Description
MATEU THE PRESIDENT
Book Summary
In pre-winter Barcelona, the reader will accompany Jaume Fuster, a Mossos d'Esquadra officer who joins the Homicide unit and encounters a case that goes well beyond the routine. A decapitated agent and a plan orchestrated by the Catalan upper class and the far-right to eliminate the president of Barça form the core of a criminal plot. With a cast of characters that includes prostitutes, hitmen, and journalists, the novel uncovers the rot of contemporary society through a fast-paced police thriller.
What is it about?
The novel begins with Jaume Fuster's return to Barcelona to join the Homicide group of the Mossos d'Esquadra. What seemed like a routine assignment immediately becomes a complex case: the discovery of a decapitated agent is the first clue to a darker plot. As the investigation progresses, a meticulously designed plan by the Catalan upper class and the far-right is uncovered, with the goal of assassinating the president of Barça. Through a network of secondary characters (prostitutes, hitmen, and journalists), the plot explores the connections between economic power, politics, and crime, offering a critical and uncompromising vision of current society.
Main themes
- Police thriller and criminal investigation in contemporary Barcelona.
- Corruption and alliances between the bourgeoisie, the far-right, and spheres of power.
- Social criticism and denunciation of the corruption of institutions and society.
- Football as a stage for political and economic conflicts.
- Marginal characters and violence as a reflection of urban reality.
Who is it recommended for?
For readers of crime novels and police thrillers who are looking for plots set in current-day Catalonia. It is also for those interested in narratives that combine the crime genre with social and political criticism, and who appreciate a direct and blunt style. Recommended for fans of investigative literature and those who want a raw view of the mechanisms of power.
What this book offers
- A complex and well-structured criminal plot that maintains interest until the end.
- A critical and realistic look at the dynamics of power in Catalan society.
- Believable characters and an urban setting that brings the reader closer to the darker side of Barcelona.
- An agile and direct narrative style, typical of the best thrillers.
Technical specifications
- Author: Bennasar i Llobera, Sebastià
- Publisher: Eumo Editorial SAU
- Language: Catalan
- Topic: Modern and contemporary fiction
- Collection: Notes de color
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2009
- Number of pages: 160
- Weight: 350 g
Editorial review
Mateu the President is a crime novel that successfully combines police intrigue with biting social criticism. The author constructs a plot that, starting from a brutal crime, reveals the connections between economic power, politics, and the world of football. Despite its brevity (160 pages), the novel offers a dense and suggestive read, ideal for those seeking a thriller with a political background and a stark vision of contemporary society.