He was a good, modest man whose absence leaves a personal void for friends, family, and fans of the author. The passing of Domingo Villar Vázquez (Vigo, 1971-2022) sent a shock through his circle, coming after a recent stroke that had already forced his hospitalization. He was admitted to Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital early Monday for a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and after a brief stay in intensive care, the outcome became sadly clear. Villar’s body of work, including the trilogy composed of Water Containers (2006), To Praia dos Afogados (2009), and The Last Boat (2019), solidified him as a major reference in Galician and Spanish noir, earning him best-seller status while staying deeply rooted in his homeland’s traditions.
With him, the cultural landscape of Vigo saw the rise of a local phenomenon and an estuary-inspired imagination that drew writers, filmmakers, and tourists alike. The era featured cinematic moments, such as the depiction of a sailor’s body on Madorra’s Nigranense beach in a 2015 production directed by Gerardo Herrero, featuring actors like Marta Larralde and Luis Zahera. Across the water, guided routes through the Tirán neighborhood in Moaña continue to attract visitors eager to discover the blue house of Mónica Andrade, beyond the Maruxía terrace, and the pristine beaches that frame this viewpoint just a short boat ride from Olívica. Villar spoke of Vigo as a private Ithaca, a lost paradise that stirred memories of childhood and youth whenever he closed his eyes to write. He would return to his beloved place several times a year, even if it wasn’t everything he wanted. During a visit to care for his mother, he confronted a sudden neurological emergency, the doctors noting a mortality risk in the days after hospitalization. Sudden neurological events like this can follow intense headaches, especially in people over fifty.
Domingo Villar in ten sentences
Proud and distinguished Vigo
On March 24, Villar received the Distinguished Vigués award at the García Barbón Theater, a moment filled with emotion and gratitude. This honor marked decades of vitality that brought the city to life on the pages and screens of his stories, where inspector Leo Caldas investigated with a stubborn sense of place. Caldas and Villar are linked in memory, much like two sons of a winery owner who shared a bond built on locality and craft. The detective’s favorite dining spot, the central Eligio Tavern, would be unavailable during the struggle between life and death, while Galician Letters Day offered an opportunity to celebrate the writer by reserving the venue for a later gathering with close friends. The weather those days mirrored the mood, a rain-wind storm that almost seemed to presage the hero’s final arc. The shores of Galicia would mourn the departure of a voice that had become part of the region’s cultural identity.
The ten-year gap separating Villar’s last two novels followed the loss of his first reader and critic, the person who first shared impressions and appreciated the musicality of his prose. The death of his father in December 2013 reshaped his approach, prompting a shift in depth and perspective. He crafted new works that expanded from about 500 pages to even broader canvases, emphasizing how parenting and family weave a stable foundation. Thereafter, he read passages aloud in both Galician and Spanish to his wife Beatriz and their children Tomás, Mauro, and Antón at the end of each chapter. He continued to reveal a passion for Celta football and quarry life, recognizing that younger readers who engaged with his stories grew alongside him. Villar inspired many artists, both known and anonymous, who have embraced Leo Caldas as a symbol of the era, a feeling of shared absence and ongoing remembrance.
whole view
The manuscript of the opening chapter of his third novel, The Last Boat, remained a testament to his craft. His work resonates across generations of readers and filmmakers who found in his storytelling a sense of place and purpose. The legacy of Villar endures in the stories that keep Vigo and its surroundings alive in the imagination of those who love crime fiction grounded in real locales and heartfelt character journeys.
recent studies
The news of Villar’s passing prompted renewed interest in his investigations, as researchers note how some scenes in his later works drew from real places along the coast. The pandemic era provided fresh material for short stories, including those in Siruela (2021), where a narrator shares memories gathered over years with family. Galicia remains a central current in his writing, with maritime landscapes and magical elements serving as enduring anchors. Xerais is expected to publish a new compilation that gathers stories from multiple authors, offering another portal into the world Villar designed from the Vigo shorelines.