Description
THE PEKINGESE STRATEGY
Book Summary
In this pitch-black novel, Alexis Ravelo plunges us into a descent into the hell of Canary Island crime. Júnior, desperate because of a debt to El Turco, devises a plan to rob the villa of Larry, his creditor’s own collector. What follows is a chain of subcontracting and poor decisions that drags a group of losers into a spiral of violence and dark humor. Far from sagacious detectives, the intrigue here is not who committed the crime, but who will be the next to fall. A special revised edition that includes an unpublished story about the past of one of its protagonists.
What is it about?
The story kicks off with Júnior, a man hounded by debts to El Turco, a dangerous loan shark. To settle his debt, he comes up with a reckless plan: to rob the villa of Larry, El Turco’s own collector in Gran Canaria. However, to avoid being recognized, Júnior commissions the job to El Rubio, who in turn subcontracts Tito el Palmera, a long-term unemployed man, and Cora, an escort down on her luck. Each of these characters, with their own miseries and needs, will be dragged into a plan that crumbles from the start. The novel does not present a crime to be solved, but a series of crimes to be committed, where the tension lies in guessing who will be the next victim of a chain of violent and absurd events. At heart, they are all human beings trying to survive, even if it means resorting to violence.
Main themes
- The spiral of violence and debt on the fringes of society.
- Dark humor as a mechanism for portraying despair and human misery.
- The fragility of criminal plans and the unpredictability of consequences.
- Survival in a hostile environment where loyalty is a luxury.
- The portrait of a Canary Island far removed from the sun and tourism, marked by marginalization.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers looking for a crime novel removed from the genre's conventions, without detectives or sophisticated serial killers. It is ideal for those who enjoy stories of antiheroes, choral plots with imperfect characters, and an acid humor that does not shy away from rawness. Also for those who appreciate agile narrative, sharp dialogue, and a stark yet human social portrait.
What this book offers
- An original and stark vision of the crime genre, focused on criminals and their blunders.
- A cast of memorable characters, losers with whom it is impossible not to feel a certain empathy.
- A plot that maintains tension and uncertainty about the fate of each protagonist.
- A direct narrative style, with brilliant dialogue and a pace that grips from the first page.
- Exclusive additional content: an unpublished story that delves into the past of one of the characters.
Technical data
- Author: RAVELO, ALEXIS
- Publisher: ED.ALREVES,S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CRIME AND MYSTERY GENRE, MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE WORK
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Publication date: February 2023
- Number of pages: 310
- Weight: 648 g
Editorial assessment
This special edition of "The Pekingese Strategy" solidifies Alexis Ravelo as an essential author of the Spanish-language crime genre. The work stands out for its ability to combine pure suspense with a dark humor that portrays human misery without falling into caricature. The inclusion of the unpublished story "Solo Carlos" adds value for the author's followers and for those approaching his narrative universe for the first time. It is a recommended read for those looking for an original, raw, and, at the same time, deeply human proposal within the crime genre.