Inventing Love

In this odd but poignant novel from Spanish author Ovejero (Nothing Ever Happens), a simple mistake changes lives in a surprising fashion. Samuel, a 40-year-old Madrid man, receives a phone call from a person who offers his condolences on the death of Clara Álvarez, who was the lover of another Samuel. This misguided message is enough to set Samuel on a journey to discover who 30-year-old Clara was and to “invent” a troubled relationship with her. Samuel attends the cremation service, where Clara’s father takes umbrage at his presence and ineffectually punches him. He also meets Clara’s sister, who later supplies him with information about Clara. Samuel builds an imagined picture of Clara as his obsession with the dead woman grows. Though clueless about his own life, Samuel is capable of penetrating observations: “We criticize our partner for expecting more from us than we can give, forgetting that that was precisely what we’d promised them.” Though billed as a thriller, this story is more for readers interested in character-driven literary fiction that illuminates the social problems of contemporary Spain. (Sept.)