The cover image hints at intrigue: a full-figured woman in a bikini seated on a sunlit beach, her back toward the viewer. The leather texture and the bold title draw the reader into a puzzle about disappearances among women with generous silhouettes along Benidorm’s shoreline.
At its Madrid debut, the Occo Gallery hosted a presentation of this distinctive detective novel crafted by Ramón Jiménez Pérez, a prolific Ávila writer who splits his time in Madrid and sometimes lends an ear to Asturias. He is widely recognized for his masterful short stories as well as his seamless transition into longer prose.
The book is a rare find: it grips the reader with a brisk, relentless pace while inviting careful attention to language. The plot races forward with agility, yet the author threads in linguistic games, double meanings, and distortions of speech that the characters themselves reveal. The narrative blends vivid depictions of art and urban space with sharp observations about Costa Blanca, alongside cinematic nods and literary allusions that are playful rather than pretentious. References to the region’s city life appear in the naming of bars, nightspots, and eateries, creating a grounded sense of place without overindulgence.
The story also engages with broader debates such as the recent EU decision on bullfighting, linking cultural politics to the criminal landscape of the plot. Philosophical touches surface through conversations about Socratic thought and conscience, alongside reflections on human relations, media influence, and the nature of rumor. Bribes and political machinations show up in the dialogue, while everyday pleasures like good food and drink color the scene with texture.
Action unfolds on the Costa Blanca at a moment when technology is just beginning to reshape life. Mobile phones are rare and new, faxes still handle official communication, and social media remains distant. Landlines and coin-operated payphones are common, such as the familiar phone at the Mariloli bar that seems to swallow coins as if keeping rhythm with a meringue dance.
The author takes a forward-looking beat, offering subtle foreshadowing of the modern era within a setting where smoky bars and bustling venues leave an unmistakable scent of tobacco. Returning home after a night out is a ritual, a cleansing shower helping to wash away the lingering odor of the night. The text notes a longing for a ban on smoking in enclosed spaces and observes the crowded, vibrant scenes where more people dine than merely snack.
Humor lightens the mood even in tense moments, and a scene at the opening of the Your Image establishment turns into a gathering of a hungry crowd that grows darker as alcohol flows. The tone blends realism with a touch of whimsy, reminiscent of English humor, as the cast of locals and visitors navigates Benidorm’s quirks and charms without slipping into clichés.
Characters such as the energetic Ferrer and his secretary Quico, the English owner of the Mariloli, Lito the police officer, and others like Ernesto and Servando appear with precise strokes. They are drawn with clarity and warmth, avoiding didactic or Freudian overanalysis while remaining deeply human and memorable.
Quico emerges as a notably compassionate yet flawed figure. He never consumes food, only drinks, and his loyalty to a beloved poodle companion adds a tender layer to the mystery. His attempts to charm his boss’s daughter, Verónica, introduce a playful counterpoint as Verónica gravitates toward a different kind of victory in a social contest. Quico’s blend of intelligence, wishful thinking, and charm makes him a standout presence in the narrative.
The portrayal of the protagonists resists easy stereotyping. The central figures are described with fullness and vitality, not reduced to flat caricatures. Language itself becomes a source of humor and invention, as the author toys with words and tone while sparing the reader from gruesome detail about the fate of missing individuals.
The ending teases a convergence of Kafkaesque and Calvinist sensibilities, a conclusion that invites readers to uncover the plot’s deeper secrets on their own. The journey remains fully engaging, offering a complete, immersive reading experience that rewards close attention and curiosity.