First published 2023
Inés emerges from prison after serving fifteen years for murdering Charo, her ex-husband's mistress. The world has transformed during her incarceration. Feminism has advanced, new laws protect marriage equality and abortion rights, and inclusive language has entered daily conversation. Inés must navigate this changed landscape as a former traditional housewife who never found joy in motherhood. She partners with La Manca, her only prison friend, to launch a dual business venture. Inés handles pest control while La Manca works as a private investigator. Together they operate like suburban versions of Thelma and Louise, confronting the complexities of their fresh start while seeking to rebuild their identities. Their fragile new existence faces a test when Señora Bonar, one of Inés's fumigation clients, presents a deeply troubling proposition. This offer emerges from the shadows of Inés's past and threatens to upset the delicate equilibrium she has worked to establish. The choice before her could destroy everything or transform their lives completely.
Genres: literary-fiction, domestic-fiction, feminism, mystery, crime, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, second-chance
Setting: Argentina
Period: 2000s
408 pages · Paperback · Alfaguara
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence