Phrase by Dolores Redondo.
Dolores Redondo is one of the fashionable authors in the Spanish literary sphere today. She has become famous among the Spanish-speaking literary public thanks to her Baztán trilogy. Not surprisingly, the notoriety of the author from San Sebastian has conquered readers in other languages due —largely— to titles such as Legacy in the bones (2013)
This crime novel has been translated into twenty-two languages to date. Like the predecessor installment of the aforementioned trilogy (The invisible guardian, 2013), Legacy in bones has been adapted to the cinema (2019). The film has a stellar cast headed by Marta Etura, Leonardo Sbaraglia and Álvaro Cervantes, under the direction of Fernando González Molina.
Legacy in the bones in the words of its author
A trilogy told non-linearly
In an interview granted to Patricia Tena and Jordi Milian in 2013, Dolores Round revealed perception regarding the novel. According to the Spanish writer, “en The invisible guardian Amaia suffers from severe post-traumatic stress, but we did not delve into what had caused it… En Legacy in the bones we tell what has caused that fear".
Redondo also reaffirmed the importance of “write honestly” in order to move readers through a fictional narrative. In that creative process she stated that she explored her own fears in order to be able to convey true emotions. further, the author managed to increase the feeling of overwhelm of the protagonist because of her impending motherhood at the beginning of the book.
mythological figures
En The invisible guardian the monster suspected of the horrific homicide described at the beginning of the trilogy is Bassajaun. That same trend continues in Legacy in bones with the supposed appearance of Tarttalo, a bloodthirsty Cyclops. About, Redondo explained that mythological beings are intrinsic to the culture and religious cults prior to the arrival of Christianity in the Basque Country..
A development full of sub-plots
The density and depth of the narrative is a hallmark of the three Baztán books (as well as the prequel to the trilogy, The north face of the heart). In this sense, the complexity is a direct consequence of the abundant microstories of each character. In this way, Redondo managed to put together a very entertaining and intricate story, where every detail counts.
In addition, the Basque writer believes that the Navarrese landscape constitutes a kind of character in itself, capable of influencing the reader and all the participants in the novel. Added to this, Redondo takes advantage of this book to expose aspects such as "male violence or the difficulties in reconciling work and family life that women have, especially”.
Summary
Initial approach
One year after the events narrated in The invisible guardian, Inspector Amaia Salazar appears at the trial against Jason Medina. The latter pretended to be Bassajaun with the aim of misleading the authorities after committing the murder of his stepdaughter, Johana Márquez.
However, the process must be stopped immediately when the defendant appears dead along with a suicide note addressed to Amaia that reads “Tarttalo”. Consequently, the leaders of the San Sebastián police are forced to request the support of their best specialist in this type of unusual case, Salazar.
A new terrifying case
The inspector has no choice but to lead the investigation team, despite her late-stage pregnancy. As if this were not enough, the sequence of events forces her to recall some incidents from her childhood (with whom he has some trauma). So, the sub-plot of Salazar's past comes together with the events of the present.
One of Amaia's latent fears has to do with her mother's disturbing behavior. For this reason, Salazar tries not to repeat his mother's behavior in order not to fail his son. At this point, the protagonist's difficulty in reconciling her work with her family life becomes evident, which becomes a persistent internal struggle throughout the novel.
Myth or Reality?
As Amaia compare her past with the present, she begins to elucidate a fact that is hard to believe: the supernatural is part of his life. In the same way, the secondary characters complete the panorama of a protagonist who must learn to trust those around her again. The same happens with the acceptance of the magic that accompanies her since her childhood.
Review
The merits of Dolores Redondo
For sure, the author donostia has demonstrated excellent documentation at the time of writing Legacy in bones through its environments. In fact, the gloomy scenarios described in detail constitute a narrative feature (common in the entire Baztán trilogy) that is very effective in hooking readers.
Image of the writer Dolores Redondo.
In parallel, the psychological depth of the protagonist and the complementary characters ends up putting together a very consistent story. In the same way, the dialogues are very concise and, at the same time, have the necessary descriptive amplitude demanded by the abundant details exposed in the novel.
demerits?
In some literary portals negative comments appear on the Baztán trilogy. Most of them have to do with the appearance of fantastic issues (ghosts, tarot, paranormal events...) in the middle of a police plot. However, is the supernatural alien to a crime novel plot?
In any case, the story leaves no loose ends or randomly placed elements or unnecessary reflections. Everything has a reason for being (including questions whose resolution does not obey a logical or scientific explanation). Consequently, this book is —beyond its remarkable commercial success— an outstanding representative of the Spanish crime novel of the XNUMXst century.
About the author, Dolores Redondo
Dolores Round.
Dolores Redondo is a native of San Sebastián; she was born on February 1, 1969. Although he dedicated himself to writing since his adolescence, he opted for other careers during his youth. Specifically, he decided to study Law —although he did not complete his degree— at the University of Deusto and Gastronomic Restoration in his hometown.
His first formal writings were short stories and stories for children, until the appearance of The privileges of the angel (2009) In his debut novel, Redondo demonstrated the first traits of a narrative full of vivid descriptions in the midst of scenarios marked by tragedy and childhood trauma. These traits are palpable in the protagonist of the Baztán Trilogy, Amaya Salazar.
Dolores Redondo's books
- The privileges of the angel (2009)
- Baztán trilogy
- The invisible guardian (2013)
- Legacy in the bones (2013)
- Offering to the storm (2014)
- All this I will give you (2016)
- The north face of the heart (prequel to the Baztán trilogy.