The Mysterious Death of Mrs. Iturbe (La misteriosa muerte de la señora Iturbe)

A private detective discovers that the seemingly natural death of a woman is the gateway to a web of secrets and crimes hidden within one of Madrid’s most emblematic residential buildings.

Silvia Tadic, a real estate agent, carries the scars of a tragic childhood: her father murdered her mother and vanished, leaving her family in poverty. Now working at Arozza Real Estate, Silvia is tasked by her boss with discreetly investigating the residents of an exclusive building at 6 Alfonso XII Street in Madrid, ahead of a multimillion-euro acquisition led by influential businessman Alejandro de la Riva, who is connected to the investment fund Bedstone and the law firm Lares.

Meanwhile, Octavio Alcántara—a mediocre architect and Lina’s ex-husband—is desperately trying to revive his career. His plan is to convince De la Riva that a lucrative renovation project for the building belongs to him.

The third key figure is Mena, a renowned private investigator hired by Agustín, the grandson of Otilia Iturbe, the Marchioness of Paniagua. Otilia, a pioneer of haute cuisine and owner of the prestigious Restaurant Status, located on the building’s ground floor, was found dead in a hotel in Sotogrande in 2013. Officially, she suffered a heart attack, but inconsistencies at the scene—including the position of her body and the disappearance of her signature sunglasses—suggest murder.

On February 13, 2014, the building becomes the site of a shocking event: Vicente Rocamora, a penthouse resident, throws himself to his death after receiving a letter accusing him of sexual abuse committed within the Order of Obedience and Piety, a sect founded by his own family. His suicide reopens old wounds connected to the case of a teenager driven to take his own life in the 1980s.

Intrigued by the growing number of connections, Mena infiltrates Restaurant Status posing as a journalist and begins reconstructing Otilia’s past. Interviews with employees reveal that, during renovations in 1979, secret underground chambers used by the Order were discovered beneath the building. Unaware of their true significance, Otilia incorporated them into the restaurant’s expansion.

The investigation uncovers increasingly disturbing links. Otilia’s death and Rocamora’s suicide may both have been orchestrated by a mysterious foreign hitman, Srecko Tadic, known as “The Balkan.” He had been seen speaking with Otilia the night before her death and had also contacted relatives of Rocamora’s abuse victims, suggesting that the suicide had been carefully engineered. Even more shocking, Srecko Tadic is revealed to be Silvia’s father. On Valentine’s Night, he murders Silvia after she begins asking too many questions about the building. Mena starts to connect the killings to the ongoing efforts to acquire the property.

The case explodes into public view. Commissioner Ortega uncovers evidence that the Order of Obedience and Piety is still active and closely linked to Alejandro de la Riva and the Lares law firm, which managed Otilia’s estate. Ernesto Lares Jr., nicknamed “The Hemorrhoid,” emerges as both a prominent member of the sect and the lover of Otilia’s youngest granddaughter.

Following the trail, Mena uncovers an alliance between De la Riva’s investment fund and the Lares law firm. Their goal was to reacquire the building on behalf of the Order, renovate it using Octavio’s project, and bury decades of crimes and abuses. To accomplish this, they relied on the services of the Balkan.

The operation culminates in the arrest of De la Riva and Lares. Hidden beneath Restaurant Status, investigators discover punishment cells and archives containing evidence of abuse, manipulation, and concealed deaths. Otilia was murdered because she knew too much, as were Silvia and Father Rocamora.

Although the Order suffers a devastating blow, the Balkan remains at large, and the hidden power behind the organization is far from defeated.

RELEVANT INFORMATION: Amalia Marugán holds degrees in Criminology and Private Investigation. She possesses one of the oldest private detective licenses issued by Spain’s Ministry of the Interior and ran her own detective agency for many years. Her extensive experience in criminal investigation informs her fiction, allowing her to create intricate plots grounded in real-world criminal dynamics.

The Mysterious Death of Mrs. Iturbe is a noir thriller steeped in mystery and set in one of Madrid’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The novel masterfully sustains suspense and tension while gradually revealing the results of the investigation. Its large ensemble cast, populated by richly developed and diverse characters, provides compelling dramatic arcs and a multilayered narrative that combines crime fiction, conspiracy, and psychological intrigue.

AUDIOVISUAL POTENTIAL: TV Series, Miniseries, Film, TV Movie

AVAILABLE LANGUAGES: Spanish.