But as much as they try to convince her, or remain silent, no one can refute the fact that Rita never went near the church when it even threatened rain. Even though everyone said it was suicide. That, the rain, Elena knows, is an important detail. Rita was found hanging from the church belfry. The tragic event was pronounced to be a suicide, but the mother refuses to believe it, for a very good reason: So why is she going to the bother of crossing the city by herself? Well, it’s to do with the recent death of her daughter, Rita. It merely involves a short walk, a train ride and a taxi trip, but as we’re to learn, Elena has a condition that makes even the simplest of actions a major endeavour. We meet her at home at the start of her day as she composes herself in readiness for a trip she’s planning to make.

Let’s make our way over to Buenos Aires, then, to accompany the star of the show on her journey, but gently does it – our hostess is not a lady who can be rushed…Ĭlaudia Piñeiro’s Elena Knows (translated by Frances Riddle, review copy courtesy of Charco Press) is a short, compelling novel chronicling several hours in the life of a frail old lady. My latest read sees us heading off to Argentina for a story about a mysterious death, an old lady and a very important meeting. While I’m not really a fan of crime fiction, I can be tempted to give it a go when I sense there’s something more to the book, and that’s certainly the case with today’s choice.

Claudia mori and daughter