Santiago Gamboa - Losing is a Matter of Method

Portuguese cover

Comment: While I was at university, I've managed to have a partial scholarship which allowed me to pay for some things and my parents luckily were able to help me with the rent at the apartment I shared with my (still nowadays) best friend. The rest the scholarship helped and I even saved a few € each month, which I used to, essentially, buy books. 

Each year, in the big garden-like area in front of my faculty, there were two occasions, usually before the school year ended and close to the Christmas break, where a book fair would seemingly come out of nowhere.... one day nothing, the other the tend was there. Lots of books, mostly older ones or used ones, and I was able to get a few... which finally leads me to the point of this post: I got this book, at a bargain for 2,50€ - I remember because the sticker is still there - and although it wasn't/isn't a genre I feel much interest in, it was cheap, it was in great condition and it has been in the shelf since 2009...

In this noir type story we meet Colombian reporter Victor Silanpa, who seems to have a deal with the local chief of police, and he is able to investigate some cases much more quickly than someone else. One day he is alerted to the unusual death of a man, impaled, and not many clues seem to be available. Upon investigating, Victor learns who the deceased is and starts looking into his life, and those who knew him, but nothing is ever as easy... besides, Victor has a lot on his plate when it comes to his complicated love life, and he also has a new assistant, who proves to be quite helpful. Although Victor has some luck in his investigation and starts connecting the dots with some dangerous people, what will happen if and when Victor uncovers the truth?

This is a story featuring a crime investigation with some glimpses of dark humor by Colombian author Santiago Gamboa. I had not heard of the author before and if not for this book, I probably would not look for him anyway. The title could be literally be translated into "Losing is a Matter of Method" and I've found some translations but not into English. I was also positively surprised that this book - and, indeed, this was highlighted in the cover of my edition - doesn't have the expected themes one would assume if the setting is Colombia, such as narco traffic and gangs violence.

The story is quite basic in its premise, a man is found impaled, and the reporter investigates, which will take him into corruption and shady businesses, something one can find everywhere. While connecting the dots and going from point A to point B, reporter Victor also interacts with a considerable cast of secondary characters who sometimes help, sometimes don't and we also get to see his personality and mind process. I liked Victor, he really is a workaholic and that causes him a lot of trouble when it comes to his love life...

This is labeled "noir" by some readers because the situations mentioned and the fact there's a certain thriller aspect to it make it so. Plus, this is set in the late 80s if I got that correctly and the suggestion is that there's a certain way to deal with things and the method to accomplish it which more modern technology kind of changed. The plot itself wasn't complicated and the "layers" of how the crime is slowly being uncovered aren't that hard to grasp, for this book also has this dark comedy aspect and some things are borderline ridiculous in how they are described. I had a good enough time, though, and liked wanting to know what would come next.

Victor is the main character but he isn't one of those characters one would memorize and think of randomly... he isn't that memorable perhaps. I still liked him for his values and dedication, if if there were times where I didn't agree with how he did certain things.  He reminded me of those lone wolf characters that practically only need themselves...

The writing also reminded me of Daniel Silva. Well, the only book I've ever read by that author, in the sense that the story is narrated simply, things happen but it doesn't seem necessary that the reader needs to think too much on what is happening, some plot jumps/switches will happen anyway, no matter how much attention one pays to what was said. It's not the type of book I prefer, especially since I focus most of my reading in romance novels, but this time, this story still worked out for me.

After all these years, and apart from the memories the mere physicality of the book provide me, I cannot say this was a fascinating story, but it was certainly better than what I expected now. Therefore, not an author I'd repeat on purpose, but this book certainly worth the time it required of me.

Grade: 7/10