Montalbano’s First Case and Other Stories (a personal anthology) By Andrea Camilleri (translated by Stephen Sartarelli) – Published by Picador, November 2016

At this time of year, many of us are in need of comfort food and a good read to cheer us up. Some sunshine would be very welcome too. In the Montalbano stories in this newly published omnibus, we get all of those things in abundance, but without the calories and the waiting around in airports.

Short stories and long-short stories , which we’re told are the author’s favourites, follow Montalbano’s life from just before his promotion and move to Vigata through his settling in period, right up to the more recent, televised stories which include all the familiar characters – Livia, Mimi, Fazio jnr and Catarella.

Beautifully written with witty, intriguing plots and well defined characters who have all the flaws and qualities of real people, this is just the book to chase away the winter blues and lead you, credit card in hand, to book a holiday in Sicily.

I enjoyed it tremendously.