The Foreign Girls – crime fiction set in Argentina – Sergio Olguin

Submitted: 21st September 2023

The Foreign Girls – Sergio Olguin

IF you haven’t read any books by this top Argentinian author then get him on your radar right now. This is one topical and gripping thriller and it will showcase Argentinian society as well as explore the tragedy of ritualistic killings.

Translated by the wonderful Miranda France.

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Boarding Pass Information : The Foreign Girls

Destination : Argentina

Author guide: Sergio Olguin

Genre: crime

Food and drink to accompany: Beans and rice

#Bookreview

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A novel to transport you to Argentina and its small towns

Now this is the second book in a series, but never fear – you don’t have to have read the first one to enjoy this one. I didn’t but I will now!

Veronica, a journalist travels and ends up sharing a hotel with two girls she has just met. When they are found dead the next day, she is shocked that the police don’t seem to be investigating it so she decides to take matters in her own hands. Trouble is, this is the start of something very dangerous and there are lots of people who do not want her meddling.

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Veronica is usually investigating something in Buenos Aires but here she is in rural Argentina and so she is definatly out of her comfort zone. She is not afraid to go the extra mile and she is very headstrong.

What I loved about this book is the style in which the story was written. I read a novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Chronicle of a Death Foretold ) in which the murder happens at the start and you see the planning and the lead up to it very early on. It’s only after that the actual murder takes place. I love this way of crime writing – Japan and South American authors do it very well. I feel it really added to the plot and story here.

And what a treat to see the remote villages of Argentina! You get a real sense of travel, time and space and it’s a joy to experience the landscape in this way. You get a sense of isolation and remoteness from the fact Veronica is used to the big city of Buenos Aires and that she is finding her way just as we are as the reader.

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The tang of Argentina and the flavour of that country and language come through loud and clear and once you scratch the mystery, you are led down a very dark path. The themes of ritualistic killings of women is hard to read about but this book was apparently inspired by real life as women are treated as second class citizens, That makes this novel all the more impactful and tragically sad.