Scan barcode
mapmaker87's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lelandbuck's review against another edition
5.0
This is a spectacular historical mystery. The setting is remarkably well researched, the time dark and fascinating, and the characters totally captivating.
Pawel has taken the mystery to a new place and the result is a really great read.
Pawel has taken the mystery to a new place and the result is a really great read.
jhouses's review against another edition
3.0
Recomendado en la contraportada de [b:Slow Horses|7929891|Slow Horses (Slough House, #1)|Mick Herron|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1410800211l/7929891._SY75_.jpg|11252875] y con el recuerdo del buen sabor de boca que me dejó [b:Winter in Madrid|891671|Winter in Madrid|C.J. Sansom|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347651080l/891671._SY75_.jpg|2114967] me atrajo este policiaco con un Guardia Civil de protagonista en la inmediata postguerra madrileña.
Aunque la descripción de la época y el lugar no tiene reparos (salvo una escena en la antigua catedral de San Isidro que veo difícil porque la habían quemado y la reconstrucción fue muy larga) la investigación es simplona, el caso poco interesante y el investigador principal bastante poco atractivo para el lector. A pesar de que inicia una saga con el sargento Tejada como protagonista, el antagonista, Gonzalo, roba el foco en la mayor parte del libro y su improbable huida destroza la suspensión de la incredulidad del lector.
No está mal pero el resto de los libros van a tener que esperar a épocas con menos libros interesantes en la pila.
Aunque la descripción de la época y el lugar no tiene reparos (salvo una escena en la antigua catedral de San Isidro que veo difícil porque la habían quemado y la reconstrucción fue muy larga) la investigación es simplona, el caso poco interesante y el investigador principal bastante poco atractivo para el lector. A pesar de que inicia una saga con el sargento Tejada como protagonista, el antagonista, Gonzalo, roba el foco en la mayor parte del libro y su improbable huida destroza la suspensión de la incredulidad del lector.
No está mal pero el resto de los libros van a tener que esperar a épocas con menos libros interesantes en la pila.
prof_shoff's review against another edition
3.0
This work of fiction gave me more insight on the Spanish Civil War than all my historical reading to date. The main character is far from likable at times but the story moves quickly.
kellym_16829's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gawronma's review against another edition
3.0
This was debut novel of very interesting series. The series takes place in revolutionary Spain. What an interesting time.
carlyque's review against another edition
4.0
Unexpectedly loved this Spanish Civil War falangist procedural. THe main character didn't always work...a touch too much brutality leavened with humanity. (why did he just kill someone...no questions asked.) But the setting descriptions are fascinating; made me think a lot about the Spanish Civil War.
avid_d's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
travisantoniog's review against another edition
2.0
This is an interesting novel which is in the form of a detective story/ murder mystery set at the conclusion of the Spanish Civil war in 1939 where the nationalists under General Franco came to power. The novel follows in the footsteps of the Tejada; an officer in the Guardia Civil (Police) as he investigates the death of a colleague.
The novelist has st a touch challenge for herself by having the protagonist be a policeman representing a totalitarian and Fascist regime. Given in our current context where the role of police is being heavily condemned, makes it even more so difficult have sympathy for the character where the novel opens with Tejada killing in cold blood someone who happened to be at the scene of the crime and which sets the novel in open
Leaving that aspect aside, the novel is well paced and as new characters are introduced, the reader is kept guessing as to who might be the the true perpetrator of the crime. I also felt with respect to the setting of the novel where hunger and fear are commonplace while living in a bombed out Madrid as well as Tejada's detective work which seems to rely alot on pure luck and alot of mistaken identities, felt very realistic and believable.
While you don't need to have a deep understanding of the Spanish Civil war to follow the plot of the novel, you might miss some of the more subtle references and I personally would have liked to see more exposition about these in the novel.
The ending was quite unexpected though felt it was a bit rushed and some of the loose ends seemed to be resolved a bit too neatly.
But apart from that its an interesting read for someone who likes mystery novels
The novelist has st a touch challenge for herself by having the protagonist be a policeman representing a totalitarian and Fascist regime. Given in our current context where the role of police is being heavily condemned, makes it even more so difficult have sympathy for the character where the novel opens with Tejada killing in cold blood someone who happened to be at the scene of the crime and which sets the novel in open
Leaving that aspect aside, the novel is well paced and as new characters are introduced, the reader is kept guessing as to who might be the the true perpetrator of the crime. I also felt with respect to the setting of the novel where hunger and fear are commonplace while living in a bombed out Madrid as well as Tejada's detective work which seems to rely alot on pure luck and alot of mistaken identities, felt very realistic and believable.
While you don't need to have a deep understanding of the Spanish Civil war to follow the plot of the novel, you might miss some of the more subtle references and I personally would have liked to see more exposition about these in the novel.
The ending was quite unexpected though felt it was a bit rushed and some of the loose ends seemed to be resolved a bit too neatly.
But apart from that its an interesting read for someone who likes mystery novels