This is apparently a very popular series in Italy. This first book was less of a who done it, as the victim dies of natural causes, but of what really happened that got him to that point. It proceeds at a leisurely pace as Inspector Montalban reflects on life & politics in Sicily. We're interrupted periodically by other cases that the inspector is involved in. These are presented like little vignettes that highlight the inspector's character & the setting but ultimately have no bearing on the main story. This straying off course, coupled with the way the Inspector just allows everything to resolve itself by using a little manipulation instead of a more direct approach just kept me disconnected from the story. Maybe it's all in the translation.