Preamble
If you’re interested in reading my academic work about detective and crime fiction (free PDFs available), check it out here. Or you can take a look at my short story collection of cosy mysteries featuring Victorian “lady detective” Meinir Davies; order now!
See also
These lists capture other stories and characters that I thought of as I was reading this piece. I won’t explain why, to avoid spoilers, but they’re associations and not ‘if you liked this, then you’ll love…’ recommendations!
- Limitless (the TV series)
- Black Wolf (the other one)
Review
I’m grateful to the author and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this English translation. The original novel (Loba negra) was published in 2019.
I’m always interested in how detective fiction translates, and this came up on NetGalley, so I thought I’d give it a try, although I haven’t read the first book in the trilogy, Red Queen. This was a really enjoyable, fast-paced read, and an interesting example of an extraordinary sidekick tale.
Despite not having read the first book, it was fairly straightforward to pick up the backstory. The pairing of the “Red Queen” and her official detective came with enough characterisation and back story that you could get a good sense of them both individually, as well as their working relationship. From beginning as a fairly traditional crime novel—a floater being plucked out of the river—the novel pivots swiftly into different territory, probing organised crime and corruption. In some ways, it’s something of a throwback to early-2000s post-Cold War thrillers, with shades of various Bond films (Xenia Onatopp, anyone?). Russian bad guys now land in a different light post-Ukraine, but the plotting was well done, and there were several twists I didn’t see coming.
I’m looking forward to reading Books 1 and 3, although I think I’ll read them in the original.
Take a look at my short story collection featuring Victorian “lady detective” Meinir Davies; order now!
Dominique Gracia 
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