White King

A tour de force police procedural that swiftly evolves into a high-stakes mystery thriller, this is the third and supposedly final volume in an outstanding trilogy by multi-award-winning Spanish author Juan Gómez-Jurado.

Reprising her role as the reluctant yet brilliant detective, Antonia Scott is as compelling and unconventional as Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander. The daughter of a high-ranking British diplomat and a Spanish mother, she possesses an extraordinary intellect, boasting an IQ of 242 and an uncanny ability to see what others miss. From a simple crime scene observation, she can unravel the most baffling murders. Though her skills are legendary, she operates not within conventional law enforcement but for a clandestine international agency known as the Red Queen Project. This covert organization, with units spread across multiple European countries, answers to no higher authority and remains hidden from public scrutiny and social media. Their mission is to neutralize serial killers, pedophiles, terrorists, and lone wolves—working outside bureaucratic constraints, reporting only to their sole handler, “Mentor.”

In the field, each Red Queen is paired with a shield bearer, whose role is both protector and partner. Antonia has formed a complex but deeply personal bond with her shield bearer, Inspector Jon Gutiérrez—an overweight, openly gay police officer. Their relationship has evolved into something almost familial, built on trust and shared danger.

The award-winning first book in the series was adapted into a gripping seven-episode series on Prime Video in February 2024, which I highly recommend. While Antonia Scott is undeniably the star, the show also cements the growing dynamic between her and Jon Gutiérrez.

Chaos erupts across Europe as Red Queens and their shield bearers are systematically murdered. Fearing she will be next, Antonia is thrown into deeper turmoil when Jon is kidnapped. When he is returned, he bears a fresh incision on his neck—proof that a bomb has been surgically implanted into his cervical spine by the associates of her former nemesis, Mr. White. A psychotic genius and Antonia’s intellectual equal, Mr. White presents her with a twisted challenge: solve three crimes within mere hours, or he will detonate the bomb. Forced to play his deadly game, Antonia must race against time, knowing full well that Mr. White’s motives remain an enigma. As the stakes escalate, she confronts crimes more bizarre than the last, with Jon’s life hanging in the balance.

Juan Gómez-Jurado masterfully weaves together multiple plotlines, ratcheting up the suspense as danger looms over both victims and investigators. The story unfolds with unexpected violence and grisly twists, keeping the tension at an all-time high. While this novel could stand alone, it’s impossible not to rush out and devour the earlier installments.

I alternated between reading on my Kindle and listening to the audiobook, but I found myself completely unable to tear away from the audio in the final stretch. Narrated by the exceptional Scott Brick, whose background in acting and writing has earned him multiple awards for performances in over 800 books, the audiobook brings the characters vividly to life. Brick’s voice inflections create a true “theater of the mind,” immersing listeners in every emotion and moment of suspense. I highly recommend diving into his narration of Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series as well—another roller-coaster ride of thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audio version of this five-star gem.

My parting thought: Say it ain’t so! I can’t believe this is the last we’ll see of Antonia Scott and Jon Gutiérrez