Pedro Antonio de Alarcón

El Clavo (The Nail)by Pedro Antonio de AlarcónTranslated and introduced by Diego RoldanRediscovered Spanish Mysteries - Book 1A mysterious widow. A haunted judge. A nail through a skull. When a Spanish magistrate discovers a human skull pierced by an iron nail, he vows to uncover the murderer. But the investigation soon exposes a far darker truth - one that binds him to the accused woman by passion, guilt, and fate.
First published in 1853, El Clavo (The Nail) is one of Spain's earliest works of psychological crime fiction - a gothic tale of love, justice, and moral punishment that shocked 19th-century readers. This new translation brings Pedro Antonio de Alarcón's haunting story to life for modern audiences, preserving its beauty, irony, and fatalism. Perfect for readers of Poe, Balzac, and The Woman in White.