Description
THE ILLUSTRISSIMA
Book Summary
A biting choral novel that dissects power, corruption, and hypocrisy in a provincial city. Everything begins with the murder of the Provincial Council president, a woman equally feared and hated. Through the voices of her fellow citizens, the author reconstructs the web of hatred, secrets, and ambitions that surrounded her. A work that not only narrates a crime, but portrays with irony and rawness how a society reacts when power is held by a woman.
What is it about?
On May 12, 2014, the body of the Provincial Council president is found on the footbridge she crossed every Monday on her way to her party's headquarters. The news shakes the city and unleashes a tide of rumors and speculation. Which of her many enemies could have murdered her? The Illustrissima was a controversial woman, ambitious and outspoken, a hoarder of positions obsessed with knowing everyone's secrets. Pursued by the press, which had begun to uncover her schemes, her death exposes a web of hatred, sickly jealousy, and deal-making woven over years. The narrative, choral and gripping, unfolds through the gazes of the city's inhabitants—a city with eyes and poison in every corner, where morbid curiosity runs rampant through its rainy streets.
Main themes
- Power and corruption in the local political sphere.
- Hatred and envy as drivers of human relationships.
- Hypocrisy and secrecy in a provincial city.
- Sexism and double standards when judging a woman in power.
- The construction of a criminal plot through multiple voices.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers interested in political thrillers and crime novels with strong social criticism. Also for those who enjoy choral stories that explore the psychology of a community, as well as acid and realistic portraits of provincial life. Especially indicated for those seeking a narrative that combines suspense with a reflection on gender and power.
What this book offers
- A suspenseful plot that maintains interest from the first page.
- An implacable and nuanced social portrait of corruption and ambition.
- A unique perspective on how gender conditions the perception of power.
- An agile, ironic, and stark prose that combines dark humor with critique.
- A choral story that offers multiple points of view on the same event.
Technical specifications
- Author: PRIETO, MARTA
- Publisher: ED.ALREVES,S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, CASTILLA Y LEON LOCAL HISTORY
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Publication date: September 2021
- Number of pages: 332
- Weight: 100 g
Editorial review
A novel that captivates with its ability to build a collective portrait from a crime. Marta Prieto achieves a balance between the tension of a thriller and the depth of social analysis, offering a work that invites reflection on power, gender, and morality in small environments. Ideal for readers looking for an intelligent and entertaining read, with complex characters and a background of social criticism.