The water rites

The water rites is the second installment of the White City Trilogy, created by the Vitorian author Eva García Sáenz de Urturi. The series mixes a narrative typical of the most exciting police thrillers with historical elements and legends from the north of Spain. The result has been an extremely compelling three-volume saga. One of the best when it comes to contemporary crime fiction.

In the first book, the author plunges the reader into the darkest recesses of the city of Vitoria. How do you do it? Simple: through the inquiries about several mysterious murders that occurred in emblematic places of the city. Then, in the second book a more intimate air is breathed, because it explores more the past and the mind of "Kraken", the peculiar protagonist of the saga. Similarly, most of the murderer's rituals take place in the Cantabria region.

About the author, Eva García Sáenz de Urturi

He was born on August 20, 1972, in Vitoria, Álava, Spain. Before dedicating himself to literature, he obtained a diploma in Optics and Optometry at the University of Alicante (he practiced this profession for 10 years). At 2012 he published his first novel, The old family, with which he began the successful Saga of the long-lived. Two years later the second issue of this series appeared, The sons of Adam.

In both books, the writer demonstrated a vast and meticulous historical documentation, superbly complemented by a very dynamic narrative style. This research capacity is equally palpable in the White City Trilogy. As well as in its most recent production: Aquitaine, (awarded with the Planeta Prize 2020) set in medieval times.

The style of a bestselling author

The characteristics of his narrative make evident a compendium of factors whose unequivocal result is an editorial success. En White City Trilogy, the combination between Novelty And certain elements of historical fiction are already intriguing on their own. Not surprisingly, this series has sold more than a million copies to date.

Additionally, the Alava writer relies on extensive documentation (including technical training courses in the police) to elaborate very detailed crime scenes. But "without splashing blood" to the viewer. In addition, his characters are deep, enigmatic and full of peculiarities.

Complete list of novels by Eva García Sáenz de Urturi

• The Saga of the Long-lived I: The Old Family (2012)
• The Saga of the Long-lived II: The Sons of Adam (2014)
• Passage to Tahiti (2014)
• White City Trilogy I: The Silence of the White City (2016). Adapted to the cinema under the direction of Daniel Calparsoro in 2019.
• White City Trilogy II: The Rites of Water (2017)
• White City Trilogy III: The Time Lords (2018)
• Aquitaine (2020)

Characters of The water rites

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Unai Lopez de Ayala

Alias ​​"Kraken", is the main character of the entire trilogy, He received that nickname due to his imposing physique and half-obsessive demeanor. He works as Inspector of the Di

vision of Criminal Investigation of Vitoria. Where he is well known for his expertise in profiling criminals.

Independent by nature, Unai uses keen wit and unconventional (even controversial) methods to achieve his goals. At the beginning of this book, he suffers from Broca's aphasia from a traumatic episode at the end of The silence of the white city. Therefore, it is very difficult for him to communicate.

Alba Diaz de Salvatierra

She is the deputy commissioner of the Vitoria regiment. She is emotionally attached to Unai; inclusive, is pregnant with him at the beginning of The water rites. Although Kraken occasionally exasperates her for his working methods, she does not hesitate to turn to him when the situation warrants. To further complicate the situation, her pregnancy makes her a possible target for the new killer.

Estibaliz Ruiz de Gauna

She is the partner of Kraken, a specialist in victimology. Namely, analyzes the traits of the victim in order to achieve some kind of direct or indirect link with the perpetrator. She is a determined, brave and very sensible woman, therefore, she brings an indispensable balance to the research group.

On the whole, Unai, Alba and Estíbaliz lead a truly strong investigation team. Additionally, in The water rites Two members of the team appear who turn out to be crucial for their contributions to the resolution of the case. They are Deputy Inspector Peña and Agent Milan.

Analysis and Synopsis

Argument

The police find the body of a murdered woman in the mount of Dobra, in Cantabria. The victim was hung from a tree by the feet with her head submerged in a container of water. The peculiarity of the murder is that the murderer has used Cabarceno's cauldron. Therefore, the perpetrator (apparently) is following a Celtic ritual almost three millennia old.

Home

The murdered (Ana Belén Liaño, who was also in a state) was Unai's first girlfriend. Then, Estíbaliz (the first of the gang to find out about the case) asks Alba to incorporate Kraken into the case. At the same time, The deputy commissioner has just told López de Ayala that she is pregnant and the baby could be hers.

Although it is not essential to read The silence of the white city To understand the context of the events leading up to this installment, it is best to approach the trilogy in order. Anyway, Eva García Sáenz de Urturi mentions many of the facts of the first book. It's more, This book clarifies the origins of several unresolved questions.

One resolution on two timelines

Unai completely meddles in the new investigation despite showing physical and psychological sequelae since his previous investigation. From that point on, the narrative takes place in two different periods. On the one hand, events of 1992 are recalled, when Unai and several of his friends were at a summer camp in Cantabria.

On that occasion, an (apparent) suicide of one of the camp participants occurred in the middle of a disturbing sequence of events. For its part, Unai decides to face the trauma of her childhood to overcome her aphasia. In addition, Kraken draws on his memories of the camp to elucidate who the current murderer might be, in a race against time as new victims appear.