Pursuit is a psychological thriller where Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza expands what it means to write a detective yarn. Unlike the Brazilian author's previous Inspector Espinosa novels, with Pursuit, the fifth in the series, Espinosa doesn't make a substantial appearance until the book's final section.
The unfolding drama centers around a young man along with a psychiatrist and his family. Since the intrigue begins on the first pages, I'll avoid any spoilers by shifting to a few words about each of the five players.
Dr. Artur Nesse - As one of the head doctors treating patients at a psychiatric hospital in Rio, Dr. Nesse first encounters a new patient, a tall, thin, young white man named Isodoro Cruz, who rejects the name his parents gave him and insists on being called Jonas. But when Dr. Nesse notices that Jonas continually watches him from a bench in the hospital garden, he begins to feel increasingly uneasy. "Dr. Nesse wasn't physically intimidated; he wasn't scared of verbal aggression, and he wasn't overwhelmed by his patient's intelligence. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being threatened." This sense of unease intensifies with a series of events, culminating in Jonas's relationship with Dr. Nesse's daughter, Letícia. And when Letícia goes missing, Dr. Nesse is on the verge of panic, convinced that Jonas, a psychotic, is surely responsible.
Jonas – Although Dr. Nesse calls the young man crazy, Letícia and everyone on the hospital staff describe him as a polite, friendly person who has never been aggressive toward anyone, nor is there any record of Jonas committing any act of physical violence. As we turn the pages, the enigma of Jonas deepens.
Letícia - A sensitive, perceptive young lady of seventeen, Letícia has an undeniable sweetness about her. “Letícia herself was planning to study medicine, but she wasn't interested in psychiatry. She didn't like the way her father viewed people, and she didn't like the principles he had tried to instill in her and her sister; she thought there was a considerable distance between psychiatry (or maybe just the way her dad practiced it) and the modern world.” As readers, we will all be rooting for sweet Letícia as the drama torques —and turns into murky darkness.
Dona Teresa – As wife and mother, Dona Teresa long ago submitted to her husband's will. Nevertheless, at certain critical junctures, she doesn't hesitate to stand up for her daughters. Dona Teresa reflects on her husband's feelings toward his loved ones: “Their daughters had been there only to complete the picture of an exemplary family. Even their lunches in the mountains on the weekends, when everyone could share the comfort of their luxury car, were only a scene set up by some imaginary director.” Similar to Letícia, we'll be rooting for demure Dona Teresa.
Roberta – Espinosa calls his assistant, young Welber, to inform his of the latest development in the case. “Dr. Nesse's younger daughter had disappeared. Her name is Roberta and she's not quite seventeen. The disappearance has similarities to her sister's.” Now an already complex case has been made all the more complex.
Similar to the other novels in Garcia-Roza's Inspector Espinosa series, we're taken on a wild ride through the highly distinctive city of Rio de Janeiro. Pursuit showcases the Brazilian author's inventiveness in creating such a unique thriller. A memorable, fantastic read.
Brazilian author Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza, 1936-2020
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