Description
Imperfect Paradise
Book Summary
A crime novel that reveals the other side of coastal tourist destinations: the one that emerges when the vacationers leave. Juan Laborda Barceló explores the latent tension in a closed community, where silence and routine hide secrets that only the arrival of a crime can bring to light. A work that combines the oppressive atmosphere of the detective genre with a lucid and disenchanted look at life in coastal towns.
What is it about?
The story kicks off when the last vacationer leaves town and the beach bars close their doors. At that moment, the true essence of the coastal enclave reveals itself: a community subjected to the weariness of a perpetual Monday, where local inhabitants are trapped in routine and silence. In this setting of apparent calm, tensions, grudges, and secrets that had remained hidden beneath the summer bustle begin to surface. The work is a psychological thriller that probes the fragility of human relationships and how monotony can be the perfect breeding ground for violence and mystery.
Main themes
- The duality between tourist life and the daily reality of coastal towns.
- Weariness and routine as triggers for latent conflicts.
- Social isolation and loneliness in small communities.
- The tension between what is shown and what is hidden in human relationships.
Who is it recommended for?
Readers of crime and detective novels who are looking for more intimate and atmospheric plots, away from the fast-paced thriller. It will also interest those who enjoy stories that explore the dark side of seemingly idyllic places and followers of contemporary Spanish narrative with a social backdrop.
What this book offers
- An original perspective on the noir genre, set in the post-vacation context of a coastal town.
- A reflection on the fragility of coexistence and the social mask in closed communities.
- An immersive and oppressive atmosphere that maintains tension from beginning to end.
- A psychological portrait of characters trapped between routine and their own ghosts.
Technical specifications
- Author: Laborda Barceló, Juan
- Publisher: Editorial Alrevés
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction, Detective and mystery genre
- Collection: TBD Collection
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: May 2017
- Number of pages: 250
- Weight: 380 g
Editorial review
A solid offering within the detective genre that stands out for its ability to build a dense and recognizable atmosphere. Laborda Barceló manages to make the off-season coastal setting another character, and the narrative tension is sustained by the psychology of the characters rather than action. It is a recommended read for those who value slow-burn suspense and introspection, and who are looking for a crime novel that transcends mere entertainment.