"One of those infrequent whodunits that transcend the genre. . . . [with] page-turning pace and vivid characters. -Time
"The master of the intellectual thriller is not an American or British writer, but Spaniard Arturo Pérez-Reverte, one of the most creative and devilishly complex authors of the '90s. This is a beautifully and intricately written noir in which unique plots and counterplots abound. Pérez-Reverte should be lauded for his originality and his richly drawn characters." -San Francisco Examiner
"An elegant thriller that is as much about the elusive quest for happiness as it is about solving the murders. Beautifully translated, this is a book to be savored. It is as rich and complex as the best of the golden sherries produced in the wineries around Seville." -The Denver Post
"With a vivid eye for place and personality, and an ability to provoke deep questions, Spain's bestselling author weaves an indelible tale of love, faith and greed that will keep readers shouting ¡olé!" -People (Page-Turner of the Week)
--