The novelist, critic and editor,
Ford Madox Ford once famously said, “Open a book to page ninety-nine, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you.”
Well, at the risk of public humiliation, but in the spirit of transparency and sharing, here is Page 99 of
After Goya:
‘Asking you to interview the bank manager in Madrid was not a
little errand.’ Cotelo tapped the table with an emphatic finger. ‘And the reports? Well, that’s just bullshit isn’t it? Didn’t think you’d be interested in the paperwork. Thought you wanted action. Thought you wanted to be out there, on the streets, tracking our man. And, as for belittling your suggestions, well, we’re here aren’t we? You said they were heading for Córdoba and here we are – in Córdoba.’
He looked at Cotelo, trying to read his expression. He couldn’t tell whether he was being sincere or not. He hesitated, wavering on the edge of feeling chastened. He allowed him the benefit of his doubt and continued eating his soup.
‘For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing a good job.’ Cotelo wiped his chin with a napkin. ‘These surveillance jobs are never easy. They’re frustrating. You just want to get in there and get your man, or woman. S’only natural. We all want to do what we’re paid to do – catch crooks and lock ’em up. But, well, when there’s a bigger catch, and it means taking time, watching, waiting, laying a trap, then ...’ Cotelo shrugged, pushed his empty dish aside and poured himself a glass of red wine.
‘So, what do you think he’s up to?’ he asked.
‘As I’ve said before, that’s not our job. We watch, we observe, we allow our observations–’
‘Yes, I understand that, but you must be curious. You’re a detective!’
‘I have my ideas, of course, but–’
‘I don’t think the Boss would have sent you to just watch. Sooner or later he’s going to ask you to close in and close it down, whatever it is.’
‘Maybe. But maybe the Boss is just keeping me out of the way, sending me on a
little errand.’
‘And, why would he do that?’
‘Stop me following up a case I’ve been working on.’
The waiter arrived at the table with their second courses.
‘Which case?’
.....
So, what do you think?
There are a couple of little niggly things in there that I'd change if writing it again. And, it's a bit dialogue heavy and light on speech tags, but ... I think it's fairly clear what's going on and who is talking to who. And, there's some intrigue: "... close in and close it down, whatever it is." What is the
it that is being referred to?
And, why would Cotelo's boss prevent him from following up a case he's been working on?
Well, you'll have to turn the page to find out.
What do you think? All comments gratefully received.
._Dibujo_preparatorio_de_Los_caprichos.jpg)
Now available online in paperback through:
"This started off at a cracking pace and I loved the surprise 70-year jump to the present. The characters were engaging and convincing … The subject matter is interesting too ... an eye-opener … a fine international thriller … a really enjoyable and satisfying read with all the important ingredients that make and season a good thriller. I thought this was excellent and a great read."
Ian Rankin was in town a couple of weeks ago. He was here to receive the Pepe Carvalho prize. The prize, named after Manuel Vázquez Montalbán's detective, is awarded annually to a writer working in the crime genre in recognition of their career achievements. Established in 2005 previous winners include: Michael Connelly, P. D. James, Henning Mankell and Francisco González Ledesma.
"This story has a fast-paced plot, well drawn characters, strong imagery and a good bit of tension to carry the reader along. The characters were believable and their motivations seemed genuine ... Overall, an intriguing and enjoyable read."
"I would buy this book. Personally, this novel is interesting to me because it takes place in cities and regions I know: the Costa del Sol, Madrid. I know about art, and the Spanish Civil War, and, having lived in Eastern Europe, understand the Russians. The story was much better than I expected . . . the plot was sophisticated. The dialogue is realistic. The characters are compelling. I want to read more ... I am really impressed . . . and I read a lot."
"I have to admit that this is not the sort of thing I usually read but nonetheless I found it engaging and very well described as well as written. The language and dialogue fitted the story perfectly and the characters and settings were believable and even tangible. It flowed very well too although the odd sentence did seem a bit abrupt and short; however, this did not detract from the story. If anything it made it better, particularly in the beginning where it gave the plot a snappy pace. It maintained a believable and constant pace throughout. I'll say it again, although not my favourite sort of literature, I found this thoroughly enjoyable."
"This is a taut and well-written story which has mystery, drama and authenticity. You have an eye for detail and great knowledge of the subject, background and settings. 
" ... like something Greg Isles or Peter James would write and I think this is a very captivating story with interesting characters ... it works very well. The settings are interesting and you seem to know a lot about Spain and Spanish customs/food etc.
"What a great story! It unfolds quite nicely whilst keeping twists to lead you off on another track. Your knowledge of Spain is obviously an important part of your theme, and it gives it the colour that adventure stories need. The start had me believing I was in the plane and having just completed a confrontation, then the switch in time of Chapter One brings things alive.
Posts
