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The Secret in Their Eyes

by Eduardo Sacheri
Other. Oct. 2011. c.400p. tr. from Spanish by John Cullen. ISBN 9781590514504. pap. $15.95. F
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Murder, revenge, and lost opportunities dominate this mystery, set in Argentina during the 1970s—the time of the Dirty War. (First published in 2005 as La pregunta de sus ojos, Sacheri's popular novel was the basis for the 2010 Academy Award-winning Best Foreign Film.) The core story is framed as a novel being written by the tale's protagonist, Benjamín Chaparro, who investigates a young married woman's horrific rape and murder many years ago. The novel is partly a study of Argentina's corrupt justice system, marked by a great disparity between those aspiring to uphold the law and those hungering for power, revenge, and personal gain. Though the story-within-a-story technique tends to slow the pace of the novel, the main story line is intriguing and often riveting.
VERDICT This book is primarily a murder mystery, but the focus on 1970s Argentina and the internal angst of the protagonist add layers of complexity. Highly recommended for readers with an interest in suspense, history, and the human psyche.
Reviewed by Catherine Tingelstad, Pitt Community Coll., Greenville, NC , Sep 01, 2011
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