La Bestia

Premio Planeta · 2021 · Winner

PlanetaOctober 15, 2021Mystery & Crime Historical Fiction

Award History

Award	Year	Status	Citation
Premio Planeta	2021	Winner

About This Book

A historical thriller set in 19th-century Madrid during a cholera epidemic following a detective hunting a serial killer, notable for the post-award revelation that 'Carmen Mola' was a collective pseudonym for three male writers.

About the Author

Carmen MolaES

Carmen Mola is the pen name of three Spanish male writers: Jorge Díaz (born 1963), Antonio Mercero (born 1966), and Agustín Martínez (born 1975). The pseudonym, suggesting a female author, was used for a successful crime series before being revealed at the Premio Planeta ceremony in 2021, generating significant public controversy. The Carmen Mola crime series, beginning with La novia gitana (The Gypsy Bride, 2018), follows a detective investigating brutal crimes in Madrid. Read more →