A historical mystery novel set in Donostia in the 1950s is the new installment by Nagore Suárez

The story begins in 1938 when the protagonist of the novel, Manuelameets as a teenager in a girls’ school in Florence to Avaan enigmatic and independent young woman, fond of art who paints day and night, with whom she establishes a relationship and who mysteriously disappears from the center without a trace.

Fourteen years later, in 1952Manuela is summer in Donostiawhere she tries to escape the control of her family, when she is invited to the capital of San Sebastian to the inauguration of Villa Allursocial event organized by a mysterious young man, the Duke Julien Leroy-Benoit.

During the evening, and on her tour of the mansion, Manuela accidentally discovers inside, the last painting painted by her missing friend during the years they shared at the Italian boarding school.

As the publisher explains, “on the canvas you can see a cliff next to the sea where a female figure dressed in a white cloak floats in the void. Hair floats on the surface of the water and in the sky, along with stars irregular shapes an Arabian crescent could be seen”.

The painting has a “hypnotic” conditionwith colors and shapes that “captivate in a dangerous way, managing to drag anyone who observed it to the edge of that cliff, forcing them to wonder if the spectral woman fell into the waters or emerged from them, since she seemed to die and resurrect at the same time” , they add from Destino.

From this discovery, Manuela tries, without success, to find a rational explanation for the presence of the painting in that house and begins Ava’s search in the Donostia of the 50s, where summer passes between “luxurious evenings of tennis clubthe Concha Beach and the vapors of La Perla spa“.

For the protagonist, immersed in the search for her friend, “the days and nights between specters, suspicions and inquiries on the trail of a symbol, in the form of a threatening scarlet snake, that seems to be everywhere.”

Elements in common with the Baztán trilogy

In statements to Europa Press, the author states that the historical mystery label attributed to his new novel, “like all labels, they are always indicative and designed to indicate to the reader what they are going to find.” In this case, he adds, “it is a mystery set between 1938 and 1952although, of course, it has many more ingredients.

Asked if the story represents a drastic change with respect to the tone used in the so-called ‘bones trilogy’Suárez considers that, “although it is a very different story, it has some common elements with the trilogy, as are the setting in the north of Spain, issues related to the esotericism or it supernatural; in addition to one’s own style, which is something that, no matter how different the narration and plot is, remains there” he emphasizes.

The atmosphere of the novel

The Madrid writer was asked about whether she has set the plot in the Donostia of the 50s Because that period gave rise to a literary intrigue of these characteristics, Nagore Suárez remembers that the capital of San Sebastian was, from the end of the 19th century, the city where the best of European society gathered to spend the summer.”

Likewise, he continues, “smugglers, princes and mediums met at the Grand Casino of the city and I was attracted to that halo of mysteryof glamorof spectrums and parties“.

In any case, he specifies, “although in 1952 we find a transformed cityin the midst of Franco’s regime, continued to maintain that essence that gave the impression that, between the evenings at the Tennis Club and the dances, everything was possible in its villas.

In addition to the characters, a central element of the novel is the mansion ‘Villa Allur’ which “is, in a certain way, a ghost”, he defines, and for which he was inspired by “several villas that existed in Donostia, but that have disappeared, like Villa Londaiz or the Bermejillo Palace“, remember.

Relationship with the Basque Country

Suárez explains that, although born in Madridmaintains a relationship with the Basque Country, since his father and uncles were born in Bilbao and his grandparents lived there for many years. “I have known Donostia since I was little and I have always the city has fascinated meso it seemed perfect to set this novel full of daydreams” he emphasizes.

Regarding this type of mansions or atmospheres, they could refer to classics that they share these types of settings like the novel ‘Rebecca’of Daphne du MaurierNagore Suárez feels flattered since, “any comparison with the wonderful work of Daphne du Maurier and her famous ‘Manderley’ is a flattery“.

In that sense, he continues, “for ‘Villa Allur’ I tried to achieve a gloomy and at the same time attractive atmosphere, since it plays a very important role in the story and everything that happens is linked in one way or another to the house.”

Suárez finally remembers the phrases that he included in a promotional postcard that accompanies the novel. “Houses that are not inhabited are filled with ghosts. It’s like an invitation. Isn’t this city wonderful? Ghosts and parties, I can’t think of anything better,” he concludes.