“This novel tells the story of an individual’s failure”

The new novel of Jose Miguel Martinez, “The Three Duels of Detective Bernales” takes us into the tortured mind of a detective obsessed with an unsolved case. After twenty years of chasing an elusive criminal, Bernales faces him in a duel to the death, but comes out defeated and in a wheelchair.

From this point on, the novel becomes an introspective journey through the detective’s memories and addictions. Immersed in morphine, Bernales tries to reconstruct the events that led to the fatal confrontation, revisiting the duel again and again from different perspectives. As the story progresses, a complex web of relationships between characters and events is revealed, which intertwine with the author’s previous novels.

An exploration of memory and subjectivity

Martínez uses a non-linear structure and multiple narrators to explore the fragility of memory and the subjective nature of reality. The novel plays with the boundaries between the real and the imaginary, inviting the reader to question the veracity of the events narrated.
“The Three Duels of Detective Bernales” is more than a detective novel. It is a deep dive into the psychology of a character tormented by his inner demons. Through poetic prose and an intriguing plot, Martínez presents us with a reflection on identity, guilt and redemption.

A tribute to film noir

Martínez’s novel shows a clear influence of cinema, especially films such as “Fire against Fire” by Michael Mann. The detective’s obsession, violence and dark atmosphere are recurring elements in both works. In addition, the author makes references to other classics of the genre, such as “Once upon a time in America” by Sergius Leone

In short, “The Three Duels of Detective Bernales” is an ambitious novel that combines elements of crime fiction and psychological literature. Through the story of a tormented detective, Martínez offers us a reflection on the human condition and the limits of memory.

Check out the full interview below: