: Frequent IRA bombings, including the assassination of Lord Mountbatten. Style and Themes
Malos tiempos para el país (Bad Times for the Country) by Michaël Mention is a gritty work of fiction and "true crime" that reimagines the hunt for the real-life . Originally published in 2012 and later released in Spanish by Editorial Siruela in 2020, the novel provides a bleak portrait of 1970s Britain. Plot Summary
The story begins in , as a series of brutal murders targeting women, primarily sex workers, begins to terrorize the region. The investigation is led by George Knox , a veteran detective known for his "Richard Burton-like" grimace and signature Ray-Ban sunglasses. He is accompanied by a young, ambitious detective, Mark Burstyn .
at the Beaune International Detective Film Festival (2013). Aubusson Detective Novel Prize (2014). Malos tiempos para el país by Michaël Mention - Goodreads
: Racial riots, the rise of the far-right National Front, and the growing punk movement.
As the body count rises, the investigation becomes a descent into an "abyss" for Knox. Every lead seems to crumble, and the killer remains elusive, seemingly striking and disappearing at will. The detectives' struggle is mirrored by the national decay of the UK at the time, which is characterized by:
