The twist in Elena Knows completely threw me and then left me thinking about the ending non-stop for three days. I don’t read a lot of crime books, so perhaps it’s because I’m new to the genre, but I have it on good authority that I’m not the only one who had this reaction.
Claudia Piñeiro’s book is about what is left unsaid between three women. We watch the events of a single day unfold through Elena’s eyes. She lives with Parkinson’s Disease and must take pills to make her body move. Elena embarks on a journey across Buenos Aires to find Isabel, the woman who she believes can help her find out what really happened to her daughter, Rita.
Pineiro’s writing is both simple and striking. The opening paragraphs hint at the struggle the story will hold and give the nod that the story is not as straightforward as you think. Elena’s experience being beholden to her pills is expertly described. The structure of this book forces the reader to see the ramifications of Elena’s dependency on medication – in short, it’s genius.
Elena is a very grey character, not always likeable, obstinate, someone who does not often get along with people including her daughter, yet she is doing the impossible to find answers about Rita’s death. Along the way, we get a glimpse of the difficulties Elena and Rita encountered when trying to get adequate care for Elena and how Rita struggled with her role as a carer.
The book covers a lot in its 142 pages, including some difficult content, so check the content warnings on Storygraph if you’d like to see them. Note that some will spoil the twist and ending.
This is a fantastic read and you need not only take my word for it. It was shortlisted for the International Booker and won the Barbellion prize. It is completely deserving of all its accolades and more.
Tori Pearmain 