José María Espinar

José María Espinar Mesa-Moles was born in Granada in 1974 and is a university lecturer. He combines his teaching schedule with both literature and magic (he belongs to the International Magicians' Society). He is the author of the novel El peso del alma (The Weight of a Soul), winner of the Premio Internacional de novela negra, ciudad de Getalfe 2016 and the 2017 Memorial Silverio Cañada at the Semana Negra (crime week) literary festival of Gijón. His work has bite, wit, intelligence, suspense, eroticism and humour. His writing, in the words of critic and writer Luis Artigue, is 'an exercise in style with a strong authorial voice.' Antonio Enrique has described him as 'a poet to his marrow' and Marcelo Luján credits him with 'creating characters who would surprise Raymond Chandler himself.' He is a regular speaker, often taking part in seminars and literary gatherings.