When local Lanzarote anti-corruption activist, Celestino, is t-boned on a lonely stretch of road, he knows the collision was no accident.Wounded and fearing for his life, he hides in an abandoned fishing village, waiting for a chance to make it home. Meanwhile his wife, English expat Paula, is distraught. Her pursuit of answers is deflected when her neighbor, troublesome retiree Shirley Mobad, … Mobad, co-opts Paula on her escapades around the Canary Islands.
Paula’s search for her husband quickly descends into mayhem, danger and intrigue. Before long, she realizes she’s being followed. She needs answers, and fast.
But where is Celestino, and will he ever make it back alive?
“A Matter of Latitude simmers with danger, betrayal and treachery, drawing the reader into the island’s history of shady dealings and uneasy relationships between natives, tourists and expats… Isobel Blackthorn has crafted an atmospheric and setting-rich novel with alluring lyrical style.” – Sandi Wallace, award-winning crime fiction author
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This is a book of intrigues and retrospectives.
From the opening chapter we’re caught with a murder attempt (or is it really?) When Celestino is run off the road. Although he’s clearly caught off guard, he’s aware he needs to hide, maybe not from the who, but he definitely knows the why.
From that point on we’re on a mysterious chase for answers from his wife Paula, who clearly has no idea why her husband was missing, though she’s aware his point of view on the expanding tourists was not favorable.
We’re given brief glimpses of Celestino and his dilemma, but mostly we’re following Paula and her search for answers, with flashbacks of the past.
I like how the separation served to spotlight the gap in their marriage, and where, and how, things went wrong, how each wants to make things right again.
Clues to the mystery were revealed slowly, keeping the reader guessing all the way through to the end. And did I mention the murder and the friend/neighbor who might not be a friend at all?
It’s a convoluted tale of corruption and mystery in the Canary island of Lanzarote, and although I’ve never visited the island before, the author’s exceptional descriptions transported me.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the kind of mystery that leaves one guessing till the end.
A Matter of Latitude is the second book I’ve read by author Isobel Blackthorn. In this tale of corruption and psychological fear, readers get to know Celestino and Paula, a married couple with a young daughter who live in the Canary Islands. From the gripping opening when Celestino is nearly killed in a car accident, attacked by a dog, and almost swallowed by the sea, we know we’re in for a traumatic ride…
The novel alternates between Celestino and Paula as they attempt to find their way back to one another. Celestino is wounded and knows someone is trying to kill him. He’s an artist who was trying to work on a painting with a client, but there seems to be something going on with his role in the widespread corruption occurring throughout Lanzarote, the island where they live. Paula is waiting for him to return for their daughter’s birthday party, but he never shows. She relies on her parents, who’ve moved to the island during retirement, but they aren’t as helpful as they could be. Throw in a few neighbors and friends, and Paula spends most of the book tracking down Celestino’s whereabouts on the day of the storm when he went missing. What she learns about her husband is not something she’s prepared to understand. Is he dead? Has he crossed to the evil side? Is he purposely leaving her in suspense? Is he protecting her from someone? Celestino finally finds some help, but it might be too late for him to return home further unharmed. Add in a couple more deaths, and this thriller will have you nonstop guessing what’s going on with this captivating couple.
Blackthorn’s writing prowess can easily be seen in her descriptions. She always leaves a clear visual of the landscape, expressions, and action happening on each of the pages. I particularly enjoy how her novels are set outside of an area where I have any familiarity. Despite not having been to the islands, I feel like I know them well now. I also like the details she provides about each character’s background and personality, enabling readers to feel connected to the tale as if they’re involved in the action themselves. Another strength is the layers involved in the corruption on the island. While we’re fairly certain how to feel about the primary couple, beyond them, I couldn’t tell who was innocent and who was guilty. From the kind / not-so-kind neighbor, to the best friends, to the guy following Paula around begging for help… one of them had to be involved. But who!?! Blackthorn kept me guessing until the very end. A good pay-off too…
If you enjoy international stories full of drama and culture, this is definitely one to put on your list. There’s a fine balance of intrigue and serene comfort between all the action that leaves you thirsty for more of the author’s work. Beyond a few books on the Canary Islands, there are others in her canon, too. I’m excited to check them out in the coming months.
This steadily paced crime thriller, set on the Spanish island of Lanzarote, has three narrators:
The majority of the book is written from Paula Diaz’s point of view. Paula is an English ex-pat, now living in Haria with her husband, local man Celestino, and the three-year-old daughter, Gloria. Paula’s parents have also moved to the island to be near their family. Gloria spends most of the book staying with her Grandparents while Paula searches for Celestino, digs around for clues to his disappearance, and is cleverly distracted by Shirley, another ex-pat.
We also spend time with Celestino as he attempts to evade his would-be murderer, tries to avoid being attacked by a wild dog, and struggles to return home.
The third narrator writes about Richard, an author and another ex-pat, as he goes on his reluctant adventures on the island in pursuit of a plot and setting for his new book.
A Matter of Latitude is a mystery that also highlights the corruption and the destructive influence of tourism on the small island. The writing captures the characters relationships to each other and the idyllic setting of Lanzarote. An interesting read that kept me guessing.
A Matter of Latitude
The reader is thrown right into the action from the very first page, when Celestino, a native of the Island of Lanzarote, is driven off the road. He rightly assumes that this is because of his involvement in trying to expose the corrupt business dealings that exist on the island.
As he lays low, attempts to survive, and tries to recover from his injuries, his English wife, Paula struggles to discover where he is and what has happened to him.
Shirley, a neighbour, takes Paula under her wing and whisks her around the island, where evidence of Celestino’s involvement in uncovering the corruption seem to pop up wherever Paula is taken. I found myself disliking Shirley and not trusting her. However, as all the new characters were introduced, I became as unsure as Paula in regards to who was involved in the corruption and who could be trusted.
This is the third book I have read by this talented author and, as I knew I would, I really enjoyed this one. Her writing is wonderfully descriptive which brings the island alive. As the story progressed, I was itching for Celestino to get back home to put poor Paula out of her misery. By the end of the book, all the loose ends and gentle hints finally make sense as everything is tied together
A good read.
‘ended to soon; left one hanging
It was different
Paula’s husband Celestino goes missing on the day he should be attending his daughter’s birthday party, in the midst of a violent storm. Has he had a car accident? Or is it something to do with his fight against corruption on the island?
Set on the island of Lanzarote, this intriguing mystery questions the balance of power between ordinary locals and those rich enough to mould the world in ways that increase their own wealth. What role does tourism play in altering the normal rules of life for everyday people in some of the world’s most striking and beautiful locations? These questions lie at the foundation of what is on one level a breathless mystery in an exotic place.
Paula is an Englishwoman who given up her ordinary life for the love of artist and anti-corruption believer Celestino. Unable to involve the police for fear that Celistino’s anti-establishment activities may have something to dimwit his disappearance, Paula must do her own sleuthing, variously aided and hampered by a cast of fascinating characters. But who is truly a friend, and who a secret enemy?
As the bodies begin to appear and there is no sign of Celestino, this reader at least was finding it hard to decide who the true villain is … the red herrings and the cast of unusual characters make this a fascinating puzzle for lovers of crime mysteries. Add in lots of brilliant descriptions of the island, quite a feast of food, and sensitively observed humanity, and you have a very enjoyable and immersive read.
That Shirley! And that Richard! Wonderful creations.
Told in alternating first person by both Paula and Celestino, the novel’s structure allows the reader heightened senses of both danger and relief. We know that Celestino is alive – at least for now – while Paula waves worries anxiously. But we also know the Celestino is in deadly danger, at times when Paula is feeling angry with him for not contacting her. This makes for an interesting experience, a bit like the one Paula is going through herself.
Highly recommended.
Will Paula find Celestino alive?
A Matter of Latitude by Isobel Blackthorn is an excellent mystery. I enjoyed the plotting and the depth of the characters. However, it took me a few chapters to get into the story. I think it was just me getting used to Ms. Blackthorn’s writing style.
You’ve read the plot summary so moving on from it. There are three points of view, but I will focus on the main character, Paula.
Our Sleuth
Paula Cray Diaz is our sleuth. Although not a very good one. Paula is personable, yet doesn’t have many friends. She wears sunglasses almost always while outside as the sun’s glare bothers her eyes, which makes her seem unapproachable. Paula has a three-year-old daughter, Gloria. And it appears that since Paula has moved to the island to be with Celestino and had Gloria, her whole life has centered around her family. Her parents also moved to the island to be near her and Gloria. It felt like Paula had lost herself and was functioning just as “Gloria’s Mom” and “Celestino’s wife.” Until the day of Celestino’s disappearance.
Paula begins moving around the island looking for her husband; she truly starts to see the island as her home. I liked the way the author showed Paula’s awareness of not only the surroundings but also the realization of what her life has become and her new found need for change. Paula also finally understands her husband’s view of what is happening with regards to the tourism industry on the island. She remembers why she fell in love with Celestino. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. I adored that Paula was smart and remarkably well developed. I could see her clearly in my head.
The one thing that I thought was weird about Paula was that she continually worried about speaking in Spanish, but she corrected other English people’s pronunciation in Spanish.
Mystery
There are a few red herrings and incidents that our sleuth must decide if they are part of the whole or not. I loved this part; it kept the mystery going and me guessing. A few times I found myself literally on the edge of my seat. There are also a couple of murders along the way that made it even more mysterious and filled with suspense. The entire book is written in the time frame of a week which also heightens the suspense. I totally loved it.
What I liked
• Shirley Mobad, she is a wonderfully eccentric character. I have known a Shirley-like-person in my life. Oh, and her over the top outfits are perfect.
• I adored the setting; I have never been to the Canary Islands. However, I feel as though I had a well thought out behind the scenes tour of Lanzarote.
• Corruption point of the story. I believe that it isn’t isolated to the Canary Islands, but the author does such a fantastic way of bringing the whole hidden side of tourism on the island to light.
• The way the author showed art and artists fitting it into the plot along with the different styles and galleries that she introduced.
• I also liked the knowledge about the original islanders and how they farmed the fields and such.
Things that I didn’t care for
• Celestino was ok, but at times he rubbed me the wrong way.
• Richard H. Parry is another character that drove me crazy. Seriously, I wanted to slap him across the face, tell him to grow up and go home to your wife where you belong.
4 Stars for A Matter of Latitude by Isobel Blackthorn
My rating for A Matter of Latitude by Isobel Blackthorn is four stars. The mystery and intrigue are outstanding. Although it took me a bit to get used to Ms. Blackthorn’s writing style, once I was there the story seemed to bound off the pages and formed such a beautiful picture. The conclusion and the character growth were so perfectly executed. I recommend this book to those with a more mature love of mysteries.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book on your site.
~Jen
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I could not finish this book. It was confusing. I think this book was written for a British audience because I found some of the cultural references difficult to understand.
too much description rambling
Moved too slow
Didn’t like much about this book. Not believable.
Worst. Book I’ve read in a long time.
suspense and mystery set in the Canary Islands. About corruption and environmental impact of tourism.
Very slow-moving, found it difficult to stay interested in the plot
Painfully unrealistic.
I’ve really become a fan of Isobel Blackthorn’s writing. She is an incredibly gifted mystery writer and A Matter of Latitude just proves that more.
The mystery in this novel is so compelling and keeps you guessing all the way to the end. I love that. I really am not a fan when a reveal comes to quickly and that isn’t an issue at all here.
Love this story! The characters feel real, which made me nervous for them. I highly recommend checking this one out!
*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*