Description
GODS ALSO DIE
Book Summary
A noir novel that combines a macabre discovery in present-day Madrid with the ghosts of the Spanish Transition. When the arm of a young man who disappeared forty years ago is found wearing a ring with the symbol of Zeus, the Apostles Brigade faces a human puzzle scattered across Europe. At the same time, police officer and former priest Severo Justo returns to the Extremaduran mountains to investigate whether his father is guilty of the murder of one of his mother's former boyfriends, a man he resembles all too closely. A plot of secrets, family hatreds, and conspiracies that paves the way for the series' finale.
What is it about?
The plot is structured into two story arcs that converge in the universe of the Apostles Brigade. In the first, the discovery of a mummified arm with a gold ring depicting Zeus triggers an investigation that connects the Spain of the Transition to the present day. The agents must reconstruct a jigsaw puzzle of human remains scattered across the continent, facing powers that would prefer the case remain unsolved.
In the second arc, Severo Justo, a police officer and former priest, returns to the Extremaduran mountains where he grew up. His goal is to prove the innocence of his father, a man he despises, who is accused of murdering a former flame of his mother. The victim bears an unsettling physical resemblance to Severo, which adds a layer of psychological and emotional tension to the narrative.
The work serves as a prelude to the fourth and final installment of the series, closing narrative arcs opened in previous novels and delving into the personal conflicts of its protagonists.
Main Themes
- Historical memory and the unsolved crimes of the Spanish Transition.
- Family conflict and hatred between parents and children as a narrative engine.
- Identity and the double: physical resemblance as an element of suspense and revelation.
- Institutional corruption and the secrets that those in power try to hide.
- The initiatory journey and personal redemption through investigation.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers of noir and crime novels who seek complex plots with historical and political backgrounds. Especially recommended for those who follow the Apostles Brigade series and want to see how the characters' stories conclude. Also for those interested in the Spanish Transition as a setting for crimes and conspiracies.
What this book offers
- A suspenseful, multi-layered plot that combines criminal investigation and family drama.
- A lucid portrait of the Spanish Transition as a period of secrets and latent violence.
- A deeper look into the psychology of Severo Justo, a tormented and complex character.
- A read that sets the stage for the series' conclusion, offering clues about its outcome.
Technical Sheet
- Author: SALEM, CARLOS
- Publisher: ED.ALREVES,S.L
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CRIME AND MYSTERY GENRE, CRIME CLASSICS, MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE WORK
- Collection: NARRATIVE
- Publication date: May 2023
- Number of pages: 360
- Weight: 753 g
Editorial Review
A solid installment within the Apostles Brigade series that maintains the narrative pulse and plot complexity characteristic of its author. The dual temporal and geographical lines enrich the plot, while Severo Justo's personal conflict adds emotional density. Recommended for followers of the genre who appreciate stories where the past weighs heavy on the present.