Urgent Matters

by Paula Rodríguez, Sarah Moses (Translator)

A train crashes in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, leaving forty-three people dead. A prayer card of Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of urgent matters, flutters above the wreckage.

Hugo, a criminal on the run for murder, is on the train. He seizes his chance to sneak out of the wreckage unsuspected, abandoning his possessions - and, he hopes, his identity - among bodies mangled beyond all recognition.

As the police descend on the scene, only grizzled Detective Domínguez sees a link between the crash and his murder case. Soon, he's on Hugo's tail. But he hasn't banked on everything from the media to Hugo's mother-in-law getting in the way.

Genres: Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

230 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2020

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded down because up wasn't warranted

The Publisher Says: An electric Argentinian thriller featuring a deadly train crash, two unidentified bodies, and a missing murder suspect—perfect for fans of Attica Locke and Steph Cha

The Americans are more astute when it comes to matters like these. They say “not guilty”. They don’t say “innocent”. Because as far as innocence goes, no one can make that claim.

A train crashes in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, leaving forty-three fatalities, two of which have not been identified. A prayer card of Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of urgent matters, flutters above the wreckage.

Hugo, a criminal on the run for murder, is on the train. He seizes his chance to sneak out of the wreckage unsuspected, abandoning his possessions—and, he hopes, his identity—among bodies mangled beyond recognition.

As the police descend on the scene, only grizzled Detective Domínguez sees a link between the crash and his murder case. Soon, he’s on Hugo’s tail. But he hasn’t banked on everything from the media to his mother-in-law getting in the way.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Fast, fun, mordantly funny...I hope the publisher's comps of Cha and Locke are resonating with you, because I think they're spot-on. There's little to mark this very entertaining read out of a crowded field, though, except some they-work-for-you or don't hints of hilariously implied Heavenly intercession. As foreshadowed in the synopsis, guilt and/or innocence really aren't the point here, so the ma'at-oriented mystery reader might not be well-served here...more, to me, of a Highsmith/gray hero vibe.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay Read

I received an advance review copy for free from Edelweiss, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you Paula Rodríguez for the opportunity to read the book. This was an alright read. This is the debut crime novel from Paula Rodríguez and translated by Sarah Moses. Hugo Lamadrid is wanted for murder, and is travelling by train when there is a train crash. I thought the story had potential, but it did not engage me as much as I thought it would have. The characters were okay. I thought the different characters were good, but I would have liked to get to know them a bit better. I thought the ending was good. I just feel like the plot could have been expanded more. Overall, an okay read.

[Andy Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the heart of Buenos Aires there is a serious train crash.
Amongst the dead, dying and seriously injured is Hugo, a murderer on the run. Though he is an atheist, it is with some irony that he offers a prayer to St Expeditus, the Patron Saint of Urgent Matters.

Meanwhile at Hugo's home, his partner Marta and her 13 year old daughter, Evelyn, are in a fluster. She has had a visit from the Detective invesitgating Hugo. After she gets no reply from him, she hotfoots it to her sister, Mónica's house in Colón, with Evelyn. Mónica is in charge of the slot machines in the casino, with a sideline of sex toy sales by mail-order from home.

It isn't long before Mónica and Marta's mother, Olga, is involved. She is a fiercely matriarchal figure who assumes charge, and is soon on national TV talking about the disappearance of the supposedly framed Hugo.

This isn't really a crime novel at all. Rather it is an examination of these key characters under pressure. Its noirish elements are strong, as is the dry humour which is mostly concerned with the cynical suggestion of relgious intervention at the most inappropriate of times.

It has many strengths, and for the most, is a thoroughly entertaining read. But it fizzles out with a splutter rather than a bellow, leaving an ultimate feeling of dissatisfaction, which is a pity, as for 90% of the piece I couldn't fault it.

[AndiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic story of crime and life in Buenos Aires. The novel opens with a train crash. With very little information, we realize that Hugo is on the run and has survived the crash and hopes to flee. We also meet a very dedicated, obsessive detective. Coupled with Hugo's exasperated wife and child and her sister and very strong willed mother, it's a race to see who can find Hugo first.

It's a crazy, quick moving novel and truly entertaining til the final word. The detective provided noir elements. If you like a fast moving noirish thriller, this is a novel for you!
#PushkinPress #Urgent Matters #PaulaRodriguez

[Pianobikes · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Todo lo transcurrido entre aquella colisión del coche 7 de la línea 4 contra un camión en la Costanera Sur y el siniestro ferroviario de la estación de Haedo quedó entre paréntesis: abandonar sus pretensiones, casarse, fracasar, ser padre, hundirse, mejorar, aceptar, complicarse, matar a alguien, ocultarlo, huir y seguir viviendo como un muerto que viaja en un colectivo”. ~ Causas urgentes de Paula Rodríguez.

No sé muy bien qué contar de este libro así que vamos por partes. La historia parte con un accidente del tren en el que viaja Hugo, un presunto asesino que está en busca y captura por la policía, quien aprovecha el siniestro y un descuido en el hospital para desaparecer. Como aún faltan cadáveres por identificar su familia también aprovecha la situación para dar por muerto a Hugo pero quien no es tan proclive a suscribir esa premisa es el policía Osvaldo Domínguez.

La novela arranca bien pero luego se me ha desinflado. En el trasfondo tenemos a los medios de comunicación; de hecho, la televisión y las noticias sobre el accidente permanecen de fondo en las secuencias que se van sucediendo en el libro. No me han gustado los personajes, la verdad, ni he entendido qué hace en la historia parte de la trama. En fin, que para mi ha ido de más a menos, quizá no he entendido bien lo que la autora quería contar o quizá para mi le falta desarrollo.

El libro se lee de un tirón y aunque está escrito con giros argentinos se lee muy fácilmente.

[Irene Diez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Es un libro que simplemente quieres que se acabe cuanto antes. Te aburre.

Y es un thriller teóricamente.

[Magnus Stanke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't do it for me. I kinda expected a thriller/crime novel but what I got was a meandering non-narrative that didn't go anywhere. Perhaps I missed something. What I most enjoyed was the Argentine Spanish (I read the original, not the translation), but that isn't really saying much.

[Cheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy to read. Unfortunately, I could not get engrossed by this story, it jumped around a lot and didn’t make sense in some places. Not one of my favorites, I’m sorry to say.

[Flor (Books Inventory) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reseña completa sin spoilers en https://www.instagram.com/p/CXBrDbkl2...

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“URGENT MATTERS” by Paula Rodríguez

- “A train crashes in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, leaving forty-three people dead. A prayer card of Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of urgent matters, flutters above the wreckage. Hugo, a criminal on the run for murder, is on the train. He seizes his chance to sneak out of the wreckage unsuspected, abandoning his possessions and he hopes, his identity - among bodies mangled beyond all recognition. As the police descend on the scene, only grizzled Detective Domínguez sees a link between the crash and his murder case. Soon, he's on Hugo's tail. But he hasn't banked on everything from the media to Hugo's mother-in-law getting in the way……”

Written by Paula Rodríguez and professionally translated from Spanish by Sarah Moses, this was a quick read for me, coming in at just under two hundred pages. “Urgent Matters” is a unique story and is told from several of the characters points of view, who each have very differing opinions and explanations of events. I’d describe this police procedural as being very character driven, with each character being completely unlike in nature to each other, even though they are interconnected closely and the detecting element although prominent, becoming secondary.

As a debut novel, the author has written a fine story highlighting the disturbing police and government corruption and their hold on the media and as a vocal activist herself, she is perfectly placed to comment about social issues in modern Argentina.

Well worth a read for the more discerning crime reader, this suspenseful and thought provoking novel is aptly titled and will appeal to many.

“An electric Argentinian literary noir for fans of Steph Cha, K Ferrari and Claudia Pineiro”

Thank you to Kate at Pushkin Press for inviting me on this tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the English translation of this book.

This was a bit out of my usual comfort zone in terms of the genre and the fact that it was a translated book, but the description intrigued me and I am so glad I decided to try it. The writing flows really well and I ended up reading most of it in one day. I did find it a bit hard to keep track of all the side characters as many were introduced quite suddenly and I wasn't always sure how they fitted into the story, however this didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book.

It was really interesting to get the different points of view of the main characters, and I enjoyed being able to see the story from all sides, particularly as they are all so different. It's amazing how a varied perspective can alter what seems to be happening. The conclusion was left very slightly vague so that while I am pretty sure I know what happens next, it is still open to interpretation or at least hope for whatever the reader might want! I will be looking out for more of Paula's books in future, hoping they will also be translated.

[Leerconlibertad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una novela negra cuya trama gira en torno a la desaparición de un individuo que estaba en el tren siniestrado. El mayor problema para la policía es que aún encima de estar en paradero desconocido, creen que es el autor de un crimen reciente.
Además desgrana la vida de su pareja y familia de esta, que esconden mucho más de lo que se ve a simple vista.
La corrupción, los tejemanejes políticos y policiales y sobre todo las creencias religiosas desempeñan un papel muy importante en esta novela.
✳️
Me ha costado un mundo leer esta novela, sobre todo por el castellano latino que utilizan. Por momentos me he perdido y no entendía muy bien lo que estaba sucediendo. He optado por tener cerca el móvil y así buscar en Google ciertas palabras que no me coincidían en el diálogo. La trama está correcta y sería de mi gusto si no pasase media noche buscando significados a las frases. Me apena darle esta puntuación pero no puedo darle más porque no he disfrutado de la lectura como me gustaría.

[lorrainelowereads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me unfortunately. For a book that is billed as 'fast paced', I found it excruciatingly slow. And for a book that is also billed as a 'police procedural', there was very little police work described. I honestly didn't know what was happening most of the time.

[Leandro Pannunzio · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[J Kromrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Urgent Matters" by Paula Rodríguez, translated by Sarah Moses, is a gripping thriller that delves into the chaos following a catastrophic train crash in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. The novel opens with a haunting scene where forty-three lives are abruptly ended, and amidst the wreckage, a prayer card of Saint Expeditus—the patron saint of urgent matters—flutters ominously.

The protagonist, Hugo, a criminal embroiled in a murder case, finds himself on the ill-fated train. In the aftermath of the crash, he seizes the opportunity to escape, leaving his past and identity buried among the unrecognizable bodies. This twist of fate sets off a thrilling chase, with the tenacious Detective Domínguez piecing together the clues that link the train disaster to his ongoing murder investigation.

Rodríguez's narrative is a masterful blend of suspense and social commentary, painting a vivid picture of a society grappling with corruption and the media's frenzied interference. The story is a reflection on the concept of guilt and innocence in a world where such absolutes are rarely discernible.

The pacing of the novel is relentless, mirroring the urgency of its title. Rodríguez's prose, seamlessly translated by Moses, is both sharp and evocative, capturing the reader's attention from the first page to the last. The characters are well-realized, each with their own flaws and motivations that add depth to the unfolding drama.

"Urgent Matters" is a notable addition to the genre of South American noir.

It's a novel that thrills with its plot twists and turns, but also lingers in the mind for its poignant exploration of human nature in the face of disaster.

Rodríguez has crafted a story that is both an electrifying thriller and a profound commentary on the urgent matters of life and death.

[Poppy Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
An electric Argentinian thriller featuring a deadly train crash, two unidentified bodies, and a missing murder suspect.

The Americans are more astute when it comes to matters like these. They say, “Not guilty”. They don’t say “innocent”. Because as far as innocence goes, no one can make that claim.

A train crashes in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, leaving forty-three fatalities, two of which have not been identified. A prayer card of Saint Expeditus, the patron saint of urgent matters, flutters above the wreckage.

Hugo, a criminal on the run for murder, is on the train. He seizes his chance to sneak out of the wreckage unsuspected, abandoning his possessions – and, he hopes, his identity – among bodies mangled beyond recognition.

As the police descend on the scene, only grizzled Detective Domínguez sees a link between the crash and his murder case. Soon, he’s on Hugo’s tail. But he hasn’t banked on everything from the media to his mother-in-law getting in the way.

The whole mother-in-law aspect of this book made me laugh as (in another life and another detour from librarianship…) I lived and worked in Buenos Aires as a concierge in a very fancy, very expensive hotel and dealt with some of the weirdest requests I think that has ever been made … but that is a whole book in itself. My boss was terrified of his mother-in-law who I thought was the sweetest person on the planet … until I saw her wrath. I get it.
That aside, this was a really good book: well-written, crafted to keep your attention and full of thrilling moments. A wonderful ending makes this a book that I will recommend to patrons without hesitation.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's never a right time to be involved in a fatal train crash, or so you'd think. Hugo is – although is more or less one of the walking wounded when he is rescued from the wrecked carriage. The only thing is, it would not be too bad a time for wiping the slate clean, and starting anew with a tabula rasa. Especially after what he's just done. But the problem is, things could never just end there. His partner and daughter get asked by the police about what Hugo has done, and so flee, his colleague is involved – even his sort-of mother-in-law is connected. This fun and brisk drama is what comes from Hugo's situation on the train, and whether or not he should – or could – kill himself off and carry on as someone else.

Oh and dildos, it's also heavy on the dildos. And Jesus.

But the problem is that not a lot is done with this premise. Yes, it's fun to read, up to a point, the dark humour of a suicide scene being a highlight in the final third that only seems to want to prove there is actually no purpose behind this all. It's the kind of ending that is complete, but leaving a lot just ignored – it's not that you don't get closure but you have to accept a lot that is unanswered before then. And yes, a lot of the characters are cops and/or crooks, and there seems to have been a murder, but the whimsical approach to all this actually seems to take it out of any real crime genre. Ultimately if it says anything deep it is about the media knowing more than the police in this case, and trial by media, and that sort of thing, but that ends up being on the woolly side too. I'm not annoyed I read it – it was a short thing, anyway – but I could not see a proper recommendation being the response.

[Sonja van der Westhuizen | West Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Systemic police corruption, commitment to Roman Catholicism, and the influence of the media in Argentina—Paula Rodriguez’s debut novel highlights these realities in a country still bearing the scars of decades of political and social unrest against the backdrop of a train accident in suburban Buenos Aires.

Hugo Victor Lamadrid, a locksmith and the main suspect in the murder of a 19 year-old Paraguayan, is one of the accident victims. With 43 people dead, most of whom are unrecognisably maimed, it’s the ideal opportunity to vanish without a trace, and when Hugo’s ID and mobile phone are discovered among the wreckage, the logical assumption is that he’s died. The police aren’t convinced, so Detective Domínquez is tasked to trace Hugo. Unfortunately, his investigation is hampered by police department corruption.

Full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.co...

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A debut police procedural, this time from Argentinian author Paula Rodriguez, Urgent Matters (2023) is translated by Sarah Moses. Hugo is traveling on a Buenos Aries train one morning when it crashes, and he decides to leave his possessions and identity behind. Detective Domínguez is after Hugo as he is a suspect in a murder investigation. Hugo’s family is uncertain whether he survived the fatal crash, as the detective visits them seeking answers. An enjoyable crime read with appealing characters and a family with their own secrets, makes this a three stars read rating. With thanks to Pushkin Press and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A train crash in Buenos Aires, a police officer chasing a suspect and a mother and daughter on the run. Lives collide in this fast paced thriller.

Pushkin Verigo has quickly become my go to for crime fiction from around the world and I'm yet to be disappointed. Urgent Matters starts almost midway through a story so I felt like I was immediately pulled into the chase by Detective Dominguez to catch his suspect whilst simultaneously being pulled into the lives of his family and friends. A thrilling and fast paced crime novel 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a thriller with fast-paced action and procedural police work. Well... whoever said this clearly never read this book. It started well with a train crash and a character named Hugo who somehow got lucky and survived the crash without any injury. He also successfully escapes the crash scene. After that, I´m not actually sure what happens. The narration is in the third person but in the present tense so we observe chaotic scenes of Hugo, his family, and some other people. All of these characters are literally thrown into the story and it´s hard to make sense of what is going on. Maybe it´s me having a hard time focusing, maybe the translation is faulty, I don´t know.

[Emma F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hugo Lamadrid is wanted by the police in relation to a murder. But he is travelling on a train when it is involved in a tragic accident.

This is a translated story, so I found something in the writing didn’t quite flow for me. It was an interesting story, although the narrative jumped around a little too much for me.
I must admit I also got a little confused between characters, as there are sisters Marta (Hugo’s partner) and Mónica and then Marina. Plus Martin (less confusing as he is male). For quite a short novel there are a lot of characters introduced rapidly.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urgent Matters by Paula Rodriguez is pitched as a fast paced thriller but unfortunately I found it to be very slow going.
It was said to be police procedural but that's not the case in my opinion.

I am also not a fan of third person narrative, it was quite confusing and the style of writing was somehow off.

The start was solid and it looked very promising but all of a sudden all these characters started showing up from nowhere, there were too many too fast and I simply couldn't keep up with them.

Maybe it's due to translation or it simply wasn't for me I am sorry to say.

[Lisa Oldfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this as thrillers are my favourite genre. I think it started off really well and was intrigued as to what was going to happen. Then it got a bit confusing as for a shorter story there are lots of characters and the story jumped between them so I personally found it hard to keep up, and wasn’t entirely sure what was happening! I’m not sure if this was me or something was lost in translation.
I thought it was okay and I think I’d read another of Paula Rodriguez’s books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC

[LaughterandThunderstorms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to the publishing team for my digital copy and review
This isn't my normal genre of read but there something that pulled me towards it and I am glad I did.
It had a really compelling story line and was a very fast paced read. I really liked the character development as we get to find out more about them beneath the surface level which always adds an extra layer of tension to the plot.

[Aria Harlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I thik I have read by this author and it won't be the last. I enjoyed this book it was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. There was a ot of tense moments in this book but that was counteracted with some humourous moments. An enjoyable read.

[L C · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seemed underdeveloped. The story is told from multiple perspectives - possibly too many perspectives as most characters got very short shrift. Some sections seemed more like general editorial outlines than fully formed chapters. Other sections came across as a stream of consciousness jumble that, if I had cared one whit about the characters, I would have been more inclined to follow.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are familiar with telenovelas - soap operas- this book is more enjoyable. It is very much in that vein, A man is on the run after learning the police are looking for him in connection with a murder. On his way out of town his train crashes. He is thought to be one of the unidentified victims, but a determined police detective won't give up on his pursuit.

[Liam Mycroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner of a debut novel, out of Argentina. The very short chapters kept the story moving at a rapid pace.

No spoilers here, but an intriguing tale, never quite knowing where it was going, or indeed, where it had been.