From the outset we know who the killer is, they just have to catch him. How difficult would be to catch somebody in Vatican with just a few million paying respects to the dead Pope? Why is a psychological profiler in charge of the investigation as we already know who the killer is? There is a reason which comes out in the end.
The first half the story moves between the investigation in the present and the past of the serial killer. The story of the serial killer is narrated through transcripts of psychiatric sessions that slowly reveal the trauma and abuse both the killer suffered and he meted out to others which are very disturbing to read.
Some of the twists and turns are quite predictable. Why doesn't anybody ask even the obvious questions? If there is only one way to get inside a building and that way is heavily guarded, how could the killer have gone out? There is nice little twist in the end that I didn't see coming.
The story is based around real events and issues that the Catholic Church faces like the death of the Pope, the issue of sexual abuse meted out by Catholic priests and the Church's efforts to suppress the issue and struggle over modernisation of the Church giving it an authentic feel. If one wondered what happened to the Priests who abused children, did they face a trial, did they go to prison? It is shocking (even though we have read about it in newspapers) to learn that such Priests were generally shifted around to different Regions and when they become more dangerous they were sent to an institution that probably made them worse.
The author provides interesting details about the Vatican in the beginning like how the Petrol is cheaper than in Rome and the long queues at Petrol stations even when only few are given permits to buy in Vatican. The only reason I picked up the book from library because I wanted to read a Crime Fiction book based in Vatican for the European Reading Challenge 2013 hosted by Rose City Reader. Overall a little disturbing but an interesting thriller!
Orginally written in Spanish and this book is translated in English by James Graham.
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1 comment:
Hello, Valli,
I’m writing to see how I might get my work reviewed on your site. My name’s Roger White; I’m a career journalist with 30 years experience. I’ve had five NYC lit agents since 1995. Legit agents all (even a year in Harriet Wasserman’s stable—she repped Saul Bellow), but I’ve never broken through. So I experimented with publishing an e-book myself. My latest, titled The Oklo Device, is on smashwords here:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/354657
It’s a thriller based on a factual discovery at the Oklo uranium mines in eastern Gabon. It’s good work.
I’ve come to realize that traditional publishing is such a long shot these days that self-pub is practically inevitable for the great majority of us. I’m no hack. If there is any way you could see fit to take a look at my work, I would be grateful. I am so appreciative of sites such as yours.
Sincerely,
Roger White
Austin, Texas
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