I wonder if this investigation will smear into another or next book? It leaves off as if it could but I think it would be better off left hanging. It felt like a lot of footwork for nothing near the start & Camilleri leaned hard into Montalbano's internal struggles instead. I think there were just less engaging characters woven into this case, which I suppose is because they couldn't locate the girls for more than half the novel.

I'm frustrated with his dumb "lemme do this stuff real quick" impulses leading up to conversations with Livia. They've both messed up pretty hard & aren't doing themselves any favors. Sure, the closing had a bit of humor with the switch but it was unsurprising.