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Onde confidenziali
Negli studi di Madrid della radio nazionale, ogni venerdì intorno a mezzanotte, la voce di Nancy Sinatra canta Bang Bang e introduce «Onde confidenziali», trasmissione di cronaca nera e inchieste, condotta da Diego Martín. Nel corso di due ore Diego propone indagini studiate nel dettaglio, ricerche sul campo, interviste con fonti attendibili. Il suo è un giornalismo lento che sembra contraddire l’urgenza frenetica di una costante narrazione mediatica. La trasmissione, molto scomoda, molto amata ma anche criticata, è una specie di paradosso in una Spagna che scopriamo essere sull’orlo di un precipizio. Il paese è in piena crisi economica, il malessere e la tensione sociale sono sempre più alti e improvvisamente la destra postfranchista vince le elezioni dopo dodici anni di governo socialista. È uno scarto letterario, quello dell’autore, ma verosimile. È il ritorno dei fascisti, dei reazionari, dei cattolici ultra tradizionalisti, e infine è la dissoluzione della Spagna moderna, quella della tolleranza per tutti.
La sera delle elezioni uno dei giovani candidati del partito vincitore viene assassinato, il primo di una serie di omicidi in diverse città spagnole. Da Madrid a Valencia, passando per Barcellona, le vittime non hanno legami apparenti tra loro, e invece Diego Martín scorge un intreccio, tenta di unire i frammenti del puzzle, ma non immagina che l’investigazione lo porterà oltre la scena di un crimine locale e nel cuore di una tragedia nazionale iniziata durante il franchismo. Aiutato nella sua indagine dal giudice David Ponce e dalla detective privata Ana Durán, Diego si immerge in un dramma oscuro che la Spagna credeva di aver sepolto con la morte del dittatore: lo scandalo dei rapimenti di bambini sottratti con la forza alle famiglie considerate «rosse» e dati in adozione a chi è vicino al regime, al fine di sradicare gli antifranchisti.
Tra realtà e finzione Marc Fernandez ha scritto un romanzo coinvolgente, la scrittura secca e minimalista scruta nel presente l’ombra lunga di una ferita che non si è rimarginata, e innesta sui fatti storici la tensione noir di una trama ricca di suspense. La sua è una materia incandescente, che avvolge i personaggi e il lettore, e li spinge a guardare sgomenti le tracce e le conseguenze di un conflitto che il silenzio e la rimozione non hanno mai chiuso.
La sera delle elezioni uno dei giovani candidati del partito vincitore viene assassinato, il primo di una serie di omicidi in diverse città spagnole. Da Madrid a Valencia, passando per Barcellona, le vittime non hanno legami apparenti tra loro, e invece Diego Martín scorge un intreccio, tenta di unire i frammenti del puzzle, ma non immagina che l’investigazione lo porterà oltre la scena di un crimine locale e nel cuore di una tragedia nazionale iniziata durante il franchismo. Aiutato nella sua indagine dal giudice David Ponce e dalla detective privata Ana Durán, Diego si immerge in un dramma oscuro che la Spagna credeva di aver sepolto con la morte del dittatore: lo scandalo dei rapimenti di bambini sottratti con la forza alle famiglie considerate «rosse» e dati in adozione a chi è vicino al regime, al fine di sradicare gli antifranchisti.
Tra realtà e finzione Marc Fernandez ha scritto un romanzo coinvolgente, la scrittura secca e minimalista scruta nel presente l’ombra lunga di una ferita che non si è rimarginata, e innesta sui fatti storici la tensione noir di una trama ricca di suspense. La sua è una materia incandescente, che avvolge i personaggi e il lettore, e li spinge a guardare sgomenti le tracce e le conseguenze di un conflitto che il silenzio e la rimozione non hanno mai chiuso.
224 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
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164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 4, 2018
Yes, this novel is named after a song by Manu Chao, and the idea for this thriller is brilliant: French-Spanish author Marc Fernandez employs tropes of classic noir - the lonely and traumatized hero, the private detective, the femme fatale, the menacing city, the conspiracy of the powerful and the corrupt, the revenge plot - twists them a little and transports the story into a modern setting, thus rendering the whole book into a piece of social criticism. After an extreme right-wing party won the Spanish elections and starts to purge the political and the media system, the now threatened political talk radio host Diego encounters the mysterious lawyer Isabel who uncovered a scandal: During the Franco era, the leading politcal caste stole children from regime critics and had them adopted by loyal families. According to the Amnesty Law, those crimes cannot be punished - Diego and Isabel share the opinion though that the country can only move forward when it faces its history. Together with the Argentinian (think of Argentina's history!) transgender private detective Ana, they start to dig deeper to bring justice to the victims and their families - but they are facing strong oppononents...
I really enjoyed how Fernandez updates the noir genre, and how he manages to write a suspenseful and entertaining thriller with a message that combines the treatment of history in a post-fascist country with the extreme right-wing threats this country (and many others) are currently facing. It is true that during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco era, up to 300,000 children were abducted, and many of them became victims of illegal adoptions and child trafficking. In his book, Fernandez illustrates how people in modern Spain do/could deal with this, and what consequences the society has drawn - thoughts that are relevant for many other states as well.
Unfortunately, the way the story is told left me unsatisfied, and I am not sure whether the original Spanish version or the translation is to blame. The text is not particularly atmospheric and often feels very technical in its descriptions of the plot and the connections between different parts of the story - I hate to write this, because I want to applaud Fernandez for his ideas, but the language is severely lacking.
On top of that, Fernandez seems to be a cool dude, at least he's friends with Manu Chao, who wrote the title-giving song for Mano Negro. Here's an excerpt from the lyrics, that, in the light of the novel, sheds different meanings:
"Dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
cuando tu me hablas como un cabrón
me estas dando..., me estas dando... Mala Vida!
Cada dia se la traga mi corazón!
(...)
Tú me estas dando mala vida
yo pronto me voy a escapar
(...)
Proxima estación..., proxima estación..., Esperanza!"
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiPjV...)
This could have been much better, but Fernandez is definitely an author to watch out for!
I really enjoyed how Fernandez updates the noir genre, and how he manages to write a suspenseful and entertaining thriller with a message that combines the treatment of history in a post-fascist country with the extreme right-wing threats this country (and many others) are currently facing. It is true that during the Spanish Civil War and the Franco era, up to 300,000 children were abducted, and many of them became victims of illegal adoptions and child trafficking. In his book, Fernandez illustrates how people in modern Spain do/could deal with this, and what consequences the society has drawn - thoughts that are relevant for many other states as well.
Unfortunately, the way the story is told left me unsatisfied, and I am not sure whether the original Spanish version or the translation is to blame. The text is not particularly atmospheric and often feels very technical in its descriptions of the plot and the connections between different parts of the story - I hate to write this, because I want to applaud Fernandez for his ideas, but the language is severely lacking.
On top of that, Fernandez seems to be a cool dude, at least he's friends with Manu Chao, who wrote the title-giving song for Mano Negro. Here's an excerpt from the lyrics, that, in the light of the novel, sheds different meanings:
"Dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
cuando tu me hablas como un cabrón
me estas dando..., me estas dando... Mala Vida!
Cada dia se la traga mi corazón!
(...)
Tú me estas dando mala vida
yo pronto me voy a escapar
(...)
Proxima estación..., proxima estación..., Esperanza!"
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiPjV...)
This could have been much better, but Fernandez is definitely an author to watch out for!
December 25, 2019
WOW, that was quite an eye opening read.
The story line uncovers a very large plot under the Franco regime in Spain to take babies from families of non Franco supporters - whom are meant to believe the babies died at birth.
The babies are placed with government supporting couples who could raise he child as their own.
There are thousands of families effected in this horrific scheme
This takes place not only in the Franco era but quite current times as well
A highly recommended, and disturbing read from my point of view
The story line uncovers a very large plot under the Franco regime in Spain to take babies from families of non Franco supporters - whom are meant to believe the babies died at birth.
The babies are placed with government supporting couples who could raise he child as their own.
There are thousands of families effected in this horrific scheme
This takes place not only in the Franco era but quite current times as well
A highly recommended, and disturbing read from my point of view
January 24, 2019
Here is a book to become angry about. It relates to a plot under Franco in Spain to take the babies of opposition minder intellectuals and pretend they’d died at birth. Meanwhile the stolen infants would be placed with government supporting couples who could raise he child in correct political thinking.
When Isabel a successful lawyer learns of these horrors from her Grandmother she leaves a successful practice in France to help set up the NASB in Spain to bring stolen babies into everyone consciousness.
Meanwhile some contract like killings have come to the attention of investigative journalist Diego who is a free thinker who often opposes government controls, to produce radio shows that challenge the status quo.
He is assisted by a liberal judge, David Ponse, and an intrepid freelance detective, Ana, with contacts to fill in the background to his stories.
An interesting story of real moral outrage; implicating the establishment for being complicit in this scandal. Many will try to stop Isabel and her campaign for justice and Diego wants to bring the story to the wider audience through his programming.
I really enjoyed the change of location for a political thriller and the diverse players in this stories. My only criticism is that it isn’t a longer novel. This means that short-cuts happen where you might have expected more mystery and misdirection.
While none of this brevity takes away the power of the story I feel a longer novel could have explored motivations, justification and retaliation in greater detail. This would have made a more engrossing and compelling novel in my opinion but for what we have I can not remain too disappointed. It is a well translated story of the struggle for justice and the steps some take to prevent truth coming into the public domain and the frustrations of working in a regimented system that governs in secrecy.
When Isabel a successful lawyer learns of these horrors from her Grandmother she leaves a successful practice in France to help set up the NASB in Spain to bring stolen babies into everyone consciousness.
Meanwhile some contract like killings have come to the attention of investigative journalist Diego who is a free thinker who often opposes government controls, to produce radio shows that challenge the status quo.
He is assisted by a liberal judge, David Ponse, and an intrepid freelance detective, Ana, with contacts to fill in the background to his stories.
An interesting story of real moral outrage; implicating the establishment for being complicit in this scandal. Many will try to stop Isabel and her campaign for justice and Diego wants to bring the story to the wider audience through his programming.
I really enjoyed the change of location for a political thriller and the diverse players in this stories. My only criticism is that it isn’t a longer novel. This means that short-cuts happen where you might have expected more mystery and misdirection.
While none of this brevity takes away the power of the story I feel a longer novel could have explored motivations, justification and retaliation in greater detail. This would have made a more engrossing and compelling novel in my opinion but for what we have I can not remain too disappointed. It is a well translated story of the struggle for justice and the steps some take to prevent truth coming into the public domain and the frustrations of working in a regimented system that governs in secrecy.
January 8, 2019
Finished reading: January 5th 2019
"Franco is dead, but not the evil he brought into the world."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Arcade in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
August 3, 2017
J'ai aimé l'idée du livre, avec les bébés volés pendant l'ere de Franco, je ne savais pas que ceci était arrivé et j'ai aimé les personnages de Diego, Ana et Ponce, mais l'histoire n'a pas été approfondie, ça a été trop vite fini avec trop de chose. Il avait tout pour être vraiment bien. Mais j'ai passé un bon moment et m'a donné envie de me plonger dans la vie espagnole pendant les temps des fashos.
December 24, 2018
In a dark and often overlooked chapter of General Francisco Franco’s 1939-75 dictatorship, the newborns of some leftwing opponents of the regime, or unmarried or poor couples, were removed from their mothers and adopted. The practice was later expanded. New mothers were frequently told their babies had died suddenly after birth and the hospital had taken care of their burials, when in fact they were given or sold to another family.
A line from the novel - no, this real life drama was being played out today as 85yo Eduardo Vela, who worked as a gynaecologist at the now-defunct San Ramón clinic in Madrid, arrived in court to face charges of taking a child from her biological mother and giving her to another woman, falsifying birth records in the process. The system – which allegedly involved a vast network of doctors, nurses, nuns and priests – outlived Franco’s death in 1975 and carried on as an illegal baby trafficking network until 1987 when a new law regulating adoption was introduced.
So this then is the premise of the story. However, we only discover this after a few chapters in as we are at first deceived into thinking that this is a political murder mystery with links back to the Franco era, due to the alternating narrative between the unnamed assassin and Diego Martin, the investigative journalist (and late night DJ).
This extremely controversial subject is tackled well, though I can't help thinking that this could have been teased out a little longer over a few more pages - all too soon certain anomalies are cleared up and the conclusion arrives all too neatly.
Having said that, this was a nice blend of historical fact and crime fiction.
A line from the novel - no, this real life drama was being played out today as 85yo Eduardo Vela, who worked as a gynaecologist at the now-defunct San Ramón clinic in Madrid, arrived in court to face charges of taking a child from her biological mother and giving her to another woman, falsifying birth records in the process. The system – which allegedly involved a vast network of doctors, nurses, nuns and priests – outlived Franco’s death in 1975 and carried on as an illegal baby trafficking network until 1987 when a new law regulating adoption was introduced.
So this then is the premise of the story. However, we only discover this after a few chapters in as we are at first deceived into thinking that this is a political murder mystery with links back to the Franco era, due to the alternating narrative between the unnamed assassin and Diego Martin, the investigative journalist (and late night DJ).
This extremely controversial subject is tackled well, though I can't help thinking that this could have been teased out a little longer over a few more pages - all too soon certain anomalies are cleared up and the conclusion arrives all too neatly.
Having said that, this was a nice blend of historical fact and crime fiction.
March 4, 2016
Si l'aspect politico-historique sur le retour au pouvoir de la droite fasciste en Espagne, le musellement des médias, (et surtout) sur cette histoire glaçante et incroyable des "bébés volés" des familles anti-franquistes m'ont beaucoup intéressée, on ne peut pas en dire de même pour l'aspect "polar" du roman.
En effet, à ce niveau-l��, tout est simpliste, sans surprise, facile, très convenu et sans aucune originalité. Du polar de très bas niveau : les talents de journaliste de l'auteur ne sont en effet pas du tout doublés de talents d'auteur de noir...
L'écriture est pourtant plaisante : c'est fluide et bien rythmé, et le contexte réel rend l'histoire prenante.
En bref, un "polar pour les nuls" mais une lecture sympathique.
En effet, à ce niveau-l��, tout est simpliste, sans surprise, facile, très convenu et sans aucune originalité. Du polar de très bas niveau : les talents de journaliste de l'auteur ne sont en effet pas du tout doublés de talents d'auteur de noir...
L'écriture est pourtant plaisante : c'est fluide et bien rythmé, et le contexte réel rend l'histoire prenante.
En bref, un "polar pour les nuls" mais une lecture sympathique.
March 15, 2022
One of the greatest crimes committed by the fascist regime of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was to steal babies from leftist parents and sell them to affluent conservative families. And the practice went on even long after Franco’s death in 1975. At least 50,000 babies were trafficked over the half-century from 1939, when Franco seized power, to 1992. The vast apparatus involved in this despicable crime involved lawyers, doctors, notaries, and, above all, nuns and priests of Spain’s reactionary Catholic Church. French journalist Marc Fernandez brings that history into the light in his disturbing short novel, Mala Vida.
A NOVEL ABOUT THE STOLEN BABIES OF SPAIN
A team of courageous volunteers exposes this crime in the novel. A crusading French-Spanish attorney. An incorruptible prosecuting judge. An aggressive investigative radio journalist. And a brilliant Argentine transgender detective who works with them all. Although the practice largely ended a quarter-century earlier, they find traces of it even in the 21st century. Together, they risk their lives to expose the aging men and women who are responsible. But their quest to find justice is complicated by a string of murders—of the same men and women they’re investigating.
STOLEN BABIES—AND A STRING OF MURDERS
Mala Vida opens on the evening that Spain’s Right-Wing political party, the Alliance for a Popular Majority, or APM, has scored a major victory in national elections. (The party is a stand-in for the real-world Alianza Popular.) The Francoists will be back in power—and any effort to expose the crimes of the regime will face overwhelming odds. But for Diego Martin, the star attraction on Radio Uno for his explosive investigative show, an equally compelling event that evening is the assassination of a young APM councilman, designated to join the cabinet. We know that a woman has killed the young man, but Diego doesn’t. Nor do the police. And this is just the first of a series of seemingly unconnected murders the woman commits—a notary, a businessman, a nun—that unfold as Diego becomes involved with the issue of the stolen babies.
As the story proceeds, the two themes intertwine. With suspense building, the tale rushes to a shattering conclusion.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
The novel’s title, Mala Vida, is a Spanish phrase that translates literally as “bad life.” But in the vernacular, the term means “low-life.” And it’s that label that is more apt for the criminals in Franco’s government who perpetrated the trafficking in babies that’s the central fact of this story.
Mala Vida was translated from the French. The style is flat and sometimes awkward, but it’s difficult to tell whether the fault lies with the author or with the translator.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
French journalist “Marc Fernandez is cofounder and editor in chief of the magazine Alibi, dedicated to crime fiction,” his publisher reveals. “He has been a journalist for sixteen years and for much of that time covered Spain and Latin America. He has co-written several works of true crime. Mala Vida, his first novel, was a finalist for the Grand Prix des Lectrices d‘Elle [a prize awarded by the readers of Elle magazine]. His second, The Guerrilla Social Club, has been published in France. He lives in Paris.”
A NOVEL ABOUT THE STOLEN BABIES OF SPAIN
A team of courageous volunteers exposes this crime in the novel. A crusading French-Spanish attorney. An incorruptible prosecuting judge. An aggressive investigative radio journalist. And a brilliant Argentine transgender detective who works with them all. Although the practice largely ended a quarter-century earlier, they find traces of it even in the 21st century. Together, they risk their lives to expose the aging men and women who are responsible. But their quest to find justice is complicated by a string of murders—of the same men and women they’re investigating.
STOLEN BABIES—AND A STRING OF MURDERS
Mala Vida opens on the evening that Spain’s Right-Wing political party, the Alliance for a Popular Majority, or APM, has scored a major victory in national elections. (The party is a stand-in for the real-world Alianza Popular.) The Francoists will be back in power—and any effort to expose the crimes of the regime will face overwhelming odds. But for Diego Martin, the star attraction on Radio Uno for his explosive investigative show, an equally compelling event that evening is the assassination of a young APM councilman, designated to join the cabinet. We know that a woman has killed the young man, but Diego doesn’t. Nor do the police. And this is just the first of a series of seemingly unconnected murders the woman commits—a notary, a businessman, a nun—that unfold as Diego becomes involved with the issue of the stolen babies.
As the story proceeds, the two themes intertwine. With suspense building, the tale rushes to a shattering conclusion.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
The novel’s title, Mala Vida, is a Spanish phrase that translates literally as “bad life.” But in the vernacular, the term means “low-life.” And it’s that label that is more apt for the criminals in Franco’s government who perpetrated the trafficking in babies that’s the central fact of this story.
Mala Vida was translated from the French. The style is flat and sometimes awkward, but it’s difficult to tell whether the fault lies with the author or with the translator.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
French journalist “Marc Fernandez is cofounder and editor in chief of the magazine Alibi, dedicated to crime fiction,” his publisher reveals. “He has been a journalist for sixteen years and for much of that time covered Spain and Latin America. He has co-written several works of true crime. Mala Vida, his first novel, was a finalist for the Grand Prix des Lectrices d‘Elle [a prize awarded by the readers of Elle magazine]. His second, The Guerrilla Social Club, has been published in France. He lives in Paris.”
February 4, 2020
3.5 stars
SPOILERS
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This is a nice little read. I don't usually read thrillers or mysteries, but I liked this one. I would read a whole book about Ana alone, and I think the author did a really nice job of portraying a trans woman and using the kind of liminality of gender as a reflection of the liminality in the investigative world that people must sometimes occupy.
The glaring plot hole though-- Isabel is both a cunning assassin who never gets fully caught AND she leaves a computer full of sensitive information fully accessible to strangers and without any kind of password? With just a little more exposition, they could have had the "hacker" find a sliver of Isabel's past to crack a weak password or something. Maybe her grandmother's name for something alone those lines.
Anyway, if you're on the fence about pulling the trigger on whether to buy or read this book, I would say, yes, give it a try.
SPOILERS
.
.
.
.
This is a nice little read. I don't usually read thrillers or mysteries, but I liked this one. I would read a whole book about Ana alone, and I think the author did a really nice job of portraying a trans woman and using the kind of liminality of gender as a reflection of the liminality in the investigative world that people must sometimes occupy.
The glaring plot hole though-- Isabel is both a cunning assassin who never gets fully caught AND she leaves a computer full of sensitive information fully accessible to strangers and without any kind of password? With just a little more exposition, they could have had the "hacker" find a sliver of Isabel's past to crack a weak password or something. Maybe her grandmother's name for something alone those lines.
Anyway, if you're on the fence about pulling the trigger on whether to buy or read this book, I would say, yes, give it a try.
May 22, 2020
Si je devais qualifier ce roman en peu de mot, je dirais qu’il est glaçant et addictif.
L’Espagne se réveille avec la gueule de bois car la Droite Dure a gagné les élections et remis la Gauche Molle dans les cordes.
L’AMP est au pouvoir et ici, ça ne signifie pas Agence et Messagerie de la Presse.
On entre dans une ère sombre car les nostalgiques de Franco sont toujours là et prêt à faire revivre les grandes heures du caudillo.
Les peuples ont toujours la mémoire courte ou alors, ils ne retiennent jamais que le "bon" côté de la chose, comme cette dame d’origine espagnole qui me dit, un jour, qu’au moins, sous Franco, personne n’aurait osé te voler ta bouteille de lait sur ton perron.
Les morts apprécieront, les disparus encore plus, quant aux torturés, ça leur fera une belle jambe de savoir qu’on n’aurait jamais osé leur piquer leur bouteille de lait. Quand je vous dis que certains ont la mémoire courte (et les idées encore plus rabotées).
Un qui n’a pas la mémoire courte, ni sa langue en poche, c’est Diego Martín, journaliste à Radio Uno qui aime piquer là où il faut, profitant de son émission pour égratigner le pouvoir en place et parler des injustices commises. Il a des cojones et préfère enquêter longuement afin d’être sûr de son info que de sauter directement dessus, comme le font les médias de nos jours.
Ceci est un roman policier noir et politique où le nom de l’assassin est connu directement. Pas besoin de chercher si c’est le colonel Moutarde ou le professeur Olive qui a assassiné l’élu de Droite, on a directement son prénom et ensuite, on fait le lien entre l’assassin et un personnage qui entre en scène.
Il nous manque juste le mobile, mais puisque les assassinés ont tout de la crapule, personne ne les pleurera. Quant au mobile, sans avoir fait des hautes études en science criminelle, on le trouvera assez vite, en déduisant sans se faire mal aux neurones.
En fait, dans ce roman, ce n’est pas vraiment l’identité de l’assassin qui nous importe mais l’autre enquête, celle sur les bébés volés et vendus à d’autres parents, des braves gens qui n’avaient rien de Rouge ou d’opposants au régime…
Choquant et révoltant de se dire que des êtres humains (??) ont trouvé cette idée brillante et que ce ne fut pas quelques bébés qui furent volés mais des milliers, la loi d’amnistie faite après le décès de Franco ayant enterré ces dossiers brûlants et rendu le sujet hautement tabou.
Et moi qui pensais qu’il n’y avait eu ce genre de pratiques horribles qu’en Argentine… Djézus, je dois encore avoir un fond de petite fille naïve, il était plus que temps de me coller deux baffes et de m’expliquer violemment que ces horreurs avaient eu lieu aussi en Espagne, sous Franco et après Franco… Froid dans le dos, je vous dis.
Un journaliste qui a des cojones, un procureur qui en a aussi et Ana, une ancienne prostituée transsexuelle devenue détective privée (qui a en a eu avant). Un trio couillu, qui marche bien ensemble, sorte de groupe d’incorruptibles, dont Ana est le personnage le plus attachant.
Le roman est captivant, difficile à lâcher, tout en étant glaçant. L’auteur nous livre une enquête bien ficelée, prenante, historique, bien documentée
Mon seul petit bémol sera pour la personne qui assassine, pas super crédible dans son rôle (personnage trop parfait), mais comme je vous l’ai dit, la résolution des crimes est accessoire, elle ne sert qu’à lancer Le sujet puisque ce sera une passerelle entre les affaires de meurtres et les enfants volés.
Le comportement du journaliste, Diego Martín, m’a surprise à la fin. Que l’identité de l’assassin lui fasse un coup, je peux comprendre, mais c’est lui qui avait lancé cette théorie, les flics étant toujours dans le noir total. Par contre, qu’il nous la joue boudeur, choqué, horrifié, là, je tique un peu, même si se faire justice sois-même est interdit et dangereux, sa réaction est anormale. Mais bon…
Un voyage glaçant sur les flots houleux des quartiers madrilènes, dans une Espagne qui a mis la barre sur Tribord dure (droite), avec les nostalgiques de Franco qui hissent les voiles pendant que ceux qui sont à voile et à vapeur serrent les fesses, dans cette galère où tout ce qui n’est pas "espagnol catho pur" est jeté par-dessus bord.
Et puisqu’un jour, un capitaine a décidé qu’il fallait amnistier tous les coupables qui ont profité de la dictature, afin de repartir sur le bon pied, il est clair que sortir une affaire aussi explosive des cales poussiéreuses de l’Histoire, ça risque d’amener des mutineries.
Un super roman policier, plus que noir que policier, glaçant. Une leçon d’Histoire afin de ne pas oublier (ou d’apprendre), le tout porté par des personnages sommes toute un peu stéréotypés (sorte de Chevaliers Blancs) mais attachants.
♫ Tu me estas dando mala vida
yo pronto me voy a escapar ♪
L’Espagne se réveille avec la gueule de bois car la Droite Dure a gagné les élections et remis la Gauche Molle dans les cordes.
L’AMP est au pouvoir et ici, ça ne signifie pas Agence et Messagerie de la Presse.
On entre dans une ère sombre car les nostalgiques de Franco sont toujours là et prêt à faire revivre les grandes heures du caudillo.
Les peuples ont toujours la mémoire courte ou alors, ils ne retiennent jamais que le "bon" côté de la chose, comme cette dame d’origine espagnole qui me dit, un jour, qu’au moins, sous Franco, personne n’aurait osé te voler ta bouteille de lait sur ton perron.
Les morts apprécieront, les disparus encore plus, quant aux torturés, ça leur fera une belle jambe de savoir qu’on n’aurait jamais osé leur piquer leur bouteille de lait. Quand je vous dis que certains ont la mémoire courte (et les idées encore plus rabotées).
Un qui n’a pas la mémoire courte, ni sa langue en poche, c’est Diego Martín, journaliste à Radio Uno qui aime piquer là où il faut, profitant de son émission pour égratigner le pouvoir en place et parler des injustices commises. Il a des cojones et préfère enquêter longuement afin d’être sûr de son info que de sauter directement dessus, comme le font les médias de nos jours.
Ceci est un roman policier noir et politique où le nom de l’assassin est connu directement. Pas besoin de chercher si c’est le colonel Moutarde ou le professeur Olive qui a assassiné l’élu de Droite, on a directement son prénom et ensuite, on fait le lien entre l’assassin et un personnage qui entre en scène.
Il nous manque juste le mobile, mais puisque les assassinés ont tout de la crapule, personne ne les pleurera. Quant au mobile, sans avoir fait des hautes études en science criminelle, on le trouvera assez vite, en déduisant sans se faire mal aux neurones.
En fait, dans ce roman, ce n’est pas vraiment l’identité de l’assassin qui nous importe mais l’autre enquête, celle sur les bébés volés et vendus à d’autres parents, des braves gens qui n’avaient rien de Rouge ou d’opposants au régime…
Choquant et révoltant de se dire que des êtres humains (??) ont trouvé cette idée brillante et que ce ne fut pas quelques bébés qui furent volés mais des milliers, la loi d’amnistie faite après le décès de Franco ayant enterré ces dossiers brûlants et rendu le sujet hautement tabou.
Et moi qui pensais qu’il n’y avait eu ce genre de pratiques horribles qu’en Argentine… Djézus, je dois encore avoir un fond de petite fille naïve, il était plus que temps de me coller deux baffes et de m’expliquer violemment que ces horreurs avaient eu lieu aussi en Espagne, sous Franco et après Franco… Froid dans le dos, je vous dis.
Un journaliste qui a des cojones, un procureur qui en a aussi et Ana, une ancienne prostituée transsexuelle devenue détective privée (qui a en a eu avant). Un trio couillu, qui marche bien ensemble, sorte de groupe d’incorruptibles, dont Ana est le personnage le plus attachant.
Le roman est captivant, difficile à lâcher, tout en étant glaçant. L’auteur nous livre une enquête bien ficelée, prenante, historique, bien documentée
Mon seul petit bémol sera pour la personne qui assassine, pas super crédible dans son rôle (personnage trop parfait), mais comme je vous l’ai dit, la résolution des crimes est accessoire, elle ne sert qu’à lancer Le sujet puisque ce sera une passerelle entre les affaires de meurtres et les enfants volés.
Le comportement du journaliste, Diego Martín, m’a surprise à la fin. Que l’identité de l’assassin lui fasse un coup, je peux comprendre, mais c’est lui qui avait lancé cette théorie, les flics étant toujours dans le noir total. Par contre, qu’il nous la joue boudeur, choqué, horrifié, là, je tique un peu, même si se faire justice sois-même est interdit et dangereux, sa réaction est anormale. Mais bon…
Un voyage glaçant sur les flots houleux des quartiers madrilènes, dans une Espagne qui a mis la barre sur Tribord dure (droite), avec les nostalgiques de Franco qui hissent les voiles pendant que ceux qui sont à voile et à vapeur serrent les fesses, dans cette galère où tout ce qui n’est pas "espagnol catho pur" est jeté par-dessus bord.
Et puisqu’un jour, un capitaine a décidé qu’il fallait amnistier tous les coupables qui ont profité de la dictature, afin de repartir sur le bon pied, il est clair que sortir une affaire aussi explosive des cales poussiéreuses de l’Histoire, ça risque d’amener des mutineries.
Un super roman policier, plus que noir que policier, glaçant. Une leçon d’Histoire afin de ne pas oublier (ou d’apprendre), le tout porté par des personnages sommes toute un peu stéréotypés (sorte de Chevaliers Blancs) mais attachants.
♫ Tu me estas dando mala vida
yo pronto me voy a escapar ♪
February 24, 2019
Although this book got some critical reviews I found it a gripping, well-told, tragic story. Spain continues to struggle with the afterlife of the Spanish Civil War and Francoism. The story revolves around the revelation that babies were stolen from mothers with the "wrong" political convictions (as in Argentina more recently.). The woman lawyer who seeks to publicize and redress these wrongs is the granddaughter whose first child was stolen from her at birth. There are twists and turns to this rather brief but fast paced book.
June 23, 2017
Après avoir découvert « Guérilla social club », je suis ravie de le faire avec « Mala Vida », et ainsi retrouver Diego, ce journaliste pas comme les autres.
Vous aimez la fiction ? Vous aimez les histoires vraies ? Mala Vida, c’est un mélange des deux.
Une chose est certaine, c’est que Marc Fernandez a un style efficace et percutant ! Réalité/Fiction, impossible de savoir où s’arrête l’une et où commence l’autre. Des faits divers sordides, ce n’est ce qui manque, celui des bébés volés en Espagne en fait partie, une véritable horreur.
Ce que j’aime particulièrement, ce sont les personnages complètement atypiques et peu commun, nous avons Diego le journaliste et animateur radio, mais il n’est pas seul, nous avons également … mmmh non, il faut vraiment que vous les découvriez par vous-même pour comprendre ce que je veux dire. Il forme un petit groupe engagé dans une quête de vérité et de justice. Ils ne sont pas du genre à se planquer, oh que non, ce n’est pas du tout leur style !
C’est un roman assez sombre, que tout le monde ne pourra pas apprécier. Les amateurs de polars noirs, par contre, ne pourront qu’apprécier leur lecture.
De mon côté, je suis impatience de pouvoir découvrir le prochain livre de Marc Fernandez.
Vous aimez la fiction ? Vous aimez les histoires vraies ? Mala Vida, c’est un mélange des deux.
Une chose est certaine, c’est que Marc Fernandez a un style efficace et percutant ! Réalité/Fiction, impossible de savoir où s’arrête l’une et où commence l’autre. Des faits divers sordides, ce n’est ce qui manque, celui des bébés volés en Espagne en fait partie, une véritable horreur.
Ce que j’aime particulièrement, ce sont les personnages complètement atypiques et peu commun, nous avons Diego le journaliste et animateur radio, mais il n’est pas seul, nous avons également … mmmh non, il faut vraiment que vous les découvriez par vous-même pour comprendre ce que je veux dire. Il forme un petit groupe engagé dans une quête de vérité et de justice. Ils ne sont pas du genre à se planquer, oh que non, ce n’est pas du tout leur style !
C’est un roman assez sombre, que tout le monde ne pourra pas apprécier. Les amateurs de polars noirs, par contre, ne pourront qu’apprécier leur lecture.
De mon côté, je suis impatience de pouvoir découvrir le prochain livre de Marc Fernandez.
July 14, 2023
À part le sujet intéressant, les enfants volés sous le régime de Franco, et le cadre plus ou moins différent : Madrid, après l'élection d'un parti qui se revendique héritier du franquisme. Le roman est mauvais. Les personnages sont tous la représentation du cliché : le journaliste solitaire anti-systeme qui n'a rien à perdre puisqu'il a tout perdu et qui fume comme un pompier en défiant l'autorité.
La détective ancienne prostituée et qui fuit la dictature avant de devenir un fin limier.
Le juge droit et défenseur des droits contre tous.
Et bien sûr l'avocate (séduisante belle brillante) qui veut venger sa grand mère.
Avec ce concentré de clichés il y a un récit laborieux, qui ne tient qu'en répétant les évidences dans un style qui se veut romanesque mais qui est surtout journalistique
Ce ne sont que 280 pages mais que j'ai lu difficilement. Je ne comprends pas les louanges de certains critiques littéraires. À part la probabilité qu'ils soient des amis de l'écrivain !
La détective ancienne prostituée et qui fuit la dictature avant de devenir un fin limier.
Le juge droit et défenseur des droits contre tous.
Et bien sûr l'avocate (séduisante belle brillante) qui veut venger sa grand mère.
Avec ce concentré de clichés il y a un récit laborieux, qui ne tient qu'en répétant les évidences dans un style qui se veut romanesque mais qui est surtout journalistique
Ce ne sont que 280 pages mais que j'ai lu difficilement. Je ne comprends pas les louanges de certains critiques littéraires. À part la probabilité qu'ils soient des amis de l'écrivain !
January 31, 2022
Uno dei romanzi scritti peggio che mi sia capitato di leggere. Non so quanto sia colpa della traduzione e quanto dell'autore ma i ringraziamenti finali che Fernandez fa alle due editor mi hanno fatto pensare "a' facc' ro cazz".
La storia in sè sarebbe anche accattivante ma i personaggi -monodimensionali- hanno dei dialoghi per nulla credibili. La storia si sviluppa in maniera sfilacciata e con dei MacGuffin un po' troppo frequenti per non dire puntuali come il 730. La cosa che più mi ha dato fastidio in assoluto è però la tendenza dell'autore a spiegare tutto, senza sottintendere nulla, quasi pensasse di avere come lettori una piccola tribù di minus habens.
La storia in sè sarebbe anche accattivante ma i personaggi -monodimensionali- hanno dei dialoghi per nulla credibili. La storia si sviluppa in maniera sfilacciata e con dei MacGuffin un po' troppo frequenti per non dire puntuali come il 730. La cosa che più mi ha dato fastidio in assoluto è però la tendenza dell'autore a spiegare tutto, senza sottintendere nulla, quasi pensasse di avere come lettori una piccola tribù di minus habens.
November 9, 2017
Buon potenziale ma sviluppato in maniera molto banale. Certe ambientazioni e personaggi sono appena abbozzati e poco creativi, l'aspetto investigativo è toccato poco e male, non ha profondità nel complesso. Troppi luoghi comuni, semplificazioni, superficialità.
April 21, 2019
This book deals with a difficult Franco years in order to show that tempers still flare. A page turner but nothing new.
January 23, 2019
My full review available on facingthestory.com
The premise of this book is unique and promising and it was exciting to discover a new fiction novel where Spanish politics play a big role in the story line. The unmasking of a conspiracy where children during Franco's time were abducted and given to wealthy families provokes a national crisis that affects many people across the whole of Spain. The novel begins suddenly with an unexpected murder that at first appears to have no motive. It is soon followed by other similar murders across Spain that the authorities discover are all carried out by one of the activists who is heavily involved in the protests. The plot slowly unravels as the main character, Diego Martin, provides the space and publicity for affected families and protestors to voice their opinion on his radio show.
Unfortunately, I was still unable to connect to Diego or the other characters even several chapters into the book. This definitely felt more like a plot-driven political drama rather than a historical crime noir and it was disappointing to see one murder after another with little forethought of the characters' emotional state. Diego came across as a sincere man willing to do everything in his power to reveal the horrors of the past crimes but almost every chapter written from his perspective felt monotonous and predictable.
Despite my struggle to enjoy this book, I was glad to have discovered one of the conspiracies in Spanish history that to this day remains almost taboo. The execution of the writing and plot as a whole was not as smooth as expected but I commend the author on conveying such a difficult subject matter with sensitivity and thought.
Mala Vida is out to buy now!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
The premise of this book is unique and promising and it was exciting to discover a new fiction novel where Spanish politics play a big role in the story line. The unmasking of a conspiracy where children during Franco's time were abducted and given to wealthy families provokes a national crisis that affects many people across the whole of Spain. The novel begins suddenly with an unexpected murder that at first appears to have no motive. It is soon followed by other similar murders across Spain that the authorities discover are all carried out by one of the activists who is heavily involved in the protests. The plot slowly unravels as the main character, Diego Martin, provides the space and publicity for affected families and protestors to voice their opinion on his radio show.
Unfortunately, I was still unable to connect to Diego or the other characters even several chapters into the book. This definitely felt more like a plot-driven political drama rather than a historical crime noir and it was disappointing to see one murder after another with little forethought of the characters' emotional state. Diego came across as a sincere man willing to do everything in his power to reveal the horrors of the past crimes but almost every chapter written from his perspective felt monotonous and predictable.
Despite my struggle to enjoy this book, I was glad to have discovered one of the conspiracies in Spanish history that to this day remains almost taboo. The execution of the writing and plot as a whole was not as smooth as expected but I commend the author on conveying such a difficult subject matter with sensitivity and thought.
Mala Vida is out to buy now!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 16, 2019
The past is never really the past, as Spain's present struggles with its fascist yesterday, as well as struggling with those who continue to support the Francoist ideology. While this is a story with a strong narrative, wrapped around the political topic of a nation's sense of itself, some of the discussion of the threat from the hard right-wing sector seems to apply elsewhere as well. The author has done a great job on his first novel. Americans certainly don't know that much about Spain today, and this book may give readers a sense of part of the dynamic in that society. I had no idea until I after reading the book that the central scandal described really happened (google Eduardo Vela Spanish gynecologist). If you want to read about the stolen children in Spanish, vease https://www.cambio16.com/victimas-esp... Yes, the book may be slow-going at first, and I didn't think the book cover info told me enough about the actual background of the story...but I was very impressed by the end by how the author told the story and what points he illuminated along the way. Nancy
October 3, 2020
The novel centres around a real historical outrage, the lost children of Francoism, where children were stolen from Republican parents and 'adopted' by Francoist parents. Exploring the experiences of people involved the system or feeling it's legacy is an interesting prospect, but the book focuses on a pretty thin frame story of a handful of characters exposing that system. There's not much interest to be had there though, then investigation pretty much consists of one character having all the evidence, and gradually giving it to the others. The characters felt fairly stock to me, noir-ish miserable journalist and streetsmart investigators. The writing seems serviceable, but there are frequent paragraphs of exposition which get tiring, and a tendency to spell out very obvious consequences of things which just happened. A sign that the book is struggling to set the stakes well is several times characters say out loud that their story could bring down the government, monarchy, church etc.
I'm ultimately not sure what was gained by throwing a fictional frame around the scandal, and focussing on the frame rather than the picture.
I'm ultimately not sure what was gained by throwing a fictional frame around the scandal, and focussing on the frame rather than the picture.
January 17, 2020
The blurb on this book referenced Almodovar, and I have to agree. This was very reminiscent of his films (which if you haven't seen any, well that comment has no meaning for you). Luckily I tend to love them, so I ended up really liking those aspects in this book. Normally I don't read fiction, least of all thrillers or mysteries, but I needed to read this one because of the historical setting. Post-Franco Spain, children potentially stolen from their left-wing parents, murders of politically connected Franco remnants. I think the setting made all the difference for me. It gave me the desire to pick the book up, Fernandez's writing made me continue, and the combination made me really enjoy it.
December 24, 2024
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
Seriously noir vision for how a radical-right takeover would look, and work, in a traumatized country. Transfem Ana is a private detective assisting resistance figures Diego, a talk-radio host, and lawyer Isabel, as they undermine the moral foundations of a horrific bunch of authoritarian hypocrites by exposing a vile, evil child-trafficking scheme.
Always look at what the sides accuse each other of; it's what they're doing. I'm sure nothing like that would ever happen here.
For legal reasons, that's all I'll say.
Seriously noir vision for how a radical-right takeover would look, and work, in a traumatized country. Transfem Ana is a private detective assisting resistance figures Diego, a talk-radio host, and lawyer Isabel, as they undermine the moral foundations of a horrific bunch of authoritarian hypocrites by exposing a vile, evil child-trafficking scheme.
Always look at what the sides accuse each other of; it's what they're doing. I'm sure nothing like that would ever happen here.
For legal reasons, that's all I'll say.
July 2, 2019
Un libro di una mediocrità e di una banalità così grandi da essere quasi perfetto. E anche un libro pieno di squallido risentimento, di uno spirito di vendetta abominevole e meschino. È veramente incredibile che qualcuno possa aver pensato di pubblicare questo romanzo. Una delle cose piu' mediocri che abbia mai letto.
February 16, 2024
Non ho amato molto il finale, mi aspettavo qualcosa di diverso onestamente. Ma per il resto il libro mi ha preso molto e da un certo senso rispecchia un po' quello che stiamo vivendo adesso.
June 9, 2024
Carino, percorso lineare e senza particolare colpi di scena.. un po’ troppo ‘facile’ e un po’ troppo veloce forse ma una lettura carina si, leggera
July 10, 2025
Un thriller politique pas trop mal, simple et rapide à lire. Je rejoins les autres commentaires qui disent que l'affaire des "bébés volés" à été trop survolée à mon goût.
September 1, 2018
Fade, invraisemblable, téléphoné, une Espagne néofranquiste caricaturale et manichéenne.
October 8, 2021
Très bon suspense
L’histoire est connue hélas de nous tous les hybrides Hispano-Français
L’histoire est connue hélas de nous tous les hybrides Hispano-Français
January 19, 2022
A very interesting way to tell of a dark and little-known piece of Spain’s not too distant past.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews