Having just read and reviewed Mr. Montalban’s “Tattoo,” this reviewer found that this novel marks a deep contrast both in the writing and in the portrayal of Pepe Carvalho, the Barcelona private eye. In the former book, he is pictured as a light-hearted, irreverent lover and gourmet, and the tone of the writing is equally sprightly. In this installment, the writing is deep and somber, as befits the subject, and Pepe’s approach to his two loves is anything but light. Only his taste for food remains the same.
Pepe is retained by a rich widow to find the identity of the murderer of her son. To accomplish this task, Pepe becomes involved in infiltrating all kinds of conspiracies: a murderous scandal, murky politics and the world of Satanism and religious sects.
At the same time, Pepe enters a mid-life crisis, torn between two women who both claim he is the only man of their lives. It all becomes very heavy, with long tracts on Spanish (and other nations’) nationalistic efforts, and abstract religious discussions The various aspects come together to threaten Pepe’s life. The novel demonstrates the depth and ability of the author, who died in October, 2003.
