La forma dell'acqua

This novel introduces Inspector Salvo Montalbano and is the inaugural entry in the long-running series, establishing the character and his unique approach to crime-solving in Sicily.

The novel was adapted as the first episode of the popular Italian television series "Il commissario Montalbano," starring Luca Zingaretti as the titular inspector. The adaptation closely follows the book's plot and characterizations.

While each Montalbano novel presents a self-contained mystery, reading them in publication order, starting with this one, allows readers to fully appreciate the development of Montalbano's character and his relationships over time.