Just before leaving for our summer break, we are happy about the first international sale of 'El anticuario' (The Antique Dealer) by Julián Sánchez, which has just been pre-empted in The Netherlands by 'Uitgeverij Q' (an imprint of Querido).
'The Antique Dealer' is a novel of adventures, mystery and crimes first pubished in Spanish by Roca Editorial and set in nowadays and 15th century Barcelona. The first print run, 7.000 copies was sold out in only two months! Being a debut novel it is very good news.
A few weeks ago we received a very positive review about 'El Anticuario' from Library Journal (US). Below please see it:
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El Anticuario (The Antique Dealer) - Starred review
Sánchez, Julián
Roca Editorial
Sánchez prefaces this compelling novel with the assertion that some of the events described are real, which, combined with Sánchez’s fine writing, lends this book a delicious plausibility.
Antiquarian Artur Aiguader’s confidential connections enable him to corner the market on superb acquisitions in Barcelona, but now is the time of reckoning. Artur is murdered, but shortly beforehand he had sent a letter to his adopted son, the acclaimed writer Enrique Alonso, directing him to a certain book in the event of his death.
Determined to find both the murderer and the secret of the book for which Artur gave his life, Enrique soon finds himself caught up in a race to solve a perilous historical mystery before other forces do.
This latest addition to the Da Vinci Code readalikes is in many ways superior to it. While the ambit here is literary rather than artistic, the theology is far less controversial (kabbalistic rather than Gnostic), and the hint of magic is a delight.
Sánchez respects the reader’s intelligence, reveals the necessary bits and plot twists at precisely the right intervals, and maintains perfect pace with multidimensional characters, which he wisely limits in number. Highly recommended for general interest bookstores and public libraries.—Carolyn Kost, Stevenson Sch. Lib., Pebble Beach, CA
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