Walk through the Woods by Colin Dexter

This is one of the later Inspector Morse novels, and it's the first one I've ever read.

I loved it.

I thought it was so clever (the mystery's solution is advanced by the letters column of the local paper where enthusiastic amateurs offer the police their assistance in deducing clues from a poem ostensibly written, and published in the paper, by the murderer).

I was also charmed and bemused by Inspector Morse's need to correct the grammar of the suspects he is interrogating.

I felt the ending was very surprising.  Of course, I should say that I am not as good as guessing the ending as many other mystery readers, and I think I'm looking for local color, character, surprises, and originality rather than solutions.  Plenty of color and character here.  

The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri

This is the third book I've read in this series, and I've read them out of order.
First, I read The Shape of Water, which I loved.  It had plenty of local color and satire.  Then I read the Voice of the Violin, and was a little disappointed by what I viewed as a more conventional mystery.  I couldn't help noticing, however, what an odd jumble of characteristics Inspector Montalbano had - loved classical music, was clearly an avid connoisseur of fine cuisine, but also seemed to be intolerant, impatient, rude, judgmental and impulsive.  Well!

Now that I've seen the Italian TV show I know that the gourmet Montalbano has flat abs and couture clothes as well as the tastes of a gourmet.  Who knew?

I loved the Snack Thief, however, because while it was partly about how we live today in that there was a subplot about illegal immigration, it was also about how we would like to live in that Livia, Inspector Montalbano's long-time love, finds great joy in caring for an orphan.

Livia and I must be sisters under the skin, because I always find I enjoy a mystery more if there's a subplot involving an orphan in peril.