The angel of the city
The angel of the city It is the fifth volume of the series Creak, written by the award-winning optometrist and author from Vitoria Eva García Sáenz de Urturi. The work was published by the Planeta publishing label in 2023. After its launch, specialized critics and readers were ecstatic about the novel, which was presented as the great favorite in the last Sant Jordi, generating new expectations in the "Krakenians". ”, fans of the main character.
Through the years, Series Creak It has become one of the best sellers in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. This event began with the famous White City Trilogy, and subsequently, The book of hours. Eva García has set the bar very high with respect to Spanish thrillers, and she has earned a well-deserved and loyal community of followers.
Synopsis of The angel of the city
between the past and the future
As was the case with the first four books in the series Creak, The angel of the city can be read independently —although, of course, the context of the protagonist and his development are even better understood if you have access to the previous volumes—.
The most recent novel by Eva García Sáenz brings back Unai López de Ayala (aka Kraken). Yes, the charismatic police officer and expert in criminal profiles returns, who, once again, finds himself involved in a mysterious case.
One of the most notable features of the series Creak and the author's literature is that, almost always, addresses topics related to art and history. This time it is no different.
The plot takes place between Vitoria and Venice, settings where a count of a murky past which involves directly to Unai and his family, as well as other powerful and important figures in the world of artistic commerce.
As fragile as a fire in Venice
A meeting of the League of Antiquarian Booksellers is about to be held in the splendid palazzo from Santa Cristina, an island located in Venice. It is assumed that banned books will be exhibited at this fair. But, Very soon, the event turns into a nightmare. Later, firefighters and police are called, because the structure is up in flames. The events become darker when they realize that the bodies of the alleged victims have not been found.
The witnesses saw them enter, but never noticed any of the collectors leaving. The inspector of the Historical Heritage Brigade travels to Venice, since some of the books in the exhibition belong to the Spanish legacy. This agent is the one who turns to the Kraken for support, because she knows Unai's abilities, and understands that the case is much more complex than it seems at first glance.
A story from twenty years ago
When he receives the news, Unai immediately thinks of Ithaca, his mother, who, two decades earlier, was involved in a fire with similar features, in exactly the same city. This main plot is narrated all the time by the protagonist in first person. Thanks to it, it is possible to follow a specific timeline, where, along with the investigation of the case, the psychology of the Kraken, its family nucleus and the secrets that it has kept for years are explored.
At the same time, In Vitoria a parallel plot develops but related to the protagonist. Inspector Estíbaliz carries out an investigation that could be related to the circumstances in which Unai López de Ayala's father lost his life, who is in a difficult stage of his life: Alba, his wife, is not able to forget. traumatic moments that occurred during the previous books, which causes her husband to no longer want drama or conflict.
The absolute dominance of timelines
Eva García Sáenz Urturi is very skilled at analepsis, a resource that he constantly uses in The angel of the city. This skill of the writer is reflected in the passages from January 1992. There are descriptions of the world of museums, the sale and theft of works of art. The protagonist of these chapters is Ithaca, Unai's mother.
Furthermore, during these sections of the novel, The author uses a second-person narrator, which gives another aspect to the novel.. Likewise, there are countless plot twists, characters, and details that must be taken into account for the complete compassion of the work.
Narrative style of Eva García Sáenz de Urturi
The author's pen presents a careful aesthetic that glides appropriately through the landscapes of Venice and Vitoria. The streets, palaces, museums and other buildings are described with precision and beauty. In addition, the darkest landscapes and corners are prepared to immerse the reader in a gloomy atmosphere. The universe of art and investigation into scams for expensive paintings is intriguing and very well written.
Eva García creates an idyllic panorama for lovers of mystery, books, artists and the dichotomy between good and evil, the central theme of The angel of the city, along with the constant search for identity and journeys to the self.
About the author, Eva García Sáenz
Eva García Sáenz de Urturi
Eva García Sáenz de Urturi was born in 1972, in Vitoria, Álava, Spain. Her passion for literature arose since she was a child. When she was studying at San Viator Ikastetxea, her teacher asked her to write a diary with her experiences, a task that she carried out with diligence and talent, which surprised the teacher and recommended that she continue writing stories. Although he graduated in Optics and Optometry, he never abandoned letters or literary contests.
Over the years, the writer has won several awards thanks to her work, among them are: Most influential women in the World of Culture 2018, Yo Dona, El Mundo, and the Premio Planeta 2020.
Other books by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi
The saga of the old ones
- The old family (2012);
- The sons of Adam (2014)
White City Trilogy
- The silence of the white city (2016);
- The water rites (2017);
- The time lords (2018)
Kraken Series
- The black book of hours (2022)
Independent novels
- Passage to Tahiti (2014);
- Aquitaine (2020)