The crystal cuckoo
The crystal cuckoo is a suspense and mystery novel written by the award-winning financier and author from Malaga Javier Castillo. The work was published by the Suma de Letras publishing label in 2023. Since its launch, the book has received mostly positive reviews from readers and critics. To date, Castillo has been described as a writer capable of creating exciting titles, and this has been no exception.
According to some readers, The crystal cuckoo It is not on par with books like the snow girl o The game of the soul. However, it is worth noting that Javier Castillo maintains that vertiginousness that is so characteristic of his literature, which it achieves thanks to freewheeling storytelling and short chapters that always have a hook at the end.
Synopsis of The crystal cuckoo
Some brief clarifications about the book
It is necessary to take into account that The crystal cuckoo It is not a continuation of any of Javier Castillo's novels, as his readers have become accustomed to. Even so, the fact that the work mentions Miren Trigg, one of the main characters of the previous books, tends to confuse the public. It should be noted that the author's most recent title can be read completely independently.
The start of a new life
The year 2017 takes place in New York. Live there Cora Merlo, a young woman from 25 years who has just finished his medical degree, and who starts working as a first-year resident. When she is about to begin her specialization in oncology, The girl suffers a massive heart attack and needs a transplant. Luckily for her, there is a heart available, and the surgery works out perfectly.
Cora, still recovering after surgery, receives a surprising visit from Margaret, who is the mother of his donor. This woman offers to the protagonist a strange treatment: spending several days at his house, in Steelville, a town in Missouri, United States. The proposal is carried out, according to the lady, in order for Cora to know a little more life by Charles, the previous owner of her heart.
In a particular town
Cora faces the insatiable curiosity of knowing who her donor was.. The protagonist is interested in understanding who she was, how she lived, and why she, specifically, asked that, if something happened to her in the future, those organs that still function be given to people who need them. Despite your own mother's reluctance, Cora decides to attend Margaret's house, who gives you a warm welcome.
Already in the rural areas of Steelville, Cora learns that Charles was her age when he had the accident that ended his life.. All the events surrounding the transplant unite both families, and, in some way, an unrepeatable connection is created between Cora and the town she now lives in. However, his arrival portends a bad omen and terrible events.
The development of a mystery
The arrival of the main character to the hermetic Steelville is marked by a tragedy: the disappearance of a baby. As she begins the search for the month-old child, Cora becomes good friends with Jack, the older brother of the former owner of her heart. At the same time, the protagonist offers to accompany the search committee, since her medical knowledge can help in case the child is injured.
As the investigation progresses, both the protagonist and the search agents realize a strange correlation. There seems to be a link that links the baby's disappearance with previous cases that occurred a long time ago.. Among them is that of Edwyn Finley, Jack and Charlie's father. The event that occurred with this man happened 17 years earlier, which baffles Cora, who does not hesitate to investigate on her behalf to get to the bottom of the mystery.
On the narrative style and structure of the work
Javier Castillo. Source: Malaga Today
Due to its setting and clinical aesthetics, the principle of The crystal cuckoo makes one think of productions like Central Hospital, Grey's Anatomy o DoctorHouse. The first half of the novel is much calmer than the last, which feels fast-paced and fast-paced in comparison.
There are jumps in time that explain the life of the heart donor and the disappearance of his father, the little secrets of the town, where fires, burials and murders have occurred, and where all the inhabitants seem to know each other. Steelville, as a construction and concept, is capable of making the reader feel claustrophobic, moved to a rural place that has as much prominence as Cora Merlo herself.
About the author, Javier Castillo
Javier Castillo was born in 1987, in Mijas, Malaga, Spain. The author was curious about letters since he was still very young. However, he assures that making a living from writing is complex, which led him to study something much more practical. So, He completed a degree in Finance from the University of Malaga. Meanwhile, he wrote stories for fun. Later, she decided to create a novel, which she self-published on Amazon in 2014.
Later, that same title had impressive acceptance and success. This fact caused the writer to be contacted by several publishers who asked to sign with him. In the end, Suma de Letras obtained the benefit of Castillo. Later, Javier published five more books, all equally successful.. In 2023, the film adaptation of the snow girl.
The latter is the fourth book by Javier Castillo, and, in addition, it is presented as one of the favorites of readers and critics. For his work and international fame, the author was awarded in 2021 by TODAY Magazine, in the “Best Writer of the Year” category.
Other books by Javier Castillo
Series The day sanity was lost
- The day that sanity was lost (2017):
- The day love was lost (2018)
Independent novels
- Everything that happened with Miranda Huff (2019);
- The snow girl (2020);
- The game of the soul (2021)