The dream of reason

BOOK REVIEW

THE DREAM OF REASON

Author: Berna González Harbour From the reader report by: Hebe Powell

This is the fourth of Gonzáles Harbour’s books to feature María Ruiz, however, any reservations the reader might have if they have not read the previous novels are dispelled in the first few pages. Ruiz is immediately attractive and instantly three dimensional coming across as empathetic, insightful, and driven. We get snippets of her back-story throughout the novel, and these add further depth to the character as the plot progresses without being intrusive or making the reader feel they’ve missed out if they haven’t read the other books in this series.

Part of the book’s interest is down to the huge role taken by Goya and his work. The artist is far more than just a plot device – a frame for the killer’s psychopathy – he is a protagonist in the novel. Goya’s own obsession with humanity’s darker side and the disillusionment reflected in his later work, are somewhat mirrored by Ruiz’s darker thoughts and frustration as a police officer having experienced the worst of people in the course of her work.

The author has an engaging writing style. Her prose is very elegant, and this makes for a very pleasurable, easy read. Gonzáles Harbour is a skilful storyteller, she keeps the tension of the story through all 400 pages, and she manages the threads of all the plot lines exquisitely, tying things together or introducing a new strand at just the right moment.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS US | JP | UK

DOS PASSOS AGENCIA

Title THE DREAM OF REASON EL SUEÑO DE LA RAZÓN

Author Berna González Harbour Genre Literature Pages 416

ISBN 978-84233-553-10 Year of publication 2019 Number of editions 3 Language Spanish Spanish retail price 18.90 €

Author’s biography: Berna González Harbour writes noir novels, is the creator of police officer Comisaria Ruiz, and according to Paco Camarasa, one of the “latest nine” in Spanish noir crime. She was shortlisted for the Dashiell Hammett prize for The Tears of Claire Jones (Destino), and she won the Cantabria booksellers’ prize and the 2019 Dashiell Hammett prize for The Dream of Reason, and is a member of various literary panels. She is also a journalist, a political analyst and a cultural collaborator. She is assistant director at El País, where she has been editor of Babelia and special envoy to several countries in conflict. She runs the book-reading programme ¿Qué estás leyendo? As well as working with the cultural magazine Zenda and as a regular contributor to the discussion programme Hora 25 on Cadena Ser radio. www.dospassos.es

Synopsis: Can death be a form of art? Comisario Ruiz is on leave from the force. It’s the festival in the capital and everybody is having fun by the Manzanares river. But the discovery of animal corpses killed by ritualistic methods is the first sign of an anomaly that will soon lead to another morbid event, the apparently ritual execution of a young art student at one of the river’s weirs. And she won’t be the only one. the police investigate different theories, but events begin to create a series of circumstances that will take Comisaria Ruiz to the history of Goya, weaving a frightening tangle she must resolve. Can death and art be related? Can madness become creation? With no team, no uniform and no weapon, María Ruiz must face a highly intelligent and obsessive opponent.

Publisher who has published: Destino (Planeta)

Publisher: Agencia Dos Passos We represent Spanish authors of fiction, non-fiction and children’s literature, from award-winning novelists with years of experience to new voices making waves in publishing today. We defend the interests of our authors around the world in all formats.

Publishing rights available from: Agencia Dos Passos - CIF B83873737 Plaza de la Encarnación nº 3, 2º dcha., Madrid www.dospassos.es Contact: Alexandra Templier [alexandra@dospassos.es] Phone: (+34) 633 067 931

Prizes and reviews: 2019 Dashiell Hammett prize, blurbs by Paco Camarasa, Manuel Vilas, Marta Sanz, Claudia Piñeiro, Carlos Zanón, Lorenzo Silva, Fernando Marías