The Legacy of Shadows by Daniel Boán, a Mysterious Review.

Review: Daniel Boan crafts a mysterious tale of a man seeking information on the circumstances surrounding the death of his friend in this first English translation of his work, The Legacy of Shadows.

Set in the small, remote, desolate mining town of Valle Viejo where time and place have been lost to the few remaining inhabitants, the story tells of Victor, a writer, who has received word that his best friend, Walter, an artist, has died while visiting the town, just a day before he was to return home. The local priest had found Victor's address on mail that Victor had sent to Walter and wrote to him informing him of Walter's untimely death. Victor makes a journey to Valle Viejo, a location that Walter had described as a perfect place for an artist to find inspiration. It is tranquil, relaxing and the surrounding mountains and rivers are ideal subjects. But Walter was a young, healthy man. So what happened? How did he die? When Victor arrives, Walter's car, once bright and shiny, now covered with dirt, tires flat, is parked in front of a guest house. The owner of the house welcomed Victor, putting him up in the same room Walter had occupied. Victor was, as was Walter, the only guest. The room was discolored and had indications of humidity and moss. There was only one canvass of Walter's in the room: a horrible painting depicting the shadows of the humidity contamination. Where were the paintings Walter had told Victor about in his many letters?

Victor decides he needs to learn more about this little town. The original settlers had high hopes of it becoming a thriving coal mining town. The railroad put in tracks and a station, homes and a church were built, including the two story rooming house in which Victor, and Walter before him, stayed. But long ago the mine collapsed and men died. When others went down to try to save them, they, too, died. Finally the mine closed and the residents started to leave. But some stayed on believing the town would build up again. Mrs. Grinsberg, the "casera" of the guest house, and her daughter Lucia, stayed vowing never to leave. Mrs. Grinsberg spends most of her time at the check-in counter waiting for guests to come. The station- master hired by the railroad years ago keeps the station open just in case the railroad brings a train through. The priest has services each Sunday for the few families who have sworn they will never leave Valle Viejo. Those who die there are buried in the church's cemetery. But for some mysterious reason, whenever a resident now decides to leave, he disappears or dies suddenly before he can depart. Victor sees a story here, about this deserted, depressing town and the people who live here. But why do they stay? As Victor finishes his writing and decides to leave, he begins to wonder, will he die a sudden death, like his friend Walter?

The Legacy of Shadows is quite innovative in its style and content. One doesn't just read the story here, rather one seems drawn into the story's environment, just as Victor is. The characters have a well-worn feel to them, oddly familiar yet unknown at the same time. What makes this somewhat all the more remarkable is that it is accomplished in a novella of just 126 pages. The Legacy of Shadows is a most uncommon mystery, one well worth seeking.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of The Legacy of Shadows.

Acknowledgment: John Gordon Burke Publisher provided a copy of The Legacy of Shadows for this review.