The Devils of Cardona
The Devils of Cardona by Matthew Carr, published by Penguin in 2016, is a historical thriller that delves into the tumultuous political and religious landscape of sixteenth-century Spain. This first edition spans 401 pages and is presented in English. The narrative begins with the murder of a priest in a small town populated by Moriscos, former Muslims who have converted to Catholicism. As local magistrate Bernardo de Mendoza investigates the crime, he navigates a web of greed, fanaticism, and state policy, all while facing the threat of escalating violence.
Readers will find themselves immersed in a gripping tale that explores themes of justice and morality against a backdrop of societal tension. Mendoza’s journey reveals the complexities of a community on the brink of civil unrest, as he grapples with the challenges of his role amidst widespread animosity towards the victim. The book presents a vivid portrayal of the era, making connections to contemporary issues while maintaining a suspenseful narrative that keeps the reader engaged throughout.
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“A thrilling quest for justice… [A] novel that is as exciting as it is enlightening from its first pages to its satisfying end.” —The New York Times Book Review
“A page-turner in the proper sense… Mr. Carr has written a gripping and enjoyable novel.” —The Wall Street Journal
The gripping story of the dangerous high-stakes worlds of politics and religion in sixteenth-century Spain as a mysterious Muslim killer retaliates against the Catholic Church.
In March 1584, the priest of Belamar de la Sierra, a small town in Aragon near the French border, is murdered in his own church. Most of the town’s inhabitants are Moriscos, former Muslims who converted to Catholicism. Anxious to avert a violent backlash on the eve of a royal visit, an adviser to King Philip II appoints local magistrate Bernardo de Mendoza to investigate. A soldier and humanist, Mendoza doesn’t always live up to the moral standards expected of court officials, but he has a reputation for incorruptibility.
From the beginning, Mendoza finds almost universal hatred for the priest. And it isn’t long before he’s drawn into a complex and dangerous world in which greed, fanaticism, and state policy overlap. And as the killings continue, Mendoza’s investigation is overshadowed by the real prospect of an ethnic and religious civil war.
By turns an involving historical thriller and a novel with parallels to our own time, The Devils of Cardona is an unexpected and compelling read.
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