Publisher's Synopsis
A punto de incorporarse a su antiguo tercio en Flandes, Diego Alatriste se ve envuelto por mediación de su amigo don Francisco de Quevedo en otra peligrosa aventura. Una mujer ha aparecido estrangulada en una silla de manos frente a ala iglesia de San Ginés, con una bolsa de dinero y una nota manuscrita: "Para misas por su alma". El enigma se complica con los sucesos misteriosos que ocurren tras las paredes de un convento, cuando Alatriste escontratado para rescatar de allì a una joven novicia.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
This is the second book in the Capitán Alatriste series, a sequel to "El Capitán Alatriste" (a.k.a. "Un asunto de honor") and preceding "El sol de Breda". It tells of Alatriste's new adventure in XVII century Spain. Whereas the first book in the series was relatively light-hearted, this second book dwelves on one of the darkest episodes of Spanish history, the Inquisition, and is a deep but very entertaining exploration of the darkest corners in Spanish character. However, this is only a part of what goes on in this book. There's also quite a bit of swashbuckling adventure, romance, and mistery. The action is tightly plotted, and some historical figures make brief cameos. The author has put a lot of care in using a language that's not too modern for the story but that isn't academic, either. No wonder Arturo Pérez Reverte is the best selling writting in contemporary Spain. His flair for intelligent and entertaining novels makes him a sure winner.
