prolong the investigation and harm those involved in it.

As usual, Grover Gardner hands in a terrific performance.

fun relaxing book

I love listening to this series. they are fun and relaxing. they are easy to follow and give entertainment when working. I listen to books while welding so having a book that is easy to follow is important. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend them for anyone that wants a fun relaxing book

The best Inspector Montalbano yet

I thought the first three books in the series were good but this fourth one is the best yet.

Montalbano's character is developing nicely with each new story. The plots get better and faster paced.

The only criticism I can offer is that the voice of Catarella is strangely (New) Jersey accented, I suppose for the benefit of the American audience (of which I am one). It does get the idea across but is a bit discordant. A small annoyance. I hope it changes in future installments.

Highly recommended!

Sabotaged by the politics of justice

I have come to enjoy Inspector Montalbano and his seemingly bumbling investigations very much. The process is involved and some of the co-workers are worth a lot of giggles, but through it all Montalbano puzzles and ponders and arrives at the correct conclusion well before the other forces involved. There is sly humour in abundance, and a glimpse into a neighborhood rather different from midwest USA. No need to post spoilers.
Grover Gardner has just the right delivery for this series

Worth trying out

There were a lot of characters to keep track of but it was an interesting mystery.

Entertaining! A fun and inventive author

I thoroughly enjoy these stories, and was surprised, in the first books, when I ended up laughing out loud in some parts. Along with wit and humor, the author has a reverence for food that he shares, effortlessly carrying the listener along on inspired and no doubt first-person journeys of the senses.
To me, it almost hardly matters what the details of the crime and detection are, for everything in between is so much fun. Be that as it may, the details of these elements are very well put together, and the twists are not far fetched.
The people who inhabit this world quickly come to matter to the listener, and the narrator gives them all their very own presence. The narrator's skill is hardly matched by anyone I've heard thus far and I've heard a lot. His ability to give nuance to voices is a rare talent. Not only changing the pitch, but also the strength and rhythm of their voices. it's incredible to listen to. Put together with a top quality storyteller, and these books have become my favorites by far in the crime genre.