Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia, did a good job in translating Black Wolf by Juan Gómez-Jurado, although I sensed their work left enough untranslated to make it a hit amongst fellow translators who like dipping in to the genre. In essence the novel is a crime thriller but with the advantage of Antonia Scott and her unusual powers, used to give an amazing insight in to how a crime was perpetrated. Scott isn't good at everything and needs a burly protector in the form of Jon Gutierrez. Jon's skills are more to protect Antonia from herself as she struggles mentally with her amazing ability. Set chiefly in Souther Spain, the pair are charged with finding the wife of a murdered Mafia man. The novel paints a sorry picture of organised crime in the Costa Del Sol, effected by vying clans of the Russian Mafia. Not something explored in Your New Life in the Sun on TV. The hunt for the wife is rather an exciting read and I really enjoyed it. Juan Gómez-Jurado has a style all his own and I particularly liked the musings of Antonia Scott as she prepared herself to instruct the doctors to switch off the respirator keeping Marcos alive. Whether meant as an inverted parody of Wordsworth's Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood, I thought, "Life is a flash of light between two infinite blacknesses", to be both succinct and insightful.
The novel has pace and intrigue, all set in foreign climes for that additional je ne sais quoi.

I'm always interested in how detective fiction translates. This was a really enjoyable, fast-paced read. I haven't read book 1, but it was fairly straightforward with enough back story that one wasn't lost. In some ways it's something of a throwback to post-Cold War thrillers, with shades of various Bond films, and Russian bad guys now land in a different light post-Ukraine, but the plotting was well done, and there were several twists I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to reading the other two!

I enjoyed this book but feel sure I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read the first in the series. At times I couldn’t understand who everyone was and what was happening, and the plot was very complex. However, it was an exciting read and the ending made me very keen to read whatever comes next. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the electronic copy.

Black wolf review

A high octane thriller with the story moving at fast pace and the intriguing protagonists, Antonia Scott and Inspector Jon Gutierrez credible heroes.

The unique personalities and tightly-portrayed lives of the characters in this novel seem authentic despite the hyper-reality and chaos of their world. The reader becomes completely engaged in their lives and back stories. This makes for genuine involvement in their extraordinary world and keeps one enthralled as the action progresses.

For me the author’s razor-sharp wit and observation help Black Wolf stand well above many everyday thrillers and crime novels.

The excellent translation offers the reader a real sense of place and provides a wonderful setting in the area of southern Spain in an around Malaga-which seems a far away from the famous holiday hotspots of the Costa del Sol.

This is the second in a series with at least one more translation promised, but for me, not having read the first in the series, reads well as a standalone. I loved this and cannot wait for the next instalment.

Although I haven’t read the first book I thoroughly enjoyed the second The main characters are a special unit. Jon, originally a Basque police officer and Antonia a damaged but brilliant woman. The are sent from Madrid to the Costa del Sol trying to hunt down a Ruthless Russian Mafia unit. The story is twisted and turns up quite a few suprises. I throughly enjoy it.

I have not read any of this Spanish author’s work before , but as a UK reader I found the fast paced, shoot em up type scenario a bit overdone for my tastes. If you like fast cars and bikes , super clever specialised police fighting Russian mafia and very scary hired assassins all resulting in a very high death count then you will enjoy this.
I liked Jon ,the gay Basque policeman but I did not take so much to Antonio the super clever female partner in this elite crime investigating team.
However having to spend a few days in hospital this was a good page turner to keep me occupied.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC

Although this is the second book in a police detective series it works well as a stand alone novel. The story is about Antonia and Jon, police detectives being sent to help local police find the widow of a Russian gangster based in Spain, who is running for her life. It deals with the Mafiosi as well as a corrupt police force. A typical detective thriller but based in Spain. Well translated from Spanish with some interesting turn of phrases at times.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan McMillan for the advance copy of this book.

I read both this sequel and the first book of the series. This is very well constructed crime fiction, with the main hook being a character who is equal parts Sherlock Holmes and Lisbeth Salander. The setting of Spain gives it a bit of a twist, but overall the plot is a by the numbers mainstream thriller. Not bad but nothing new or exciting.

‘Black Wolf’ by Juan Gómez-Jurado (translated by Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia) is the second instalment of the ‘Red Queen’ trilogy starring the incomparable Antonia Scott and Jon Gutierrez as they continue their mission of working behind the scenes to solve the most devious of crimes.

This time, they are sent to Marbella and tasked with tracking down Lola Moreno, the wife of a recently-murdered Mafia boss who is on the run following an attempt on her own life. Unfortunately for them, others are looking for Lola too, including the infamously infallible assassin known only as the Black Wolf. Back at the Red Queen project HQ, all is not well either, suggesting that Antonia might be in even more danger than she comprehends.

This book felt even darker than the first novel, with a few particularly unpleasant scenes, but the plot was well executed and the action scenes heart-racingly brilliant. There were more twists than I could have ever expected, with stark reminders that absolutely no-one could be trusted. Within the pages we also find out more about Antonia’s Red Queen training, which explains her behaviours, and see her with her son Jorge, which humanises her. I enjoyed seeing Antonia and Jon’s partnership continue to evolve and the skills of the unlikely duo continue to complement each other.

There are a few aspects of this series that annoy me a little - the repeated focus on weight (Jon’s and Antonia’s) is pretty grating and seems to be of little relevance to the plot, and occasionally the shifting narratives take you so far away from the action that it’s hard to stay immersed - but overall this was another thrilling and entertaining book… and the ending was so explosive that I’m on tenterhooks waiting for the English language translation of ‘White King’! Giving this one four stars.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Pan MacMillan via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Black Wolf is the second book in Juan Gómez-Jurado's Red Queen series and I for one was super excited to be back in the dark but thrilling world of Antonia Scott and Jon Gutierrez, as they hunt for the missing wife of a murdered Russian mafia man who has been murdered. What a gripping storyline -I’m really looking forward to a part three!!

I loved reading the Red Queen so I was very excited to read Black Wolf and fall back into the darkness and danger of the first novel.

A really good story based around a female character, Antonia Scott, who has exceptional powers of perception. She has been recruited by a secretive European police agency to help combat organised crime alongside a Spanish police inspector. This is the second book in the series but the the first one I have read . There are many references to the previous story and I feel it would be advantageous to read these in order however this book is still easily read as a stand-alone story.
The pair have been tasked to find the wife of a murdered Russian criminal based in Spain before she is also murdered., The plot has many twists and turns and contains violent scenes from the start.
Antonia Scott may well become a cult figure in modern crime fiction .

Black Wolf is the second novel in the international bestselling Red Queen thriller series by Juan Gómez-Jurado. There is also a popular series on Amazon Prime based on the first novel in the series, titled Red Queen.
While, it is not necessary to have read/watched Red Queen in order to commence reading Black Wolf, I do think that newcomers to the series could feel a little lost as we dive straight into the action and the rapid-pace of the storyline does not let up until the final paragraph.
The storyline here is set in Marbella, Spain as Jon and Antonia are set to track down the missing Lola, wife of the (now deceased), Yuri Voronin, a member of the Russian mafia. This time, facing down Chernaya Volchista, the legendary, Black Wolf.
Meanwhile, both are dealing with their own issues as:
Antonia remains guilty over her husband Marcus being in a coma, while her father is raising her son, Jorge, and she continues to rely on those peculiar blue and red pills to stay on control - not to mention, avoiding Peter White, who wishes her dead and seeking out Sandra Fajardo from the previous case
And Inspector Jon Guitierrez, continues his search for love via a series of dates and trying to keep Antonia's more risky plans in line.
A highly entertaining and original thriller, that maintains the high octane suspense of a Hollywood blockbuster!

Oh. My. Giddy. Aunt. What a ride! And what an ending!😳I need book three now, please.
It’s easy to see why Juan Gomez-Jurado is one of Spain’s most successful contemporary authors. If you love a fast-paced, high-stakes, intelligent thriller with a killer female protagonist, then Antonia Scott is your girl.
Her partner, Jon (who is not fat), the loyal protector (although who’s protecting whom is ambiguous to say the least), is everything you want in a sidekick and always manages to be in the right place at the right time. Well, almost always.
Russian mafia, money laundering, people trafficking, contract killing, you name the vice, you’ll find them all in this top-notch thriller. Also, if you’re into the branch of physics that deals with mechanics, some very interesting force equations.
Anyway, five stars for the second novel in the excellent Red Queen trilogy, with thanks to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for the chance to read an ARC. Black Wolf publishes in the U.K. on March 14th.

Havining read the first book (ok I listened and the narrator was the only reason I finished) for some absolutely insane reason I can only attribute to wishing to give the author a chance to show their skills I requested this book, bad mistake on my part

I almost missed this brilliant book as I did not request it until a few days before publication. No problem though because just like the previous book in the series, I read through it in two sittings. An excellent book with great characters. More please ..........

This is a pulse-pounding and spellbinding addition to the Red Queen series, showcasing the formidable duo of Antonia Scott and Jon Gutierrez. Delving into the shadowy world of southern Spain, the novel kicks off with a shocking murder of a key mafia figure, setting off a chain of events that will test the limits of Antonia and Jon's investigative skills. The tension rises as the pregnant wife of the victim, Lola Moreno, narrowly escapes an assassination attempt and goes on the run, adding an extra layer of urgency to the already high-stakes case.

I love Gómez-Jurado's masterful storytelling. He has a knack to weave a web of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists that keeps me glued to the pages, not to mention his unique way to craft gripping gore scenes that makes it all so vivid, it makes it all feel quite immersive. The only thing that I missed was delving deeper into Jon's social and personal life, which we get more in the first book - still, it didn't detract from enjoying this wild ride.

The seamless translation by Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia further enhances the immersive experience, capturing the essence of Gómez-Jurado's original narrative in all its thrilling glory.

Black Wolf is a five-star thriller that delivers a perfect blend of action, suspense, and character dynamics, making it a standout addition to the series. Fans of gripping crime fiction will be captivated by the adrenaline-fuelled ride that Gómez-Jurado expertly orchestrates, solidifying Antonia Scott and Jon Gutierrez as a duo to root for in the world of complex and dangerous crimes. I can't wait for the next instalment in the series.

Thanks Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the arc

Following on from ‘Red Queen’, the specially trained Antonia Scott and her minder Inspector Jon Gutiérrez are back in another action packed thriller. They’ve been sent to the Costa del Sol to find the wife of murdered man, Yuri Voronin, a member of a Russian mafia group operating in Spain. An attempt to kill his wife, Lola was also made simultaneously while she was out shopping but failed and now she’s on the run – pregnant and diabetic so the clock is ticking. Antonia and Jon have not been told why they must find her or that a range of other people are looking for her, none of them with good intentions.

There is plenty of drama and danger in this dark, complex tale set amongst the crime and corruption of Spain’s underworld. Antonia and Jon’s humorous banter and developing relationship provides lighter moments (he’s gay so no romance there), but Antonia is going through a difficult time and not quite her usual brilliant self, having difficulty juggling the medication that keeps her talents sharp and Jon is worried about what she’s not telling him. The novel is tense and gripping all the way through and leaves of on a cliff hanger that has me eagerly awaiting for the English translation of the third book.

Antonia Scott is the Red Queen for Spain, one of an international network of elite super-intelligent agents used for solving complicated crimes. Her work partner, Jon Gutierrez tries to protect her from villains, and also from herself. They work for Mentor, who gives them their assignments. In this book, they are sent to Málaga to try to trace Lola, the wife of a murdered Russian mafioso. As usual, there is resistance from the local police while they investigate. The plot is complicated with lots of twists and turns, but you never get lost because the writing is so good. The translation is excellent.
Antonia and Jon are great characters, their friendship, understanding and conversations make these books very enjoyable despite the dark subject matter. I look forward to the next one.
Highly recommended.

Having loved Red Queen I was definitely excited to see that the second in Juan Gómez-Jurado's books about Antonia Scott and Jon Gutierrez had been translated into English and was very keen to start reading. But then I had a quandary - did I devour this wonderful novel really quickly or did I try to stretch it out and savour it? I chose the latter approach and was able to appreciate the language used - lots of kudos to the translators, Nick Caistor and Lorenza Garcia. I was also able to take my time trying to work out what was happening - Gómez-Jurado certainly builds in lots of unexpected plot twists and turns and I was kept on my toes till the end. Perhaps most importantly I was able to really continue (from Red Queen) getting to know the two main characters, Antonia and Jon. These two flawed and complex characters have developed a highly unusual, totally credible and emotional working relationship, the ins and outs of which keep the reader very involved and engaged in hoping for the best possible outcomes for them both against all the odds. In this second tale about Antonia and Jon they have been called on by their boss, Mentor, to find Lola, the missing widow of a murdered Russian in Malaga. Their quest involves them in confrontation with the Russian mafia, discovering a human trafficking ring, police corruption, a very high body count (which is frequently remarked on in the story) and some very dangerous situations which had me on the edge of my seat. Despite the nastiness and brutality depicted throughout the story there is also a great deal of humour and this is one of the aspects of Gómez-Jurado's writing that I really appreciate. This book does work as a stand alone but I can not imagine ay reader would read it and not want to know more about Antonia, Jon and the Red Queen project which has brought them together so I would suggest reading Red Queen before Black Wolf if possible. I highly recommend both these novels to all lovers of crime fiction and also to readers who love a well told tale with strong well developed characters. I am really looking forward to Gómez-Jurado's next book about Antonia and Jon. My thanks to the publisher Pan Macmillan for sending me an ARC of this title via Net Galley.