When American anthropologist Anna Merino arrives in the
sleepy village of Cuamantla in rural Tlaxcala Mexico to
conduct her dissertation research, she becomes embroiled in
a homicide and the theft of the village's most prized
possession, the Real Cedula, a document from King Philip II
of Spain, dating back to 1551. The prospect of chronicling
her first fiesta fills Anna with anticipation until the
murder of school director Pedro García upstages the Cinco
de Mayo celebration. Pedro’s scurrilous behavior may
not have warranted the severity of its consequences, but few
people in the village seemed troubled by his demise after he
scandalized the village over his affair with
nineteen-year-old Olivia Sanchez. Thus begins the adventure
that changes Anna’s life, starting with the decision by
village officials to quietly ignore the murder and send
Pedro’s body back to his home village in the mountains of
Vera Cruz.
Further complicating matters, the Cuamantla Municipal
President discovers the theft of the community’s prized
possession, the Cedula Real, a 1551 oil-on-canvas royal
decree from the King of Spain, a document the President kept
locked in his office. Afraid village officials will
accuse him of theft, he asks Anna to contact her thesis
advisor (a former resident of Tlaxcala now living and
teaching in the States) to intercede with the villagers on
his behalf. At some point, Anna realizes she can't save
others when her own life is in danger for having
inadvertently filmed the murderer during the Fiesta
celebration. And then there's the issue of her attraction to
at least one of the handsome and charismatic men intent on
capturing her affection.
CRITIQUES/REVIEWS
The
first of its kind
This is the first book of Harol
Marshall's that I read, and it was fabulous.
I was in graduate school pursuing my PhD and
learning about qualitative research when I
picked up this mystery, and was struck by
the rich, thick descriptions in the book ...
I easily pictured the Mexican town and
school where the murder took place, and felt
the main character's frustration with the
local police, and the 'other worldliness' of
a murder in another country, one without our
American CSI perceptions of rapid-fire
evidence processing and prosecution.
Marshall is a gifted author and her
characters are relatable and compelling.
~ “The Reading Teacher”
Engaging
Great
read. Interesting characters, surprise
ending! I enjoyed the book. The storyline
was not overly complicated and the details
regarding the setting were great.