Ismael is a renowned and multi-talented artist. He also teaches Drawing, both in Spanish and English, at a state secondary school.
In Mariposa Grove, Ali de Unzaga narrates the fall into the abyss of the Archibalds, an extremely wealthy Californian landowner’s family. Their downfall happens overnight, after the disappearance of the family´s pet, a puppy called Juan. Thirteen different storytellers are in charge of narrating an intricate story of greed, envy, financial intrigue and even paranormal events that unleash a series of nightmarish acts of revenge. If ever there would be more than seven deadly sins, the Archibalds would commit them all.
Critics and readers are already praising the new novel and Ismael´s ability to navigate through a variety of writing styles in this complex web of relationships between members of the family, their employees, family lawyers and the board of directors of the family´s timber company; as well as their connexions to the underworld, politics and the past, which always returns.
The author sets the action of the novel within the incredible forests of Yosemite in California. Some years ago, he visited this breath-taking natural landscape and since then it has become the chromatic background of several novels. Mariposa Grove´s descriptions take us from Sequoia trees, mountains and valleys, to San Francisco and Las Vegas. However, the author enjoys the process of writing dialogues the most, which emerge naturally, fresh and direct as a hook to the jaw when family matters start to fall apart. Ismael Ali de Unzaga's knowledge of the terrain and the scenery of the United States only rivals his intuition for the treatment of conversations, engaging the reader in the plot.
"Ismael Ali de Unzaga never ceases to amaze with his ease in creating an absolutely addictive plot that brings together greed, corruption, revenge and crime (...). The plot is not to be missed and neither is the format of the story, which unravels through the thirteen characters involved (…). In this, his third novel, Ismael Ali grows as a writer with a plot which builds up expectation rather than suspense, by employing fluid and natural dialogues and a certain chosen language".
Inmaculada López. Diario de Burgos
"As Ismael Ali de Unzaga addresses noir fiction for the first time, he uses a relentless pulse and a refined style in unravelling the breakdown of a family used to having everything. Without renouncing his characteristic interest in American pop culture, be it cinema or music, Ali de Unzaga confirms with Mariposa Grove his capacity for bold narrative and his ambitious literary career".
José Manuel Alonso. Editorial Cuenta Atrás
And the wheel does not stop; Ismael is currently working on his fourth novel, an essay about the music world: festivals, agents, promoters, which hopefully will be published this year. By putting again at work a hilarious tone, this novel will complete his trilogy on humour.
Link:
https://www.diariodeburgos.es/noticia/Z43B620E1-0079-E58B-096DCEB94B30AE...
