Hello book lovelies!
I recently read The Silence Of The White City, the first book in the White City Trilogy, and guys I fell in love with this book! It was recommended by an employee at the bookstore, she said she loved it and if I like this genre, then I should definitely give it a go. I am so glad I did! Note that I read the translated version in Greek, while the original language is Spanish. This is a spoiler-free review!
About the book:
A madman is holding Vitoria hostage, killing its citizens in brutal ways and staging the bodies. The city's only hope is a brilliant detective struggling to battle his own demons.
Inspector Unai López de Ayala, known as "Kraken", is charged with investigating a series of ritualistic murders. The killings are eerily similar to ones that terrorized the citizens of Vitoria twenty years earlier. But back then, police were sure they had discovered the killer, a prestigious archaeologist who is currently in jail. Now Kraken must race to determine whether the killer had an accomplice or if the wrong man has been incarcerated for two decades. This fast-paced, unrelenting thriller weaves in and out of the mythology and legends of the Basque country as it hurtles to its shocking conclusion.
CW: murder, suicide attempt, domestic violence, non-con
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller
Pages: 474 (greek ver), 528 (english ver)
Our main character is Unai, a detective specializing in profiling that goes by the nickname 'Kraken'. As a protagonist, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by how complex and well-written he is. From a young age, Unai was obsessed with this particular investigation, collecting any piece of information he could find in the media and never miss any updates on the news. Now that the murders reoccured, he finds himself in the most peculiar of situations. He is excited to be able to participate in the investigation and fairly certain he will be the one to put an end to this tragedy once and for all. On the other hand, the very nature of the situation slowly cracks his confidence and manages to let fear take over in the most inconvenient times. What made me particularly interested in him is the journey he embarks on in this book. I won't go into detail but by the end of this book, it feels like he has matured and grown to acknowledge his weaknesses. Also, his past plays an important role in the story, making the challenges he faces seem greater and more difficult to get through.
The plot itself is masterfully weaved from past and present alike. Some chapters take place in 1969, following a young doctor who recently settled in the town with his family. It took me a while to understand who these characters from the past were connected to the present story but it was so worth the wait. The devil hides in the details and if one pays attention, I can guarantee you will be more than satisfied once the mysteries start to unveil. As for the chapters taking place in the present, I love how the twists and turns always keep our detective one step behind the murderer. It gets the adrenaline going and yes, I cursed a couple of times.
The story, due to the nature of the crimes, relies heavily on the culture and history of Vitoria. It is a perfect opportunity for history nerds to discover more about the Celts and their descendants, the rituals and symbolisms. It drives the story forward in the most fun way possible while picking your interest in traditions long forgotten. The author's writing style allows her to convey images and sound vividly, avoiding long paragraphs filled with nothing but meaningless descriptions.
If you are looking for an action-packed book, complex characters, and atmospheric settings, I highly recommend this read!
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