The inocents
The inocents It is the last installment of the crime novel series The Puerto Escondido books, written by the Spanish lawyer, columnist and author María Oruña. The work was published on September 13, 2023 by Planeta's Destino publishing label, under the Áncora & Delfín collection. As is customary with this writer, the sixth installment is self-contained.
As it happened with Hidden port, A place where go, Where we were invincible, What the tide hides y the path of fire (2022) The inocents It tells its own plot, so in theory it could be read independently. However, both the protagonist and the characters in this work have evolved since the first book, so it is recommended that they be read together.
Synopsis of The inocents
A union that is interrupted due to a crime
At the beginning of the novel, the protagonist, Valentina Redondo, is about to get married with whom he has become the love of his life: Oliver Gordon. Nonetheless, Two weeks before the ceremony takes place, something happens which leaves the lieutenant of the Civil Guard of the judicial investigation unit of Cantabria in check.
At the Gran Hotel Balneario de Puente Viesgo —a hot spring sanctuary, whose spring was known and valued by many due to the therapeutic power of its waters, at least since the 18th century— A crime occurs that claims the lives of multiple victims. So far, in the series of The Puerto Escondido books A crime of such magnitude had never occurred. So, the only question is, who is to blame?
The details of a strange case
A few days before your wedding, Valentina Redondo receives a call informing her about an attack. Earlier, a group of businessmen were at the Water Temple of the Puente Viesgo Spa enjoying a thermal circuit, but they were unable to come out safely from what, for them, had been a moment of relaxation until the moment of the fateful event.
In addition to the crime itself, there is a dangerous curiosity. After completing all laboratory tests, Experts discovered that the businessmen were attacked with a very dangerous chemical weapon: sarin gas. Faced with such chaos, Valentina must collaborate with her UCO colleagues, since the use of this type of weaponry requires specialized equipment.
Is this a terrorist attack?
It is evident that, after an event of similar proportions, There are many questions that must be resolved. For example: Who has the capacity and sufficient means to perpetrate an attack of such characteristics, orchestrated to the millimeter and executed to perfection? And on the other hand, What relationship could exist between the group of businessmen beyond their profession?
All clues point towards the worst possible scenario. A plan like that had to be organized by a clever and cruel brain, with the talent to go unnoticed and get under the skin of any official, but for what purpose? While investigating, Valentina and the UCO team discover the material culprit behind the attack. Now all that remains is to know who established it.
Knowing the intimacy of a criminal
With each step they take, the protagonists get closer to the real criminal. At the same time, The author of this work allows the reader to place himself ahead of Lieutenant Valentina herself., presenting not only the murderer, but his modus operandi, his motivations and the reflections he leaves throughout the book. This is when the story forks to understand both contexts.
It's not always pleasant when readers know where the story is going before the protagonist finds the way. However, there is something about the books of Maria Oruña which makes it worth finishing one of his volumes to give him the final verdict, given that His particular narrative style and his vision of justice are always a success.. For a reason, the author has more than a million fans.
About the evolution of Valentina Redondo
Valentina moves from her new safe place to a variant of that old chaos that has so characterized her life throughout the series. She knows that she is facing a great challenge, and she takes it on with fortitude, but, in the process, she comes across wounds from the past, which she had taken for granted. In addition, she will be repeatedly accompanied by her old colleagues and friends.
Among them are Captain Caruso, Second Lieutenant Santiago Sabadelle, Agent Zubizarreta, Agent Marta Torres and the team of forensic doctor Clara Mújica. However, andThe rest of the cast doesn't shine as bright as the main character., which is a shame, given the circumstances of each player playing in this plot and the way they have worked together for years.
About the author
María Oruña Reinoso was born in 1976, in Vigo, Galicia, Spain. He graduated in law, and worked for ten years in the commercial and labor field.. The author abandoned her career temporarily, as she wanted to dedicate herself to literature and her future motherhood. Over time, she returned to practicing as a lawyer in private practice, while writing historical stories for different websites. In 2013, she self-published her first novel.
However, it was two years later when he achieved commercial success. This, thanks to the first title of his most famous series: The Hidden Port Books. Over time, His texts became a sales phenomenon, which led the Suances City Council to create a literary route based on the setting of the novels, which are located in Cantabria, in the towns of Santillana del Mar, Comillas and Suances.
Chronology of the publication of María Oruña's books
Puerto Escondido Books Series
- Hidden port (2015);
- A place to go (2017);
- Where we were invincible (2018);
- What the tide hides (2021);
- The inocents (2023)
Other novels
- The archer's hand (2013);
- The forest of the four winds (2020)