Michael Lynes (1)

I had some difficulty getting interested in the story because of the many historical terms used by the author in the initial chapters. There are a lot of them. However, since I have studied this era in Spain and am well acquainted with its history, I was surprised by this. There is an assumption that the reader knows this history and can figure out what is going on. In addition, there were a lot of characters introduced early in the story and that also slowed me down. I continued reading and it all soon gelled in my mind. The book is advertised as a historical thriller perfect for fans of CJ Sansom and SJ Parris. I agree that Sansom and Parris fans will like the book. However, it is not a thriller. It is the third book in a trilogy and I have not read the first two books. I am sure that this is affecting my experience reading the novel. The author said in an online interview that he believes he did a good enough job of weaving the back story into this novel so that it can be read as a standalone. Since I have not read the earlier books I cannot make any comments about these statements. If you have not read any historical fiction about the Spanish Inquisition, I recommend that you read the trilogy. I learned alot about how Jews and Muslims were treated by the Spanish monarchs during this era. Some of the Jews had converted to Christianity but many of them secretly continued worshipping as Jews. Some of the Muslims also converted but those that did not had to agree to be subject to their Christian rulers. It's a heartbreaking fact of history. I am planning to read the earlier two books in the series and re-read The Red Citadel sometime next year. I feel that the author is giving us a good history lesson in his writing. I am excited that he plans on returning to Granada next Spring to research his next book. It is going to be a young adult novel set in the same time period. The story will focus on Isaac's ten-year-old ward Juana. Juana's father was executed by the Inquisition and her mother died in "mysterious circumstances." The Alhambra, which is the red citadel in the title, will be the setting of this new novel also. I love this setting and have been pining to travel to Spain to see it in person. The book was a slow read so I am rating it 3 out of 5 stars.… (más)

I found the first two thirds of the book absorbing. It’s such an appalling part of history and there is so much at stake (to use an unfortunate but apt phrase). The author does a good job of building tension, and de Torquemada’s machinations add to the sense of dread. However, I found the handling of the mystery aspect really unsatisfactory. How did Isaac know who the killer was? No details are given of any kind of investigation. Isaac simply states "I think I know who committed the murder", and that's it, no explanation. Most baffling is that towards the end of the book Isaac explains to Isabel about how he found out who the killer was, but the reader is not privy to this part of their conversation, we are left completely in the dark. The book is a page-turner with a fascinating historical context. I cared about the characters, and was on tenterhooks in places, but I was ultimately disappointed by a mystery that didn't feel resolved.… (más)

I was intrigued by this novel set in Spain’s Seville at the time of the Holy Inquisition. Isaac Alvarez is an official in the city. As a Jew who has converted to Catholicism but is still secretly attending Jewish prayers, he and his family are vulnerable to being denounced.

A boy is murdered, and the story is circulated that he was killed so that his blood could be drunk in some secret Jewish ritual - the ‘blood libel’ of the title.

The story is told through the written testimony of Friar Alonso, the assistant to Torquemada, alternating with a third person narrative from Isaac’s point of view. This method of telling the story works so that the motivations of both characters can be explored.

Occasionally this was spoiled by an attempt to be cinematic, for example, concluding a chapter with one-line descriptions of everyone’s predicament. ‘Isabel is locked in her cell. Isaac is in the bar. Alonso is praying in his tiny cell, etc’. As a means of building tension, I found the device superfluous.

Generally, the story is professionally presented and edited; a pleasure to read, and a delight to be so carefully taken into 15th Century Spain just at the moment when Inquisitors like Tomas Torquemada were breaking down the fragile peace between Spanish Catholics, Muslims and Jews.

I look forward to reading more of Señor Isaac Alvarez as his work takes him closer to King Ferdinand.… (más)