Description
ALL THE DEMONS
Book Summary
Summer 1960. A high-ranking German official is found brutally murdered in Madrid, and the Spanish government, hoping to avoid a diplomatic incident, tasks Inspector Ernesto Trevejo with the investigation. Accompanied by an enigmatic American professor, Trevejo follows the trail of a painting exhibited in Zurich that appears to be the key to the crime. Unwittingly, he is plunged into a spiral of blood and secrets that unveils one of the darkest episodes of the Franco regime: Nazi fugitives taking refuge in Spain. This noir novel combines a breakneck plot with meticulous historical settings, offering an absorbing read about revenge, moral decay, and hidden loyalties.
What is it about?
In 1960s Madrid, a city striving to project an image of modernity, the murder of a high-ranking official from a German public institution triggers a high-stakes investigation. To avoid a diplomatic conflict, authorities turn to Inspector Ernesto Trevejo, a cynical and pragmatic detective with a very unique ethical code. Alongside a mysterious American professor, Trevejo tracks the origin of a painting in a Zurich museum, a clue that points to a network of former Nazis who have been hiding in Spain since the end of World War II. The investigation pits him against a tangled web of personal vendettas, economic interests, deep-seated hatreds, and buried romances, as he moves among Nazi expatriates, former Falangists, social climbers, and American secret service agents. The plot reveals the sordid aspects of the Franco regime and the impunity enjoyed by certain war criminals on Spanish soil.
Main Themes
- The impunity of Nazi fugitives who took refuge in Spain during the Franco era.
- Criminal investigation in a context of diplomatic tension and institutional corruption.
- The moral duality of Inspector Trevejo, a skeptical policeman who acts according to his own ethical code.
- The contrast between the superficial modernization of 1960s Madrid and the shadows of the recent past.
- The networks of power, economic interests, and hidden loyalties that condition justice.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers of noir and crime fiction looking for solid plots with a historical backdrop. Also for those who enjoy espionage thrillers and political conspiracies, as well as stories set in post-war Spain and the Franco regime. Especially recommended for those who appreciate incisive prose, complex characters, and a rigorous setting.
What this book offers
- A well-constructed suspense plot that combines crime, history, and politics.
- An immersion into a little-known historical episode: the presence of Nazi refugees in Spain.
- A charismatic and morally ambiguous protagonist, Inspector Trevejo, who adds depth to the narrative.
- A detailed setting of 1960s Madrid, with its social contrasts and its atmosphere of controlled change.
- A read that is both entertaining and invites reflection on impunity and historical memory.
Technical Details
- Author: ROSO, LUIS
- Publisher: ED.ALREVES,S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Modern and contemporary fiction, crime and mystery genre, spy fiction
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication Date: November 2021
- Number of pages: 440
- Weight: 920 g
Editorial Review
All the Demons establishes Luis Roso as a benchmark author in national noir fiction. The work stands out for its precise prose, irony, and careful historical setting, which transports the reader to a changing Madrid where the shadows of Nazism still linger. The plot, breakneck and well-woven, maintains interest through a balance between police investigation, espionage thriller, and the portrait of an era. Inspector Trevejo, with his cynicism and his particular moral compass, emerges as a memorable protagonist who gives the narrative personality. A recommended read for those looking for quality noir fiction with a historical and political backdrop.