The Wings of the Sphinx (Italian: Le ali della sfinge) is a 2006 crime novel by Italian author Andrea Camilleri, translated into English in 2009 by Stephen Sartarelli. It is the eleventh novel in the internationally popular Inspector Montalbano series.
Author: Andrea Camilleri Original title: Le ali della sfinge Translator: Stephen Sartarelli Language: Italian / Sicilian Series: Inspector Salvo Montalbano, #11 Genre: Crime, mystery novel Publisher: Sellerio Editore (Italy); Penguin Books (English translation) Publication date: 9 November 2006 (Italian); 2009 (English) ISBN: 978-0-14-311660-8 (English translation) Preceded by: August Heat Followed by: The Track of Sand
Plot summary: The story follows Inspector Salvo Montalbano during a difficult personal period, marked by a strained relationship with his partner Livia. A young woman's body is discovered in a dump, her face half destroyed, with only a sphinx moth tattoo on her shoulder as a clue. The tattoo links her to three other young women from Russia who bear the same marking—all victims of the underworld sex trade who had been rescued from the Mafia nightclub circuit by a prominent Catholic charity. As Montalbano investigates, he uncovers connections to powerful political and religious figures, and his superiors advise him to proceed with caution.
Adaptation: The novel was adapted for the seventh season of the Inspector Montalbano television series in 2009.
