Description
The Fourth Girl from the Left
Book Summary
Andreu Martín transports the reader to the vibrant and dangerous Barcelona of World War I. In a neutral city teeming with spies, smuggling, and shady business, a young man from a village named Amadeu searches for a mysterious showgirl. His only clue is an old photograph where she appears as "the fourth girl from the left." What begins as an innocent search turns into a descent into a world of casinos, secret services, and double agents, where discovering the truth can be more lethal than ignorance itself.
What is it about?
In the midst of World War I, as Europe bleeds, Barcelona experiences a golden age of neutrality and dubious prosperity. The city is a hotbed of spies, fuel smuggling, and clandestine meetings at ports and capes where German submarines operate. Against this backdrop, Amadeu arrives from his hometown with a single mission: to find Amanda Rogent, a Moulin Rouge starlet who appears in a photograph his father has entrusted to him. The young man's search immerses him in a labyrinth of hidden interests, where the glamour of night shows and the casino masks a web of deception, double agents, and family secrets that threaten to destroy everything.
Main themes
- Espionage and counter-espionage during World War I in neutral territory.
- The contrast between the festive facade of early 20th-century Barcelona and its dark, criminal side.
- The search for identity and family truth in a hostile and corrupt environment.
- Gambling, chance, and seduction as drivers of a historical suspense plot.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers of noir and crime novels who are looking for well-documented historical suspense plots. Also for those interested in early 20th-century Barcelona, wartime espionage, and detective stories with a distinct period feel and complex characters.
What this book offers
- An immersion into the neutral Barcelona of World War I, a setting rarely explored in noir fiction.
- A mystery plot with unexpected twists that combines personal investigation with a spy thriller.
- Strong and enigmatic female characters, like the starlet Amanda Rogent, who defy the conventions of the time.
- An agile and evocative narrative that transports the reader to the bars, theaters, and alleyways of a boiling city.
Technical specifications
- Author: MARTIN, ANDREU
- Publisher: ED.ALREVES, S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CRIME AND MYSTERY GENRE, HISTORICAL MYSTERIES, MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE WORK
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 2023
- Number of pages: 440
- Weight: 920 g
Editorial review
Andreu Martín offers a highly solid historical noir novel, where the setting is as much a protagonist as the detective plot itself. The work stands out for its ability to reconstruct the atmosphere of a neutral city full of contradictions, offering the reader a fascinating journey into a murky past. It is a recommended read for those who appreciate classic mystery with a rich historical context and well-defined characters.