Chronicle of a Death Foretold - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

One of my mock trial kids mentioned this book in passing - while trying to make some sort of analogy to our case materials, but then admitting that he had not actually read the book. Turns out, however, he had a pretty good idea what it was about. This is actually a novella - and a great introduction to Marquez's wonderful writing, without having to tackle one of his longer multi-generational masterpieces. This one is short on Marquez's signature magical realism, but high on drama and mystery. From the beginning, we know that Santiago Nasar has been murdered. Slowly, the reasons for the killing unfold, and it appears that everyone in his small town knew it was going to happen ("There had never been a death more foretold."), but no one bothers to warn poor Santiago. Whether the reason for the killing is justified, we never know for sure, but as the narrator finds townsperson after townsperson to retell the story, what is clear is that either Santiago did not have to die, or that perhaps there was no way to escape this fate. I read this book in one sitting, intrigued by the unfolding plot, even though I already knew the ending - a good mark of a wonderful storyteller. This was a nice little treat I had not previously heard of, from an author I have loved for many years.