'Sabbia Nera'

Author: Cristina Cassar Scalia

Publisher: Giulio Einaudi / 2018

Pages: 392

What intrigued me at first was the (what I thought) Maltese surname Cassar. Later I found there are other Cassars in Sicily, specifically in Noto where this author resides.

Then I found out that the author is well known not just in Sicily but also in Italy. She is sometimes compared, favourably, to that other author who also carries what we would think a Maltese surname, Andrea Camilleri, author among other novels of the Montalbano police thrillers.

The other protagonist is the city, well known by the Maltese (or possibly not loved at all), Catania.

The author was not born in Catania. She was born a short distance away, in Noto, where she now lives and works as an ophthalmologist.

We Maltese tend to look down on the city, perhaps a relic of the time when we invaded the city dedicated to St Agatha to buy toothpaste and toilet paper.

But Catania for the Italians brings to mind not only the black of volcano ashes and also the black paving of the streets; it also reminds them of the black of the Fascist black shirts.

For those who were born in the city Catania means something else - the spirit which time and again rebuilt the city after a disastrous earthquake. The baroque buildings along Via Etnea, at least those not destroyed by bombs in World War II, and the palaces spread around both in the city as well as the countryside, are typical examples.

Ever since we Maltese came under the influence of the British we lost most of the links between Malta and Catania.

But the historical links are still there - St Agatha is Malta's secondary patron saint and some street names like San Giuliano are common.

One link that has been unfortunately lost is the culinary one. As the book clearly emphasises, Catania is not only famous for its fish but even more so for its pastries.

The book points out some bars, trattorias and other places around the city. As well as other venues that are slowly being discovered by the Maltese, such as Portopalo. And Zafferana on the slopes of the Etna.

The story... Catania is blanketed once more by a rain of black ashes. In a disused wing of an ancient villa the body of a woman, dating from a long time ago, is found.

The case is handed over to vicequestore Giovanna Garrasi, called by those who know her as Vanina; 39 years old, from Palermo who has been transferred to the Catania district.

The house, where the body was found, is derelict and nobody has lived in it since 1959. Only the nephew, Alfio Burrano, sometimes opens it up. He is the only heir of this rich family.

It is almost impossible to find out who the woman found dead is. Vanina does not give up especially with the help of the retired Commissario Biagio Patane'. A man has already spent many years in jail for the killing of the house's owner.

After many twists and turnings an amazing story of jealousy and violence is slowly uncovered.