Description
Burnt Birds
Book summary
A heatwave scorches Spain while a gallery of characters on the edge cross paths over an August weekend. Thirtysomething criminals from Bilbao, a former regional president under investigation, a family on vacation in Benidorm, a Romani money lender, a prostitute in debt, and a paranoid priest are just some of the protagonists of this choral novel. Their fates intertwine in violent and unpredictable ways, weaving a story of dark humor and mounting tension. Juan Bas offers a solid crime fiction proposal where bad luck, crime, and the absurd go hand in hand.
What is it about?
The plot kicks off with a violent incident in a poker game involving El Guapo and Don Calores, two criminals known as The Birds, in the Otxarkoaga neighborhood of Bilbao. From there, the narrative expands to follow other characters: Lola Ferroso, the former president of Castilla-La Mancha harassed by the anti-corruption prosecutor's office; the Gallo Corneja family, whose vacation in Benidorm goes wrong due to a quail bone; Mateo Montero Jodorovitch, an unscrupulous Romani money lender; Iris or Marina, a prostitute who owes money to Mateo; Ibrahim Berrechid, a father on a trip from Paris to Morocco trapped by lust; Father Picabea, a paranoid parish priest tormented by his sins; Juana Garrido, a bank manager from Albacete acting out of insurmountable grief; and Ladis, a dipsomaniac innkeeper from the Burgos steppe. They all complicate each other's lives during that August weekend while Spain suffers a tremendous heatwave, in a choral tale that advances at an accelerated pace along scorched roads.
Main themes
- Dark humor as a narrative tool in the crime genre.
- The intersection of marginal lives with political and economic power.
- Violence as a trigger and consequence of impulsive decisions.
- Institutional corruption and impunity.
- Chance and bad luck as forces that trigger tragedies.
- Contemporary Spain portrayed through its roads and its working classes.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers of crime novels who appreciate choral plots, a fast-paced rhythm, and acidic, dark humor. It will also interest those who look for stories that portray Spanish social reality from a raw and uncompromising perspective, with complex and morally ambiguous characters. It is ideal for followers of authors like Juan Bas or readers who enjoy contemporary pulp and auteur crime novels.
What this book offers
- A choral plot that weaves multiple stories together in an agile and surprising way.
- Sharp dark humor that lightens the tension without detracting from the impact of the violence.
- Memorable characters, from criminals to corrupt politicians, with defined psychological profiles.
- A lucid and mordant vision of Spain in the time of crisis, heat, and disenchantment.
- An entertaining and absorbing read, ideal for a summer afternoon.
Technical specifications
- Author: Juan Bas
- Publisher: Editorial Alrevés
- Language: Spanish
- Theme: CRIME AND MYSTERY GENRE
- Collection: NOVELA NEGRA
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: October 2015
- Number of pages: 208
- Weight: 246 g
Editorial review
Burnt Birds is a crime novel that more than meets the expectations of the genre: rhythm, tension, sordid characters, and dark humor that acts as a counterpoint to the violence. Juan Bas demonstrates a mastery of the choral narrative, ensuring that each individual story maintains its interest while they intertwine with the others. The setting in a Spain stifled by heat and crisis provides a realistic texture that reinforces the reader's immersion. It is a solid and entertaining proposal, recommended for those looking for a crime read with personality and no compromises.