Teresa Cardona's Rural Crime Novels Inspire Literary Map of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Key facts

• Teresa Cardona, born in Madrid in 1973, is an art historian and author of a crime novel series set in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
• The series began with 'Los dos lados' in 2022 and includes 'Un bien relativo', 'La carne del cisne', and 'A la vista de todos', all published by Siruela.
• The novels feature inspectors Blecker and Cano, who solve crimes through traditional methods in the rural town.
• A literary map has been created to guide visitors through locations in the novels, including the Plaza de la Constitución, the Casita del Infante, and the monastery.
• Cardona believes that rural settings make crime stories more credible because familiar places and characters enhance realism.
• She has not received complaints from local residents about being portrayed in her books, though some have volunteered to appear as victims or murderers.
• Cardona also writes under the pseudonym Éric Todenne with French author Éric Damien, producing novels like 'Un travail à finir' and 'Terres brûlées'.
• The next novel in the Blecker and Cano series is in progress and will involve both San Lorenzo and the neighboring town of El Escorial.