The Man of My Life

By Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

Book Overview

After a visit to Argentina, Spain's most famous detective Pepe Carvalho is back in his beloved Barcelona and is swiftly embroiled in a murderous scandal amid the murky politics of 21st century Catalonia. When the son of a rich financier is murdered, Carvalho is called upon to investigate his mysterious death. In his quest for the killer, Carvalho has to infiltrate the world of Satanism and religious sects. The bon vivant detective also faces problems in his personal life, torn as he is between two women ? his on-off partner Charo, and her eternal hesitations, and the enigmatic Yes, a lover from his youth. The professional and personal merge and a devastating betrayal leaves Carvalho fighting for his life. As ever, Montalb'n astutely reflects on the current political situation in Europe with the added bonus of delicious Catalan recipes. This is Montalb'n at the top of his game.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1852428465
• ISBN13: 9781852428464
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail
• Length: 218 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A Great Read

The gourmet detective continues his exploration of modern life in the Catalan capitol Barcelona. A good read and lots of fun

intriguing Spanish investigator tale

Having spent some time in Buenos Aires (see THE BUENOS AIRES QUINTET), investigator Pepe Carvalho has returned home to Barcelona. However, he has no time to adjust to the time zone change as he has women to dine and a murder investigation to conduct. Someone killed Lazaro Conasal, son of an influential financier. Lazaro's mother informs Pepe that her late son and she agreed that Hannibal with his muzzle in the Silence of the Lambs is her husband and his father. The case takes a strange spin into the growing Satanist cults as Catholicism has increasingly become disfavored with the exposures of wrongdoing, especially depravity, by the Church during the Franco Era. He also finds ties to anarchists who want Catalonia to separate from Spain. With pressure to resolve the case preferably with a lowlife discard of no regard, Pepe ignores the noise and in between dining with a multitude of women, he continues his inquiry. This Spanish investigator tale is not an easy read as the social elements of separatism and religion as well as the lampooning of the aging lothario cop at times overwhelms the sleuthing. Pepe is a refreshing tour guide of where to dine in Barcelona and must have one heck of a supply of Viagra. The profound look at the failures of Catholicism in Spain is gripping and when combined with the anarchism subplot together they supersede the whodunit. Still fans who prefer something different will want to read Pepe Carvalho's return home. Harriet Klausner