| Book Review | The Devil's Horn.
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Having finished reading this novel just minutes before, I knew I had to write a review immediately. There's a certain charm in crime mysteries that are set in a place which we know nothing about. When this book came through the mail, I was intrigued by the cover. It's rustic and the back of the book adorns a painting of a place which has the sea and a shore spotted with trees. I do not think I have read a crime story as excellent as this one lately. It's gripping and quirky, making me stifle a giggle now and then.
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Isabel Flores is a 33 year old ex-cop in Mollorca who quit the Spanish police department few years ago. She now runs a holiday rental agency that brings in handsome money with the help of her assistant Pep. Having left behind the hectic police days, Isabel has now fallen into a comfortable routine of waking up early for a swim in the sea with her pet ferret Furó. Soon, the idyllic tourist island comes to life when a young British girl is abducted from a beach which is then followed by the murder of an elderly Mallorcan man. The Spanish police department loops in Isabel to work on the case as a favour and this sets her mind whirring furiously. Within the next few days, Isabel goes through the activities of the island, interrogating neighbours and coming up with possible theories.
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With the help of her assistant and her old friend from the police department Tolo, she cracks the murder mystery and the kidnapping case but only to realise that there's a much bigger drug cartel lurking in the shadows. I'll let you read the novel to see how superbly Isabel decodes the crimes one at a time. Until I read this book, I wasn't aware of Mallorca's existence, their culture, cuisine and the weather that graces the residents. The author, @majorcanpearls has done such a beautiful job in describing the little island to us so vividly that one can feel the warm sun on their faces and sand in their feet. The protagonist's character is a major hit with her little quirks and hunches. Her need to chew on sunflower seeds to concentrate, the pet ferret and the ease with which she goes behind what she wants, is all very pleasant to read.
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It's not so often that you see such detail in building the supporting characters. Every single character in this novel has been described so wonderfully that one cannot forget their role even after you are done reading it. Though this is a crime mystery, it feels incredibly light to read and now happens to be my favourite. I highly recommend it. After having a little chat with the author, I'm
super thrilled to know that there may be more books starring Isabel.
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Rating - 5/5