Sandra decides to spend a few days of vacation with her friend Ana in a small village in Burgos. There she discovers a curious photograph taken in the fictitious cemetery of Sad Hill, the setting of the final scene from the movie: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, shot in 1966 in the Arlanza region. The image shows Menchu, Ana’s aunt and their hostess during those days, along with her friend María and other neighbors. Sandra’s surprise at seeing the image of María Mediavilla turns into an obsession when she learns the mysterious story of this family, who disappeared from the village overnight, not to be heard from or seen ever again!

The 50th anniversary of filming in the region is also being celebrated at the same time, in commemoration of a summer in which the locals lived with Clint Eastwood and the rest of the crew that shot the mythical ending of Sergio Leone’s trilogy. Alberto is there to, a great fan of the spaghetti-western genre, who is taking part in the convention with fans from all over the world. He is joined by his friend Julian, Ana’s brother and Sandra’s friend, over the weekend. Four young people hoping to enjoy a few relaxing days away from the capital.

During the movie festival, strange events occur, that perplex the newcomers. Then they find the body of a man, apparently tortured to death, in the monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza, another of the settings for the movie. Alberto and Sandra find a clue as to what might have happened to María fifty years earlier and decide to investigate on their own, becoming involved in a tragic story that will affect them far more than they could have ever imagined.

When they realize the real connection between the inexplicable events of 1966 and the mysterious crimes rocking the region during their holidays, everything will suddenly come crashing down. The truth will shake Sandra ruthlessly, and undermine her whole world, unprepared for a reality that will be revealed to her in all its harshness, during a summer she will never forget.

An original plot set in the spectacular scenery of a desolate, rural Spain. A story of friendship, suffering and crime, but also a lust for life and revenge, but above all of resilience and second chances. A social and unforgiving critique of a dark web of interests that even today, decades later, we continue to ignore and cover up to our shame. Thousands of women suffered absolute ignominy in this country, with the acquiescence of many powerful people and the ignorance of most of society, who did not even have to look the other way.

READERS OPINION

‘It has a very agile and easy to read writing. Set in two very different eras perfectly matched. I know the area in which it is set and it is faithfully collected. And you can see a huge amount of research work to deeply deal with some sensitive topics. I loved it!!!’

‘It is a book with a very original plot in which real facts are mixed with fictional ones. The story has a good documentation, both for the real facts and for the setting, mostly in sparsely populated villages. It has two timelines that in the end fit perfectly and makes the story round. And it has some surprising twists and turns. It mixes action, adventure, suspense and a bit of romance. It is very well written, with a careful, agile and entertaining prose.’