|
5.0étoiles sur 5
A Riveting Novel of Corruption, Mystery, and Human Secrecy, Déc 9 2003
A Small Death in Lisbon
Robert Wilson
451 Pages
Available in Paperback
Berkley: 1999Book Description A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson intertwines two tales of intrigue and murder over a course of 58 years. The novel begins in present day Lisbon, Portugal, where a young woman, Catarina Oliveira, is found dead on the coast. Ze Coelho, a homicide detective, is called to the scene to investigate her murder. From this point on he unwraps a gruesome, extensive, and complicated past, displaying that Catarina's death is on a much grander scale than one would imagine. The story connected to Catarina's murder stretches back to the time of Nazi Germany and a Nazi named Klaus Felsen. Robert Wilson pulls the reader back and forth from the past to the present, slowly moving forward until the two stories meet at a bitter end. Klaus Felsen bribes, steals, and kills, drawing towards the future when a murder will be committed in connection with him. In the writing of this novel Wilson has paid close attention to historical detail, showing a world in Portugal revolving around the mining industry, particularly wolfram. This metallic element, which was vital during WWII, becomes a reason for bribery and slaying within the novel. The book in itself is difficult to describe, including small facts and circumstances that come together, allowing inspector Coelho to solve an enormous crime. His partner, Carlos, his daughter, Olivia, two men named Antonio Borrego and Manuel Abrantes, and a mysterious lover, all play a role in a novel that focuses on atrocities over a period of almost 60 years. Personal Book Review A Small Death in Lisbon is a novel built around intricate detail, describing a compelling mystery with surprises around every corner. Robert Wilson has spiced the novel with amazing amounts of creative description and has written a story so enticing it leaves the reader full of suspense until the final page. This book contains a reinvention of the historical clash between good and evil, with an emphasis on the latter. Klaus Felsen is presented as a good man, but eventually commits ghastly acts and leaves the reader hating him. On the other hand, Ze Coelho becomes the hero of the novel, a man you want to succeed in his battle. The novel's theme is about mystery in itself, or the secrets that can be hidden by simple people whose past remains without closure. Each character in this book is fighting his or her past, whether it's Ze coping with his dead wife, or Klaus locked in jail for his previous mistakes. Each character longs for an escape or a resolution. This adds so much to the novel, as each person's story contributes in some way to the overall scheme. The plot of A Small Death in Lisbon is what is most alluring. A novel so long and complicated would generally cause confusion for the reader, but I found this book so interesting that I read it swiftly and never lost track of the plot. Reading this novel is like driving down a curvy road, where at each bend you meet something more exciting and electrifying. Furthermore, the novel's conclusion is far from disappointing. The only major flaw I found in the novel was the lack of closure with Klaus Felsen. Wilson draws him up as a strong man, focusing mainly on Klaus and Ze throughout the book. However, while Ze meets his much deserved ending, Klaus seems to just weakly fade away. The book is also quite explicit, and I would firmly recommend that this book only be read by mature readers. Other Novels By Robert Wilson The Big Killing
The Blind Man of Seville
The Company of Strangers Other Novels Relating to the Theme of A Small Death in Lisbon A Darkness More Than Night by Michael Connelly
Dark Star by Alan Furst
A Clean Kill by Mike Stewart
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
 
|
|
|
|
de Robert Wilson
de Robert Wilson
