Overview

Spain, July 1937. The tragic prelude to World War II is played out in the civil war between Spanish nationalists and republicans. Among Franco's volunteers is Martin Bora, the twenty-something German officer and detective. Presently assigned to the Spanish Foreign Legion, Bora lives the tragedy around him as an epic, between idealism and youthful recklessness. Doubts about his mission in Spain arise when Bora happens on the body of Federico García Lorca, a brilliant poet, progressive and homosexual. Who murdered him? Why? The official version does not convince Bora, who, intoxicated by the mystery, begins a perilous investigation. His inquiry paradoxically proceeds alongside that of Walton, his opposite number with the International Brigades. Soon the German and the New Englander join forces, and their cooperation will not only culminate in a thrilling chase after a murderer, but also in an existential face-to-face between two adversaries forever changed by their encounter. Historical accounts tell us that Lorca was arrested and executed by Franco's troops under circumstances that remain largely unknown. To this day his body has not been found. 'Set in 1937, Pastor's outstanding sixth mystery featuring German investigator Martin Bora makes effective use of the death of Federico García Lorca, the celebrated poet, during the Spanish Civil War. Pastor does an excellent job of creating a backstory for her lead that fits in well with the previous books.' — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review 'Full of danger, suspense and historical intrigue this is crime fiction at its very best.' — Top Ten Adult Fiction for February chosen by Independent Booksellers Affiliate Programme 'The Horseman's Song is an accomplished historical thriller set in Spain in 1937. This novel is confidently plotted and the tempo is judged to perfection...' — NB Literary Magazine 'Pastor's writing is thick with atmosphere; one can taste the dust and blood of the region...Pastor weaves a poignant, convincing portrait of life during wartime.' — Foreword Reviews 'An expertly crafted mystery by a master of the genre.' — Midwest Book Review

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9781912242115

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Reviews

Publishers Weekly Starred Review: Set in 1937, Pastor's outstanding sixth mystery featuring German investigator Martin Bora (after 2017's The Road to Ithaca) makes effective use of the death of Federico Garc a Lorca, the celebrated poet, during the Spanish Civil War...Pastor does an excellent job of creating a back-story for her lead that fits in well with the previous books. Midwestern Book Review: An expertly crafted mystery by a master of the genre, that is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.95), The Horseman's Song is an especially recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. Also very highly recommended for dedicated mystery buffs are the other novels by Ben Pastor that feature the character of Martin Bora. NB Literary Magazine: An accomplished historical thriller set in Spain in 1937. This novel is confidently plotted and the tempo is judged to perfection... a thoughtful intelligent thriller that plays with a historical mystery in a manner respectful of the known facts. Documents released in 2015 appear to verify the claim that the Grenada fascists killed Garc a Lorca in 1936, but his body has never been found. Foreword Reviews: Pastor weaves a poignant, convincing portrait of life during wartime. Bora himself is a compelling protagonist, erudite enough to recite Aristotle to himself while repelling an ambush and innocent enough to fall for a local lass who changes his perspective on love. TIN SKY is the best crime novel of the month. Terror and suspicion on the Eastern Front. We hail a bold series set in the Second World War. This fine novel is packed with tense moments and moral ambiguity.' Times In TIN SKY Pastor effectively melds a well-constructed whodunit with a grim portrayal of the Eastern front. PW Starred Review A DARK SONG OF BLOOD is historical crime fiction at its best, vividly re-creating the atmosphere of a city occupied by an increasingly desperate army. ' Sunday Times The historical milieu of these books is grim, but Pastor's character examinations are precise and engrossing.' Kirkus The tone of LIAR MOON has a flu-like grimness, appropriate the 1943 setting. Pastor is excellent at providing details (silk stockings, movie magazines, cigarettes) that light up the setting. Booklist Pastor succeeds at painting a memorable picture of Fascist Italy through the lens of ordinary police procedure carried out under extraordinary circumstances. Publishers Weekly An impressive and intelligent novel. The Times LUMEN's plot is well crafted, her prose sharp... a disturbing mix of detection and reflection. Publisher's Weekly And don't miss LUMEN by Ben Pastor. An interesting, original and melancholy tale. Literary Review

TIN SKY is the best crime novel of the month. Terror and suspicion on the Eastern Front. We hail a bold series set in the Second World War. This fine novel is packed with tense moments and moral ambiguity.' Times In TIN SKY Pastor effectively melds a well-constructed whodunit with a grim portrayal of the Eastern front. PW Starred Review A DARK SONG OF BLOOD is historical crime fiction at its best, vividly re-creating the atmosphere of a city occupied by an increasingly desperate army. ' Sunday Times The historical milieu of these books is grim, but Pastor's character examinations are precise and engrossing.' Kirkus The tone of LIAR MOON has a flu-like grimness, appropriate the 1943 setting. Pastor is excellent at providing details (silk stockings, movie magazines, cigarettes) that light up the setting. Booklist Pastor succeeds at painting a memorable picture of Fascist Italy through the lens of ordinary police procedure carried out under extraordinary circumstances. Publishers Weekly An impressive and intelligent novel. The Times LUMEN's plot is well crafted, her prose sharp... a disturbing mix of detection and reflection. Publisher's Weekly And don't miss LUMEN by Ben Pastor. An interesting, original and melancholy tale. Literary Review

Publishers Weekly Starred Review: Set in 1937, Pastor's outstanding sixth mystery featuring German investigator Martin Bora (after 2017's The Road to Ithaca) makes effective use of the death of Federico Garcia Lorca, the celebrated poet, during the Spanish Civil War...Pastor does an excellent job of creating a back-story for her lead that fits in well with the previous books. Midwestern Book Review: An expertly crafted mystery by a master of the genre, that is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.95), The Horseman's Song is an especially recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. Also very highly recommended for dedicated mystery buffs are the other novels by Ben Pastor that feature the character of Martin Bora. NB Literary Magazine: An accomplished historical thriller set in Spain in 1937. This novel is confidently plotted and the tempo is judged to perfection... a thoughtful intelligent thriller that plays with a historical mystery in a manner respectful of the known facts. Documents released in 2015 appear to verify the claim that the Grenada fascists killed Garcia Lorca in 1936, but his body has never been found. Foreword Reviews: Pastor weaves a poignant, convincing portrait of life during wartime. Bora himself is a compelling protagonist, erudite enough to recite Aristotle to himself while repelling an ambush and innocent enough to fall for a local lass who changes his perspective on love. TIN SKY is the best crime novel of the month. Terror and suspicion on the Eastern Front. We hail a bold series set in the Second World War. This fine novel is packed with tense moments and moral ambiguity.' Times In TIN SKY Pastor effectively melds a well-constructed whodunit with a grim portrayal of the Eastern front. PW Starred Review A DARK SONG OF BLOOD is historical crime fiction at its best, vividly re-creating the atmosphere of a city occupied by an increasingly desperate army. ' Sunday Times The historical milieu of these books is grim, but Pastor's character examinations are precise and engrossing.' Kirkus The tone of LIAR MOON has a flu-like grimness, appropriate the 1943 setting. Pastor is excellent at providing details (silk stockings, movie magazines, cigarettes) that light up the setting. Booklist Pastor succeeds at painting a memorable picture of Fascist Italy through the lens of ordinary police procedure carried out under extraordinary circumstances. Publishers Weekly An impressive and intelligent novel. The Times LUMEN's plot is well crafted, her prose sharp... a disturbing mix of detection and reflection. Publisher's Weekly And don't miss LUMEN by Ben Pastor. An interesting, original and melancholy tale. Literary Review

Author Information

Ben Pastor, born in Italy, lived for thirty years in the United States, working as a university professor in Vermont and has since returned to her native country. She is the author of other novels including The Water Thief and The Fire Waker (set in Roman times and published to high acclaim in the US by St. Martin's Press), and is considered one of the most talented writers in the field of historical fiction. In 2008 she won the prestigious Premio Zaragoza for best historical fiction. She writes in English.

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