Description
Corruptio Optimi
Book summary
A crime novel that immerses the reader in an investigation where institutional corruption and violent crimes intertwine on the streets of Seville. Inspector Alicia Acosta, trapped between loneliness and routine, receives by mistake the statement of a key witness in a union corruption case. When the witness is found murdered, Acosta faces a maze of contradictory leads and the certainty that she cannot trust anyone. A suspenseful plot that explores the limits of loyalty and justice.
What is it about?
Inspector Alicia Acosta, head of the Homicide Group in Seville, is going through a difficult personal period. Her only support is the former commissioner Atalaya, her dog Estoico, and chess games with Grugol Mestekhi, a peculiar Georgian parking attendant. Due to an administrative error, she receives the statement of Victoriano Ferreiro, a union leader who is collaborating with the Economic Crimes Unit in an investigation into the leadership of CCOO in Andalusia. Days later, Ferreiro's corpse appears, and the case falls to Acosta's group. As she advances in the investigation, the inspector faces multiple lines of inquiry that sink her into a quagmire of hidden interests, where appearances are deceiving and distrust becomes her only guide.
Main themes
- Corruption in the union and political spheres in Andalusia.
- The loneliness and emotional wear and tear of an investigator in a hostile environment.
- The fragility of truth in a case with multiple versions and witnesses.
- Loyalty as a value in crisis in a world of conflicting interests.
- Chess as a metaphor for strategy and patience in criminal investigation.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers of crime and detective novels looking for realistic plots, complex characters, and a critical social background. Especially suitable for those who enjoy stories set in Spain, with a focus on institutional corruption and the moral dilemmas of investigators. Also for followers of authors who explore the darker side of power relations.
What this book offers
- A female protagonist with psychological depth, far from the genre's usual archetypes.
- A plot that combines criminal investigation with economic and political thriller.
- A realistic portrait of the city of Seville as a scene of corruption and violence.
- A reflection on loneliness and distrust in a world where alliances are ephemeral.
- A narrative pace that maintains tension until the last page.
Technical specifications
- Author: SIERRA,MANU
- Publisher: EDICIONES VERSATIL, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CRIME AND MYSTERY FICTION, MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE WORKS
- Collection: OFF VERSATIL
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2021
- Number of pages: 308
- Weight: 100 g
Editorial review
Corruptio Optimi is a novel that relies on a solid plot and a believable, vulnerable main character. Manuel Sierra constructs a story where corruption is not just a backdrop, but the engine of an investigation that captures the reader from the very first bureaucratic error. The Sevillian setting and the details of Inspector Acosta's daily life add authenticity to a story that does not shy away from social criticism. Recommended for those looking for a thriller with substance, where suspense is born from the complexity of human relationships and the opacity of power.