Description
October
Book Summary
Eleven days before the referendum of October 1, 2017, Barcelona is experiencing rising tension. In this convulsed political and social context, Mossos d'Esquadra Inspector Norma Forester and her heterogeneous team investigate the murder of a man who was living under a false identity. The case, which begins as a robbery resulting in death, becomes complicated as the inspector must manage a poorly balanced team and family tensions arising from the independence debate. Teresa Solana weaves an absorbing police plot with a contemporary portrait of Catalan society, offering a novel that goes beyond the mystery.
What is it about?
The novel places the reader in Barcelona in September 2017, on the eve of the October 1st referendum. The murder of an alleged retired actor in the Gràcia neighborhood triggers Inspector Norma Forester's investigation. She soon discovers that the victim was not who he claimed to be, which opens up new lines of investigation. Meanwhile, her team has been reduced to a sergeant, a young corporal with no experience in homicides, and a sub-inspector, Agustí Carrasco, who is about to be expelled from the force for his difficulty in adapting to new feminist sensibilities. At the same time, the inspector faces a family conflict where different opinions on independence threaten to break the peace during a celebration. The plot combines the resolution of the crime with the complexity of personal relationships and the political tension of the moment.
Main themes
- Investigation of a murder involving a false identity.
- The political and social tension in Catalonia during the October 1st referendum process.
- The internal dynamics of a police force in a context of change and diverse sensibilities.
- Generational and ideological conflict within the same family.
- The construction of an investigation team with very different and complementary profiles.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is recommended for readers of detective novels who are looking for plots with social and political depth. Also for those interested in the recent history of Catalonia, as the novel offers a literary look at a key moment. Followers of the Norma Forester series will find here a new installment that delves into the characters and their context.
What this book offers
- A well-constructed police plot with an unexpected twist regarding the victim's identity.
- A vivid and well-documented portrait of Barcelona in September 2017, with its atmosphere of mobilization and uncertainty.
- Complex and human characters, especially Inspector Norma Forester, who must manage professional and family tensions.
- A reflection on the identity and political debate from the perspective of personal relationships and coexistence.
Technical specifications
- Author: Solana, Teresa
- Publisher: Editorial Alrevés
- Language: cat
- Topic: CRIME AND MYSTERY GENRE
- Collection: CRIMS.CAT
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2019
- Number of pages: 230
- Weight: 405 g
Editorial review
October is a novel that successfully combines the noir genre with the social chronicle of a historical moment. Teresa Solana demonstrates a mastery of the police plot while constructing a story about the political and personal tensions that shook Catalonia. The figure of Inspector Norma Forester, surrounded by a dysfunctional team and a divided family, offers a human and credible point of view. For lovers of the genre, it is a work that provides context and depth without losing sight of the central mystery.