Former Talbot County resident Marcelo Antinori will discuss his newest mystery novel, The Seagull and the Spy, set in the imaginary Central American city of Santa Clara by the Sea. An old colonial seaport run by self-serving politicians, Santa Clara is the beloved home of a band of expatriates who are led by a French archivist with a near-photographic memory. In this sequel to The Condor's Riddle, the eccentric group of friends must summon all their resources to unravel the case of a missing Hungarian who was fleeing a series of Cold War misadventures. At the same time, they must fight off secret plans to turn their historic haunts into a modern tourist trap that will make millions for the corrupt city officials.
BookLife, a Publisher's Weekly publication, made The Seagull and the Spy an Editor's Pick, explaining "Antinori's strength lies in the story's delightful characters, with notables such as Joseph, the bookstore owner and fashion boutique guru who spends nights under the spell of his drag queen alter ego "Lola Marlene," lottery seller Grená, restaurant proprietor Ilona, and a Machiavellian lady known only as "the Serbian" adding to the charisma of the principal cast. Just as appealing is Antinori's portrayal of Santa Clara, wrought in loving detail and old-world charm that makes the story's central mystery both entertaining and subtly suspenseful. The arrival of Mr. Baumgarten nicely ties up the loose ends while delivering surprising revelations, providing a satisfying resolution to this enticing whodunit."