Culpa mía.

I plunged into it knowing that I don't like the genre.

I wanted to read something by Reverte to find out how he wrote.

Maybe it was a bit of a risky move on my part.

But I was curious to explore his writing style.

I thought that perhaps by reading his work, I might discover something new and interesting.

Even though the genre wasn't my favorite, I was willing to give it a try.

Who knows, maybe I would be pleasantly surprised.

So, with an open mind and a sense of anticipation, I began to read.

And as I turned the pages, I found myself getting more and more involved in the story.

Reverte's writing was engaging and descriptive, and it pulled me in from the very beginning.

Despite my initial reservations, I was enjoying the book more than I had expected.

It just goes to show that sometimes it's worth stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new.

Like other Pérez-Reverte books, this one initially had a firm grip on me.

All the classic elements of his novels are here: fascinating and complex characters, a modern mystery set against a historical backdrop, and in-depth descriptions that breathe life into arcane subjects. In "Club Dumas" it was the antique book trade, in "Fencing Master" it was fencing, and in this book, it's chess.

However, unlike his other works, this one lost my interest in the last quarter when the mystery was solved. I found the revelation of who the culprit was and the reasons behind it to be relatively implausible and yet, at the same time, somewhat predictable.

Moreover, devoting 50 pages to explain everything felt excessive.

So, my verdict is that it makes great airplane fodder but ultimately falls short at the end. If you want to experience Pérez-Reverte at his best, read "Club Dumas" or "Fencing Master" instead.

I am not passionate about thriller novels nor about chess. So, the rather obvious conclusion is that I didn't like the present novel very much. It seemed boring to me and I couldn't find the point in searching for the criminal of a character from a painting.

However, a novel that talks, among other things, about chess and that I really liked is "The Lady's Gambit".

I noted only one quote, not because I necessarily agree with it, but just because it sounds interesting: "The truth is like a move in chess: it exists but you have to look for it." This quote makes me think about how in life, we often have to search hard for the truth. It's not always presented to us on a silver platter. We have to use our minds and our skills, just like in a game of chess, to uncover the truth. "The Lady's Gambit" does a great job of exploring this idea and more, making it a truly engaging read.

"Kod da Vinci" tylko lepszy.

This simple statement holds a profound truth. "Kod da Vinci" is not just an ordinary thing; it is something that stands out for its superiority.

Perhaps it refers to a code or a system that is more advanced, more intelligent, and more efficient than others. It could be a technological innovation that has the potential to revolutionize an industry or a field of study.

Whatever it may be, the phrase "tylko lepszy" emphasizes its excellence. It implies that "Kod da Vinci" has been carefully crafted and refined to achieve a level of quality that is second to none.

It makes us wonder what makes "Kod da Vinci" so special and how it can be applied to various aspects of our lives. Could it be the key to solving some of the world's most pressing problems?

Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: "Kod da Vinci" is a force to be reckoned with, and its potential is limitless.

I quite enjoyed this story until it started to get bogged down in the rather elaborate conceit of the chess game, which occurred around three-quarters of the way through.

What really annoyed me wasn't all the detailed discussion about chess or even the presence of the chess game within the painting. No, it was the conceit itself - the idea that the killer was treating the people in the modern narrative as if they were mere chess pieces, completely devoid of any agency of their own.

And then, to top it off, came the denouement, which was both far-fetched and rather stupid. Accompanying it were sentences like "The mathematical aspect of chess," he replied.... "gives the game a very particular character, something that specialists would define as anal sadistic." It was at this point that my enjoyment of the story completely dissipated, and I was left feeling rather disappointed.

The whole concept seemed to have strayed too far from what had initially been an interesting and engaging premise, and I couldn't help but feel that the author had lost his way in the process.

One of my favorite books by Reverte!

The writing and translation are very good.

It's a very clever story.

This book truly stands out with its engaging narrative and well-crafted plot.

The author has a unique way of presenting the story that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

The translation also does justice to the original work, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience.

Whether you are a fan of historical fiction or just looking for a good read, this book is definitely worth checking out.

It offers a fascinating glimpse into a different time and place, while also exploring themes that are relevant today.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great story.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

**Resumen**: Julia is a renowned art restorer who has to repair an important 15th-century painting to auction it. Thanks to the X-rays, a mysterious Latin phrase appears, which along with the enigmatic chess game in the painting will put the restorer in check. Julia decides to investigate everything surrounding the painting and asks for help from César, a lifelong friend and antiquarian, and Muñoz, a rather peculiar chess player. When murders start to occur under strange circumstances, they realize that the chess game is not over yet. Who will checkmate?

**Opinión**: It took me a while to get used to Reverte's writing style, but once I read a few pages, the reading became easier. We are facing a book that, although not having a plot full of action, does not make you bored at any time. It has all the ingredients that make me like a novel. The characters are quite well constructed from the beginning, and we see how little by little the pieces of the puzzle start to fit. Although I have to say that I didn't see the end coming, I liked that, the ability to surprise me. We accompany the protagonists in what is perhaps the game of their lives. I think that if I could play chess well, I could have enjoyed those conversations around the game even more and could have captured more things, but it has awakened in me the desire to finally learn to play chess. Will I succeed? In summary, I think it's a very good novel that came into my hands thanks to the recommendation of a friend who was able to convey to me his love for Reverte's books, opening up before me a world full of stories to discover.

Expanded Resumen: Julia, a highly respected art restorer, is tasked with repairing a significant 15th-century painting for auction. The X-rays reveal a mysterious Latin phrase, and together with the puzzling chess game in the painting, it poses a challenge to Julia. She decides to delve into the history and background of the painting, enlisting the help of César, her long-time friend and an antiquarian, and Muñoz, a unique chess player. As strange murders begin to occur, they realize that the chess game is far from over. The question remains: who will deliver the final checkmate?

Expanded Opinión: At first, I struggled to adapt to Reverte's writing style. However, after reading a few pages, I found myself more at ease. This book, despite lacking a non-stop action-packed plot, manages to keep the reader engaged throughout. It contains all the elements that I look for in a novel. The characters are well-developed from the start, and as the story progresses, we see how the various pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place. I must admit that I didn't anticipate the ending, which I found refreshing. We follow the protagonists as they engage in what could potentially be the most crucial game of their lives. I believe that if I were more proficient in chess, I would have been able to fully appreciate the conversations围绕 the game and pick up on more details. Nevertheless, this book has sparked my interest in learning to play chess. Will I be able to master this ancient game? Overall, I think this is an excellent novel that I discovered through the recommendation of a friend. His passion for Reverte's books was contagious, and it has opened up a new world of captivating stories for me to explore.

On paper, I should have adored this book.

It delved into the captivating realms of medieval history, art restoration, the strategic game of chess, the art of deduction, and yes, even murder.

Moreover, the entire book exuded a distinct 90s vibe, making me feel at times as if I were engrossed in a VHS copy of a mystery/suspense film from the Double Jeopardy era. It was kind of fun.

And yet, there was something that prevented it from attaining greatness. To be honest, I'm still attempting to pinpoint exactly what that was.

Occasionally, the translation seemed a bit awkward and clunky, and all too frequently, the novel's action was merely recounted rather than vividly shown.

I found both of these issues to be off-putting to a certain extent. However, the story itself was interesting enough to maintain my engagement.

All in all, it was a enjoyable and quick read. It certainly had its flaws, that much is certain.

But, it was entertaining to witness so many diverse topics seamlessly blended into a single narrative. And ultimately, the book was more captivating than I'm willing to openly admit.

¡Se quedó sin las 5 estrellas en el último capítulo!

Un gran libro muy interesante con muchas capas, similar al cuadro sobre el que versa, y que te atrapa desde el principio. Para amantes de la pintura y/o el ajedrez, es EL LIBRO PERFECTO. Como a mí me interesan ambos temas, aunque no sea experto en ninguno, he disfrutado muchísimo leyendo este libro.

- SPOILERS -

La intrahistoria del cuadro, la emocionante partida de ajedrez, los misteriosos asesinatos relacionados, el abanico de personajes fascinantes y el giro final inesperado, todo ello hace que el libro sea realmente atractivo. Pero, ¿por qué no me entusiasmó el último capítulo?

Bien, porque durante todo el libro, la historia se trata con una gran cantidad de metáforas, personificaciones e insinuaciones, lo que le da un aire misterioso y intrigante. Pero, de repente, en el último capítulo:

A) Reverte te explica todo en detalle, casi como si te estuviera leyendo la lista de la compra. Aunque en parte se agradece la claridad, esta forma de explicarlo tan directa se pierde el encanto y la magia que había tenido el libro hasta ese momento.

B) Además, se meten en temas de herencias, cuentas en Suiza y blanqueos de dinero, que, en mi opinión, no pegan para nada con la obra. Estos temas parecen forzados y no encajan con el tono y la trama que se había desarrollado anteriormente.

No obstante, como con la serie "LOST", no voy a dejar que un final algo decepcionante estropee una obra en general. A pesar de sus defectos finales, todavía considero que este libro es una gran novela, llena de ideas interesantes y una historia que te mantiene en vilo hasta el final.

Seconds before starting the review, I have decided to lower the rating to 2 stars... perhaps 2.5.

And it is that truly the story had a great deal of potential, but I think the execution was rather poor. If my memory serves me right, this is perhaps the first book I read by Pérez-Reverte, a quite well-known and famous Spanish author, and who handles two genres that usually entertain me quite a bit - the historical novel and the thriller. In addition, La Tabla de Flandes started from a medieval painting and specifically from the Flemish school, which intrigues me a lot.

But, the truth is that the novel has disappointed me quite a bit - the plot begins when Julia, a young painting restorer, finds in La Partida de Ajedrez, a painting by a 15th-century Flemish painter, a hidden inscription behind a layer of paint, which in Latin says who killed the knight? The painting will eventually be auctioned and therefore, the inscription can increase its historical as well as monetary value. Julia then gets in touch with Álvaro, her ex-lover and university professor, and other characters who are part of her life and a support to discover the mystery, among them César, her mentor and who took responsibility for her when she became an orphan, and Menshu, who is the agent who will sell the painting. With their support, Julia will discover what the painter really represented in the painting - the murder of one of the three historical characters who appear there and the reasons that led him to do it.

It sounded quite good. But as I indicated at the beginning, I think there were too many mistakes in the execution. Now, I don't know if this is because if I'm not mistaken, this is one of Pérez-Reverte's first novels - it was published in the nineties - but I feel that the author paid attention to many details that contributed little to the plot of the book and that even, ended up distracting from what was important - the mystery of a murder revealed in the painting and what the chess game revealed. There are some endless and frankly tedious chapters about Julia's relationship with Álvaro which had ended months before the start of the story as well as paragraphs and paragraphs about Julia's relationship with César, and with frankly bizarre elements - César is homosexual (and to my taste, with all the nefarious clichés that could be found and even worse it is implied that there may be a complex relationship between Electra/incest, which is completely unnecessary to the plot.

In my opinion, the characters are full of clichés and this is what several times took me out of context and made me lose patience in reading. It should be noted that, in addition to the mystery of the painting, a few days after Julia begins her investigation, several deaths also begin to occur. But given how poor the characters seemed to me, really I didn't even find it interesting to discover the mystery of the painting itself, and when it is revealed who the murderer is in the present time, truly I could not be less interested. The last chapter is long, completely boring, the description of a completely sick character but who is unbearable not because of his twisted mind, but because of a narcissism that is poorly constructed and is trite.

I think this book would have been much better achieved if more space had been dedicated to discovering the painting, and that the chapters related to its history were told from the perspective of the protagonists - Beatriz de Borgoña, the woman represented there, could have been an extraordinary character in herself - as a kind of flashbacks. I consider that the story that gives rise to the plot - that of the painting - was relegated to the background, in favor of a protagonist who seemed rather distant to me - Julia - and to a story and to some crimes that really, the way they were presented, seemed rather simple and silly to me.

With this book, I was definitely hooked on Reverte. At that time, I had only read "El húsar" and "La sombra del águila" by him. Some people accuse Reverte of many things when he writes, but the truth is that I enjoy reading him like a dwarf (other more modern novels haven't appealed to me as much, such as "El pintor de batallas" or "El francotirador paciente", but it's a different style).

This is a very entertaining novel with a lot of historical and cultural substance. It is absolutely recommendable. It takes you on a journey through different times and places, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of history and culture that Reverte weaves so skillfully. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Whether you are a history buff or just looking for a good read, this novel is sure to satisfy. So, pick it up and discover the magic of Reverte's writing for yourself.