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Elisenda Domènech Investigations #1
City of Good Death
An intense and brilliantly realised crime thriller set in the myth-soaked streets of Girona
A killer is targeting hate figures in the Catalan city of Girona – a loan shark, a corrupt priest, four thugs who have blighted the streets of the old quarter – leaving clues about his next victim through mysterious effigies left hung on a statue. Each corpse is posed in a way whose meaning no one can fathom. Which is precisely the point the murderer is trying to make.
Elisenda Domènech, the solitary and haunted head of the city’s newly-formed Serious Crime Unit, is determined to do all she can to stop the attacks. She believes the attacker is drawing on the city’s legends to choose his targets, but her colleagues aren’t convinced and her investigation is blocked at every turn.
Battling against the increasing sympathy towards the killer displayed by the press, the public and even some of the police, she finds herself forced to question her own values. But when the attacks start to include less deserving victims, the pressure is suddenly on Elisenda to stop him. The question is: how?
With City of Good Death Chris Lloyd launches a gripping new series sure to appeal to readers of Val McDermid and the Inspector Montalbano novels. Rich in atmosphere, local detail and featuring an unforgettable heroine, it also announces the arrival of a major new British crime writing talent.
Chris Lloyd lived in Catalonia for over twenty years, besides brief spells in Bilbao, Madrid, Grenoble and a mill in Devon. He has written and contributed to several travel books about Spain for Rough Guides, travelling extensively around the country. Now back in South Wales, he works as a Catalan and Spanish translator. This is his first novel.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2015
36 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lloyd
6 books42 followersAfter graduating in Spanish and French, I lived in Catalonia, where I worked in educational publishing and as a travel writer and translator. I’ve also lived in Grenoble, researching the French Resistance movement.
The result of my lifelong interest in World War 2 and resistance and collaboration in Occupied France, The Unwanted Dead (Orion) is my first novel set in Paris, featuring Detective Eddie Giral. I’m also the author of the Elisenda Domènech crime series (Canelo), featuring a police officer with the newly-devolved Catalan police force.
The result of my lifelong interest in World War 2 and resistance and collaboration in Occupied France, The Unwanted Dead (Orion) is my first novel set in Paris, featuring Detective Eddie Giral. I’m also the author of the Elisenda Domènech crime series (Canelo), featuring a police officer with the newly-devolved Catalan police force.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 3, 2020
I really enjoyed City of Good Death. Chris Lloyd has an easy writing style and, although both Girona and its history and legends of Catalonia were unknown to me it didn’t detract from what is a a clever and intricate plot, It’s also an astute study in human nature, where evil deeds are seen as retribution and values are twisted to justify immoral acts
The author was recommended to me and I chose this book knowing that it is the first of a series. I was anxious to see if I could relate to the main characters before I carried on with the others. I needn’t have worried; the characters are well rounded and distinguishable despite the names and ranks being unfamiliar (though I must admit that, at first, I needed to go back once or twice to make sure I knew who I was reading about. But that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book).The protagonist, Elisenda Domenech, the law-enforcement officer leading the investigations, is portrayed as a lonely, yet self sufficient woman. Her background and that of her family are, as yet, to be explored more thoroughly in the next books, I surmise. Nevertheless she is a character with whom one can empathise.
The dialogue is good, with those idiosyncrasies and turns of phrase a reader would expect of a book set in a different country with a mixture of languages
But it is the descriptions of the settings, especially those of the legendary clues, that give the story so many levels. It is obvious that the author both knows Girona and has extensively researched the country in both its historical and contemporary eras.
As the book description says this is a page turner. Any readers who enjoys a crime thriller in an interesting setting, with characters that evolve as the story progresses, will enjoy City of Good Death as much as I did. Recommended.
The author was recommended to me and I chose this book knowing that it is the first of a series. I was anxious to see if I could relate to the main characters before I carried on with the others. I needn’t have worried; the characters are well rounded and distinguishable despite the names and ranks being unfamiliar (though I must admit that, at first, I needed to go back once or twice to make sure I knew who I was reading about. But that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book).The protagonist, Elisenda Domenech, the law-enforcement officer leading the investigations, is portrayed as a lonely, yet self sufficient woman. Her background and that of her family are, as yet, to be explored more thoroughly in the next books, I surmise. Nevertheless she is a character with whom one can empathise.
The dialogue is good, with those idiosyncrasies and turns of phrase a reader would expect of a book set in a different country with a mixture of languages
But it is the descriptions of the settings, especially those of the legendary clues, that give the story so many levels. It is obvious that the author both knows Girona and has extensively researched the country in both its historical and contemporary eras.
As the book description says this is a page turner. Any readers who enjoys a crime thriller in an interesting setting, with characters that evolve as the story progresses, will enjoy City of Good Death as much as I did. Recommended.
July 25, 2020
Žmogžudystės paremtos vieno miesto legendomis. Tas miestas - Girona, Ispanija. Man daugiau ir nereikėjo, kad užsinorėčiau perskaityti.
Pasirinkus rašyti tokia tema yra labai svarbu sukurti to miesto atmosferą, padėti skaitytojui įsvaizduoti tas visas gatveles, aikštes, tiltus ir panašiai. Aš net buvus Gironoje negalėjau nusikelti mintimis nei į vieną minimą vietą. Va taip blogai buvo parašyta. Miestas paliktas be veido, nors viskas sukasi apie jo tradicijas, identitetą, katalonijos išskirtinumą. Joks ne ispanas neturėtų rašyti tokia tema, nes tikrai neturi supratimo, kad ir kiek metų pragyvenęs Ispanijoje.
Pirmų 100psl net neprisimenu. Nežinau ar jums būna taip, bet skaitai ir absoliučiai nieko nelieka galvoje. Ties knygos viduriu atsirado daugiau veiksmo, bet neusistvarkė autorius su tuo. Kažkokio tyrimo čia iš viso nėra. Nužudymas - nužudymas - ...... - nužudymas - pabaiga. Nei kaip nei kas, nei kokios užuominos privedė prie sprendimo ar veiksmo. Turbūt pats autorius nežinojo ką sugalvoti tai tiesiog praleido tas dalis, o skaitytojas paliktas gaudytis pats. Pagrindinė detektyvė tiesiog stebuklingai vis skyriaus pabaigoje pakartodavo - "aš žinau ką daryti" - "aš žinau kur jį rasti" . Nušvirtimai matyt ją aplankydavo kažkokie.
Personažų irgi baisus perteklius. Vienu metu jų gali atsirasti net keli, su keliais vardais, knygos eigoje į juos kreipiamasi trimis skirtingais kreipiniais, kol galiausiai visiškai pasidaviau bandydama prisiminti kas yra kas.
Na manau akivaizdu, kad serijos netęsiu.
Pasirinkus rašyti tokia tema yra labai svarbu sukurti to miesto atmosferą, padėti skaitytojui įsvaizduoti tas visas gatveles, aikštes, tiltus ir panašiai. Aš net buvus Gironoje negalėjau nusikelti mintimis nei į vieną minimą vietą. Va taip blogai buvo parašyta. Miestas paliktas be veido, nors viskas sukasi apie jo tradicijas, identitetą, katalonijos išskirtinumą. Joks ne ispanas neturėtų rašyti tokia tema, nes tikrai neturi supratimo, kad ir kiek metų pragyvenęs Ispanijoje.
Pirmų 100psl net neprisimenu. Nežinau ar jums būna taip, bet skaitai ir absoliučiai nieko nelieka galvoje. Ties knygos viduriu atsirado daugiau veiksmo, bet neusistvarkė autorius su tuo. Kažkokio tyrimo čia iš viso nėra. Nužudymas - nužudymas - ...... - nužudymas - pabaiga. Nei kaip nei kas, nei kokios užuominos privedė prie sprendimo ar veiksmo. Turbūt pats autorius nežinojo ką sugalvoti tai tiesiog praleido tas dalis, o skaitytojas paliktas gaudytis pats. Pagrindinė detektyvė tiesiog stebuklingai vis skyriaus pabaigoje pakartodavo - "aš žinau ką daryti" - "aš žinau kur jį rasti" . Nušvirtimai matyt ją aplankydavo kažkokie.
Personažų irgi baisus perteklius. Vienu metu jų gali atsirasti net keli, su keliais vardais, knygos eigoje į juos kreipiamasi trimis skirtingais kreipiniais, kol galiausiai visiškai pasidaviau bandydama prisiminti kas yra kas.
Na manau akivaizdu, kad serijos netęsiu.
July 1, 2015
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Canelo!
When the victim of a crime is an innocent person, it is easy to get upset. When it is a bad guy, would you see him as a victim or would you see it as poetic justice, as a good death? This is the question at the root of City of Good Death, the first in a series following Elisenda Domènech, set in the Catalonian city of Girona. I lived in Spain for many years and I know a lot about the South, but Catalonia is as much of a foreign country as Norway. I enjoyed learning about the legends, traditions and characteristics of the city. Elisenda and her team are likable, especially Pau, the caporal of Andalusian descent who is more Catalonian than anyone born in the region. The chase to find the killer and prevent more murders is well paced. The unintended consequences, turning neighbor against neighbor and encouraging pettiness and nastiness amongst normal citizens, makes you think. What I liked the least was the aggression and harassment that Elisenda has to contend with, being a woman in a man’s world. I'd like to think it is exaggerated but I fear it's not. A nice mystery.
When the victim of a crime is an innocent person, it is easy to get upset. When it is a bad guy, would you see him as a victim or would you see it as poetic justice, as a good death? This is the question at the root of City of Good Death, the first in a series following Elisenda Domènech, set in the Catalonian city of Girona. I lived in Spain for many years and I know a lot about the South, but Catalonia is as much of a foreign country as Norway. I enjoyed learning about the legends, traditions and characteristics of the city. Elisenda and her team are likable, especially Pau, the caporal of Andalusian descent who is more Catalonian than anyone born in the region. The chase to find the killer and prevent more murders is well paced. The unintended consequences, turning neighbor against neighbor and encouraging pettiness and nastiness amongst normal citizens, makes you think. What I liked the least was the aggression and harassment that Elisenda has to contend with, being a woman in a man’s world. I'd like to think it is exaggerated but I fear it's not. A nice mystery.
April 24, 2020
This just didn't work well for me. It might be that I read it while in Corona virus lock down with three young children, but I found it confusing. There seem to be far too many character names, most of which don't seem to have any actual fleshed out characters attached, so I quickly lost track of who was who.
The story itself is fine, quite interesting and decently plotted, but I just couldn't get any feeling for any of the characters.
The story itself is fine, quite interesting and decently plotted, but I just couldn't get any feeling for any of the characters.
April 17, 2023
Chris Lloyd's Edie Giral series,set in occuppied Paris,is superb. Atmospheric,intricate,great characters.I loved the books,so I thought I'd try this one,a much earlier book of his,the first one in another series.
It starts well,but soon gets slow,repetitive,and ultimately quite ridiculous.I'll put it down to an author trying his wings,and I'm glad he's learnt how to fly beautifully with Giral.
It starts well,but soon gets slow,repetitive,and ultimately quite ridiculous.I'll put it down to an author trying his wings,and I'm glad he's learnt how to fly beautifully with Giral.
July 19, 2021
this book was really slow. it wasn't as interesting as I thought so it was hard to stay involved.
July 12, 2015
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This a very well written and exciting murder mystery that does much more than just tickle your whodunit fancy. It is a guide to the Catalan city of Girona, its history and mythology, all of which is so vividly described that you could almost be there. There is the tension between the Catalan and Spanish languages, cultures and identities, and the on-going legacy of the Franco years. But above all else, there is the moral dimension. The murderer is making the reader, along with all the characters in the book, “decide where we stand. Where we draw the line.” The first murder victim is mourned by nobody – not really even his family – but as the murders continue, public sentiment becomes more and more divided: “The ones taking a stance against cultural imperialism but drawing the line at killing for it against the ones who didn't. ... the ones who stood for or against his fate. The young against the old, the traditionalists against the progressive, the reasonable against the righteous and every shade in between. Those whom people chose to protect and those to threaten.”
While we all have people, or groups of people whom we would like to see brought low, would we wish them dead? Would we actually kill them? Is the vigilante ever right? The heroine , Elisenda Domenech, strongly feels that as a police officer “It's my job to find who did it and to see that justice is done. That doesn't change, no matter who the victim is”. Not everyone agrees. To solve the murders, Elisandra has to battle not only the local criminals, but also her own colleagues, lawyers, the press and most of all the judges who have their own agendas: “Man hanging by a rope tied to his wrists from the window of a derelict building, pool of blood on the ground below, man's nose a distant memory, and the judge had taken an hour to come to the conclusion that it was suspicious”. Serial murderers are bad for the city, therefore there is no serial murderer. The first victim is a crime boss, therefore the murders are “'Gang-related, Sotsinspectora Domènech,' the judge had replied. 'That is how you will conduct the investigation”.
It is very soon clear that the judge is wrong. Elisandra conducts the cases along the lines she believes to be right, and is thrown into the world of myths, legends and the symbols that have evolved throughout the long history of Girona.
There are twists and turns all over the place. So many characters appear suspicious, and the final revelation of the murderer is a real surprise. This book works on so many levels and I fully recommend it. I also want to visit Girona!
This a very well written and exciting murder mystery that does much more than just tickle your whodunit fancy. It is a guide to the Catalan city of Girona, its history and mythology, all of which is so vividly described that you could almost be there. There is the tension between the Catalan and Spanish languages, cultures and identities, and the on-going legacy of the Franco years. But above all else, there is the moral dimension. The murderer is making the reader, along with all the characters in the book, “decide where we stand. Where we draw the line.” The first murder victim is mourned by nobody – not really even his family – but as the murders continue, public sentiment becomes more and more divided: “The ones taking a stance against cultural imperialism but drawing the line at killing for it against the ones who didn't. ... the ones who stood for or against his fate. The young against the old, the traditionalists against the progressive, the reasonable against the righteous and every shade in between. Those whom people chose to protect and those to threaten.”
While we all have people, or groups of people whom we would like to see brought low, would we wish them dead? Would we actually kill them? Is the vigilante ever right? The heroine , Elisenda Domenech, strongly feels that as a police officer “It's my job to find who did it and to see that justice is done. That doesn't change, no matter who the victim is”. Not everyone agrees. To solve the murders, Elisandra has to battle not only the local criminals, but also her own colleagues, lawyers, the press and most of all the judges who have their own agendas: “Man hanging by a rope tied to his wrists from the window of a derelict building, pool of blood on the ground below, man's nose a distant memory, and the judge had taken an hour to come to the conclusion that it was suspicious”. Serial murderers are bad for the city, therefore there is no serial murderer. The first victim is a crime boss, therefore the murders are “'Gang-related, Sotsinspectora Domènech,' the judge had replied. 'That is how you will conduct the investigation”.
It is very soon clear that the judge is wrong. Elisandra conducts the cases along the lines she believes to be right, and is thrown into the world of myths, legends and the symbols that have evolved throughout the long history of Girona.
There are twists and turns all over the place. So many characters appear suspicious, and the final revelation of the murderer is a real surprise. This book works on so many levels and I fully recommend it. I also want to visit Girona!
February 18, 2017
Elisenda is the head of Girona's Serious Crime Unit. Her new department still has to prove itself and Elisenda and her team have a big case that requires a clever approach to catch the criminal. People who are hated by many are being murdered or attacked. Elisenda needs to discover if there's a pattern and soon her department finds out that the attacks are based on city legends. However, her involvement isn't always appreciated and she doesn't get much cooperation from anyone.
Elisenda and her team are under a lot of pressure. The killings get plenty of public attention and there's a heated discussion going on. Who should be killed next and what kind of people do they think deserve to die? Crimes are still crimes, no matter who the victim is and Elisenda's opinions and skills are being tested. Will she and her unit be able the end the disaster that the murderer has made of Girona?
City of Good Death is an interesting and gripping story. Elisenda is the leader of a new police team and she still has to earn credits. That doesn't make it easier for her to solve the case. There are many obstacles on her way. She's strong and determined and perseveres. She's clever and she knows when and how to use pressure. I loved her attitude, she's brave and fierce, but she never crosses any lines. She stays decent, no matter what happens. At the same time she's an intriguing person and I enjoyed finding out more about her. I liked her versatile personality and think she's a fantastic main character for a thriller series.
Chris Lloyd has chosen a Catalan city as the setting of his story. I immediately loved the history of the town and his vivid descriptions make the story come to life incredibly well. I read City of Good Death in one sitting. I couldn't put it down and wanted to know more about the attacker and the moral background of this person's deeds. Are the victims really deserving their ending or is something else going on? I liked that question a lot and think Chris Lloyd managed to write a fantastic intelligent story with many surprising twists and turns and a fabulous ending.
Elisenda and her team are under a lot of pressure. The killings get plenty of public attention and there's a heated discussion going on. Who should be killed next and what kind of people do they think deserve to die? Crimes are still crimes, no matter who the victim is and Elisenda's opinions and skills are being tested. Will she and her unit be able the end the disaster that the murderer has made of Girona?
City of Good Death is an interesting and gripping story. Elisenda is the leader of a new police team and she still has to earn credits. That doesn't make it easier for her to solve the case. There are many obstacles on her way. She's strong and determined and perseveres. She's clever and she knows when and how to use pressure. I loved her attitude, she's brave and fierce, but she never crosses any lines. She stays decent, no matter what happens. At the same time she's an intriguing person and I enjoyed finding out more about her. I liked her versatile personality and think she's a fantastic main character for a thriller series.
Chris Lloyd has chosen a Catalan city as the setting of his story. I immediately loved the history of the town and his vivid descriptions make the story come to life incredibly well. I read City of Good Death in one sitting. I couldn't put it down and wanted to know more about the attacker and the moral background of this person's deeds. Are the victims really deserving their ending or is something else going on? I liked that question a lot and think Chris Lloyd managed to write a fantastic intelligent story with many surprising twists and turns and a fabulous ending.
March 21, 2016
I found this crime debut a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting read. When you finish a book and feel like you've been on holiday, well, surely that's a very good thing indeed.
There is a murderer on the loose in Girona. The killer is using Girona's rich history of myths and legends to rid the city of its most despised residents; a loan shark, a corrupt priest, a group of thugs. Sotsinspectora Elisenda Domènech and the new Serious Crime Unit are tasked with catching the killer. Then the killer turns their attention to less deserving victims....
You know how much I appreciate a strong-willed female detective and Elisenda is a new favourite of mine. She's gutsy and smart. Seemingly the only female detective in Girona so there's a need for that determination. Especially as some of her male colleagues don't think she can hack it.
There are some great twists in this book. The reveal of the killer had my heart pounding. The big question is, did I see 'whodunnit'? Was my guess right? Well.....yes, sort of and sort of not at the same time. And that's all I'm going to say about that!
You can tell that Chris Lloyd has spent time in Girona. His written representation of the city made me feel like I know the city having never actually visited; a real skill. I hope there will be more to come from Sotsinspectora Domènech.
Four out of five stars.
There is a murderer on the loose in Girona. The killer is using Girona's rich history of myths and legends to rid the city of its most despised residents; a loan shark, a corrupt priest, a group of thugs. Sotsinspectora Elisenda Domènech and the new Serious Crime Unit are tasked with catching the killer. Then the killer turns their attention to less deserving victims....
You know how much I appreciate a strong-willed female detective and Elisenda is a new favourite of mine. She's gutsy and smart. Seemingly the only female detective in Girona so there's a need for that determination. Especially as some of her male colleagues don't think she can hack it.
There are some great twists in this book. The reveal of the killer had my heart pounding. The big question is, did I see 'whodunnit'? Was my guess right? Well.....yes, sort of and sort of not at the same time. And that's all I'm going to say about that!
You can tell that Chris Lloyd has spent time in Girona. His written representation of the city made me feel like I know the city having never actually visited; a real skill. I hope there will be more to come from Sotsinspectora Domènech.
Four out of five stars.
July 19, 2015
I very much enjoyed this debut thriller, which introduces Elisenda Domènechm - the head of serious crime in the Catalan city of Girona.
The story is satisfying - it's complex and managed to surprise me, and yet looking back it was all there, inevitable. I had some inklings about who the killer might be, but I wasn't completely right - I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
I loved the way the modern and the historical/mythic were inextricably entwined in the plot. The killer uses his victims to stage scenes from the city's myths - and the victims are so very different from each other it's hard to fathom the link. Online vicarious vigilantism, egging the killer on, adds to the pressure on Elisanda and her team as they struggle with a difficult investigation.
Interesting characters, a rich sense of place and history, all tied together with masterful storytelling.
I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
The story is satisfying - it's complex and managed to surprise me, and yet looking back it was all there, inevitable. I had some inklings about who the killer might be, but I wasn't completely right - I won't say more to avoid spoilers.
I loved the way the modern and the historical/mythic were inextricably entwined in the plot. The killer uses his victims to stage scenes from the city's myths - and the victims are so very different from each other it's hard to fathom the link. Online vicarious vigilantism, egging the killer on, adds to the pressure on Elisanda and her team as they struggle with a difficult investigation.
Interesting characters, a rich sense of place and history, all tied together with masterful storytelling.
I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
May 26, 2016
This is the first in a proposed trilogy of crime novels set in Spain and will appeal to those readers who enjoy Inspector Montalbano stories or similar crime fiction set in Europe.
It took me a little while to get into the story and to get used to the Catalonia names but once I had settled into the characters I found this to be a compelling and interesting crime novel. Intricately plotted with a fine eye for detail, the author clearly writes about what he knows and because of that knowledge, he is able to bring the sights and sounds of Girona alive. I've never visited this area in Spain but found myself able to clearly picture the place and its people.
The story is complex and there is much to take in, and as with any new series there is a certain amount of scene setting which will allow the books to flow during the follow up stories. I rather liked it and look forward to seeing what's coming next.
July 25, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.
The book is set in Girona, Spain. Unfortunately I've never been there, so I think there was some references I didn't quite catch, but I enjoyed the scenic descriptions never the less. The first murder victim is a bad guy, so nobody cares, isn't it .... But when there's more, then it gets complicated. I really enjoyed the different viewpoints regarding good and bad, and can't wait to read more by this author.
The book is set in Girona, Spain. Unfortunately I've never been there, so I think there was some references I didn't quite catch, but I enjoyed the scenic descriptions never the less. The first murder victim is a bad guy, so nobody cares, isn't it .... But when there's more, then it gets complicated. I really enjoyed the different viewpoints regarding good and bad, and can't wait to read more by this author.
June 5, 2016
Excellent crime thriller - full review to follow.
March 8, 2020
Having lived in Girona, I've been looking forward to reading this one for a while, and it did not disappoint! I love crime fiction where the setting itself becomes a character, and Chris Lloyd's Girona plays a protagonist's role in this gripping book alongside the actual (excellent) protagonist, Detective Elisenda Domènech. As a killer targets victims they feel are deserving of death (a loan-shark gangster, a gang of youths responsible for a violent mugging...) Elisenda finds herself chasing a criminal the people of Girona don't necessarily want her to catch. As the public becomes more involved in the case, even suggesting people who should be the next victims, the book really comes alive as Lloyd captures perfectly the claustrophobic atmosphere of the small city where everybody knows everyone else, and has an opinion on everybody else too. Catalan mythology and politics soon begin to play a part too, making for a complex, fascinating and highly-original story. It kept me guessing right to the end, and has left more than enough intrigue in the central character of Elisenda to keep the series going. Can't wait for the next two books!!
February 9, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable crime novel. It's the setting that makes this one work, the Catalan city of Girona, and the simmering tension between Spanish and Catalan identity and language. The strong female lead character is a bonus, although Elisenda is haunted by the death of her young daughter, and is fighting prejudice and misogyny in her own department. OK, the general cast of characters are pretty generic to crime fiction, but the plot rattles along at a good pace, the body count is suitably and gruesomely high, and it opens readers' eyes to a new city. Definitely worth a read, and I will be setting off on the next two books very shortly.
August 4, 2025
If you’re thinking of giving this a go, I’d suggest the print version over the audiobook. The narrator was completely unsuitable and rendered it close to impossible to listen to. Speeding up the playback helped. Not with the incongruous New York wiseguy accents that she assigned to at least one character, but, you know, still. I struggled to get into it, largely because of the narration, but also because of how the protagonist behaved early on. Between the lines written and the delivery, she came off as a saucy brat, which was so strange and off-putting. She’s a professional woman in her 30s, still grieving the death of her child, but they had her talking like a high school mean girl? Again, strange. But thankfully that petered out. Overall, the characters were reasonably well-developed, and I got a kick out of the gimmick. It even had me looking up Catalonian public art! It asked some useful questions about morality and retaliatory violence. The plotting was solid, and the clues were well laid-out, not too obvious, but enough for the reader to try to figure it out themselves. You’re not mad when you realize that the culprit is someone you kind of suspected, because it wasn’t out of nowhere and it wasn’t blindingly apparent from the start. Also, the city. It really was a character itself, and I enjoyed reading about area and it’s legends.
That one star review felt seriously harsh. It was a perfectly good procedural with a great serial killer gimmick. Just avoid the audio version.
That one star review felt seriously harsh. It was a perfectly good procedural with a great serial killer gimmick. Just avoid the audio version.
February 23, 2018
Excellent read!
I enjoyed this book and, since it's the first in a series, know there's more pleasure to come. I've only spent a few hours in Girona but now I'd like to spend more time there and look up some of the places mentioned. I particularly liked the characters of Elisenda and Alex and look forward to getting to know them better.
I enjoyed this book and, since it's the first in a series, know there's more pleasure to come. I've only spent a few hours in Girona but now I'd like to spend more time there and look up some of the places mentioned. I particularly liked the characters of Elisenda and Alex and look forward to getting to know them better.
January 6, 2020
Unique, chilling and thought-provoking, with all-too-human Elisenda Domenech trying to solve the mysterious and ghoulish crimes which are almost daily being committed in the ancient city of Girona. A masterpiece, which would make a terrific film or TV series.
Can't wait to read the next in the series, and really hope it continues! Felicitations!
Can't wait to read the next in the series, and really hope it continues! Felicitations!
October 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel! Vivid descriptions of Girona and even more interestingly, vivid descriptions of the social system in the Catalan region, also in comparison with the past... Fascinating!
The plot got me intrigued from the beginning particularly because it touched on the Catalan culture.
I will definitely read more books in this series.
The plot got me intrigued from the beginning particularly because it touched on the Catalan culture.
I will definitely read more books in this series.
September 27, 2020
A good start
Intriguing for the plot and setting, and the lead character is engaging, but there is an undergraduate quality to the author’s insistence on stopping the action repeatedly to explain that all victims deserve equal treatment.
Intriguing for the plot and setting, and the lead character is engaging, but there is an undergraduate quality to the author’s insistence on stopping the action repeatedly to explain that all victims deserve equal treatment.
April 19, 2023
DNF
I listened to it and it starts of slow and so many characters and I really lost track of them. It made me feel confused. Though the plot really sounds interesting but it wasn’t just a match for me.
I listened to it and it starts of slow and so many characters and I really lost track of them. It made me feel confused. Though the plot really sounds interesting but it wasn’t just a match for me.
October 28, 2020
Very well researched novel - and very well written - and an interesting take on crime detection due to its Spanish location.
April 20, 2021
I found this a difficult read at times. It didn't really grip me and I found parts of the story confusing.
January 6, 2023
Building, building, building at a mesmerising pace and then wrapped up on a park bench with characters everywhere.
April 29, 2023
I didn't find this very engaging.
February 3, 2024
I enjoyed the book and would have given it a 4 but there were issues with the English translation. In some aspects the wording was poetic, but in others it was just wrong.
March 24, 2024
I picked this up purely due to my current obsession with beautiful Girona. Whilst I didn't love the writing - it's competent - I did enjoy the history around myths and legends of the area.
February 10, 2017
Murder in Catalonia. Elisanda is a Detective Inspector in Girona, battling with the politics of crime fighting when a killer strikes. The promising first in a series.
December 30, 2015
A killer is on the loose, a killer with a mind for myths and puzzles. This is the first book in the start of a new series involving Elisenda Domènech, Sotsinspectora in Girona and what a cracking start to the series. The novel itself is lush in the descriptions of Girona, the sights, the feeling of history yet manages to no way detract from the grisliness of the murders posed to replicate those from ancient mythology.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers ... cannot wait for book 2.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers ... cannot wait for book 2.
June 30, 2015
Excellent crime read - loved the atmospheric backdrop of Girona and the folk history elements of the plot.
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