Book Review: THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY by Eva García Sáenz

THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY by Eva García Sáenz

Vintage Crime/Black Lizard; 7/28/20

CBTB Rating: 5/5

The Verdict: A Must-Read Serial Killer Thriller

What was the last book you read that turned out to be exactly the book you never knew you needed? For me, the answer to that question is easy: it was Eva García Sáenz’s outstanding trilogy launch, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY—published in the US for the first time this July. This gritty, intricate serial killer thriller is the perfect late-summer read for any crime fiction aficionado looking to get caught up in a truly immersive puzzle. Set in the Basque country, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY places readers in the heart of a terrifying series of events: a shadowy villain appears to be replicating the city of Vitoria’s most infamous crimes, twenty years after their initial occurrence. The perpetrator for the original crimes, an archaeologist whose charm and charisma propelled him to fame, has been locked away in prison for all these years. So who is committing these gruesome murders now? Is a copycat killer at work, or is there more to this story? Following an endearing and troubled detective known as “Kraken,” THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY draws readers deep into the history and mythology of the Basque country—and into the mind of a sinister and shadowy villain whose reach and intelligence are far greater than the police ever suspected. Chilling crimes, page-turning pacing, endearing characters, and a healthy dose of local lore are woven together seamlessly in THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY. This is a serial killer thriller for anyone who has loved genre greats like The Silence of the Lambs, and for anyone who just plain loves a great mystery to solve. Pick this book up for pure, chilling entertainment. 

Plot Details: 

Inspector Unai López de Ayala, known as "Kraken," is charged with investigating a series of ritualistic murders. The killings are eerily similar to ones that terrorized the citizens of Vitoria twenty years earlier. But back then, police were sure they had discovered the killer, a prestigious archaeologist who is currently in jail. Now Kraken must race to determine whether the killer had an accomplice or if the wrong man has been incarcerated for two decades. This fast-paced, unrelenting thriller weaves in and out of the mythology and legends of the Basque country as it hurtles to its shocking conclusion.

What is it about a big, intricate serial killer thriller that I just can’t resist? Many of my favorite books fall into this category, and it’s no surprise, then, that I was immediately drawn to THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY when I first learned of its publication in the US this year. THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY is exactly the kind of crime novel that armchair sleuths—myself included—can sink their teeth into. Set in the city of Vitoria, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY begins with a bizarre crime: a young couple has been found ritualistically murdered, their bodies displayed in an old crypt. Called to investigate, Inspector Unai Lopez—known to his friends as “Kraken”—immediately recognizes similarities between this crime scene and a series of shocking murders that terrified the citizens of Vitoria two decades prior. Twenty years ago, a famous archaeologist who was (prior to his conviction) the pride of Vitoria, was arrested for crimes bearing the exact same signature as this present-day murder. The only problem? That archaeologist, Tasio, has been imprisoned for years… so he can’t be responsible for this new crime, can he? Kraken is tasked with investigating this terrifying murder and its potential connections to Tasio’s gruesome handiwork. As the days pass, and more bodies are found, Kraken and his partner in the police force find themselves racing against the clock to stop a brutal killer before he can choose his next victims. Moving effortlessly between the present-day police investigation and a deep-dive into the history of the region and the origin story of our anonymous villain, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY delivers a propulsive, relentless race to unmask a shadowy villain hunting unseen in the streets of Vitoria. 

Central to this exceptional reading experience is the city of Vitoria itself, and the influence that the customs, legends, and history of the Basque country have on this book. THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY is a story inextricably linked to its setting, and the twisty investigation that Kraken is about to embark on will immerse readers in the Basque region and its atmosphere. In a very practical way, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY provides a perfect opportunity for readers to “armchair travel” to the city of Vitoria. Our story’s villain, you see, has a knack for showmanship, and he tends to display the corpses of his victims at locations significant to the region’s history and traditions. Does this sound it a bit far fetched? It isn’t, not when you’re immersed in Eva García Sáenz’s masterful crime writing. By turn reminiscent of The Silence of the Lambs and The Da Vinci Code, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY will give readers interested in history and lore plenty of gripping detail to sink into, all wrapped up in a terrifying tale of years-in-the-making revenge. And beyond the cinematic reveals orchestrated by our story’s villain, every little detail of THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY serves to immerse readers further in the book’s setting and its culture. As a reader who is always looking to “visit” new-to-me parts of the world through my crime reads, I absolutely loved my introduction to the Basque country through Eva García Sáenz’s rich, evocative writing. Much like my beloved genre of Nordic Noir, which has allowed me to “armchair travel” to Scandinavia, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY gave me a unique glimpse into a part of the world I had never experienced in fiction (or in real life!) before, and I simply cannot wait to return to it. 

Speaking of Nordic Noir: there is huge crossover appeal for fans of the Scandinavian crime fiction genre here on multiple levels. Not only is THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY significantly driven by setting, as are thrillers hailing from Scandinavia, but it is also a crime novel that spends significant time exploring the inner lives of its characters—the good, the bad, and the very ugly alike. THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY follows a protagonist whose personal demons and secrets might just rival that of beloved Scandinavian crime fiction protagonists Harry Hole (from Jo Nesbø’s series) and Joona Linna (from Lars Kepler’s series). Kraken, the protagonist of this gritty and gripping crime story, is a man who is equal parts brilliant and haunted. A keen investigator with unparalleled deductive skills, Kraken is a man whose personal life has fallen apart in the wake of a tragedy that will come to be revealed to readers over the course of the book. Kraken has a close working relationship with his partner in the police force, Estí, yet he is largely unable to truly let others into his life. When a chance encounter with a stranger sparks a secret affair, Kraken finds his personal life crossing dangerous lines. Fans of the “damaged detective” so frequently found in the Nordic Noir genre will adore Kraken, and will be cheering for him every step of the way—even when some of his steps are a little bit misguided. But Kraken isn’t the only compelling character for readers to follow here: the author develops every character in this gripping story with their own unique (and sometimes quite suspicious) backstories. And while the “present” timeline featuring Kraken and Estí remains the story’s predominant timeline, flashbacks to the 1960’s interspersed throughout the book will bring with them their own cast of intriguing and suspicious characters. This is one genuinely complex, intricate puzzle of a book, and observing the intersecting lives and fates of its characters is one of its strongest selling points.

I never knew I needed Basque Noir crime fiction in my life until I cracked open THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY by Eva García Sáenz. This immersive, intricate crime novel will thrill readers looking for high-caliber crime writing that is also just plain fun to devour. Moving seamlessly between past and present, and delving deep into the region’s history and into the inner lives of its characters, THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY is an exceptional serial killer thriller that deserves to be read by anyone who has loved The Silence of the Lambs or TV dramas like Mindhunter. Bonus: once you read this book, there’s a film adaptation of it available on Netflix! THE SILENCE OF THE WHITE CITY is the first in a trilogy, and I am eagerly awaiting the publication of the next trilogy installment, THE WATER RITUALS, expected to publish in the US in February 2021. I’m hooked on Eva García Sáenz and the White City Trilogy—this book is already a contender for one of my favorite crime reads of 2020.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. All opinions my own. 

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Book Details: 

Series: White City Trilogy

Paperback: 528 pages

Publisher: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard (July 28, 2020)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1984898590

ISBN-13: 978-1984898593

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