Author: P.J. Brooke
Publication Date: 1 September 2010
Publisher: Soho Constable
During Granadas spectacular Easter processions, Sub-Inspector Max Romero has a visitor, his sister, Susanna. She is preparing a T.V. programme on San Juan de la Cruz, Spains sixteenth century mystic poet. In the ruins of San Juans monastery on the Alhambra hill, they meet a charismatic environmentalist, Francisco Yepes, who later that day finds the body of a gypsy guitarist in a cave. The body is that of Paco, an ex-con who had helped Max in a previous case. Pacos death leads Max deep into the gypsy community of Sacromonte, and into another major conflict with Inspector Ernesto Navarro.\n\nThe investigation into Pacos death begins to unravel a major property speculation involving the development of the beautiful Sacromonte valley below the Alhambra, a speculation involving laundered drug money, town hall corruption, and Opus Dei.\n\nCharacters from Blood Wedding re-appear, and Maxs new investigation takes him deep into the politics of urban corruption in Spain and Granada. But even there, the dead reach out to touch the living.\n\nThe bars, food and scenery of Granada, the striking mystical poetry of San Juan de la Cruz and the drama of flamenco, bring to life another thrilling murder mystery, linking the fanaticism of seventeenth century Granada with the corruption of the present day.
