Novel Set in Cancun Named Finalist at Spanish Crime Fiction Festival

Cancun, Quintana Roo — The novel “La noche de los aprendices” by Cancun-born writer Mauro Barea has been named one of five finalists for the José Rasero Balón Prize at Gaditanoir, a prominent crime fiction festival held in Cadiz, Spain.

The award is part of the festival’s program, which runs from November 4 to 7 and brings together dozens of writers and readers for literary presentations, panel discussions, and readings. The event is organized by Kaizen Editores in collaboration with the Cadiz City Council and sponsored by Spain’s Ministry of Culture.

Barea’s novel competes against “El balanceo del Alacrán” by Eduardo Fernán López, “La Capitana” by Susana Martín Gijón, “Flor de agua” by Marta Huelves, and “Matacrías” by Alberto Puyana.

Since its first edition, the festival has established itself as one of Spain’s most important crime fiction events. The prize has drawn interest from hundreds of Spanish-language writers since its launch in 2024. The winner will be announced during the closing gala on November 7 at the Casa de Iberoamérica in Cadiz.

“La noche de los aprendices” is considered one of the most notable works by a writer from Quintana Roo. The novel is set in Tamul, a fictional representation of Cancun, which through the eyes of its protagonists is portrayed as “a tropical city suffocating under its own tourist mask.”

Born in Cancun in 1981, Barea now lives in Spain. He is the author of the novels “Terra incognita” (Editorial Tandaia) and “Kolymá” (Autonomous University of the State of Mexico). He coordinates the Novel area at the Archipiélago literary workshop community and teaches a creative writing workshop at the Centro La Paz II for seniors in Cadiz.

His honors include an honorable mention in the 19th Ignacio Manuel Altamirano International Narrative Prize for “Kolymá” (2022) and the 20th Short Narrative Prize at the Jóvenes Creadores competition (2017, Avila, Spain). He serves on the editorial board of TROPO magazine and contributes to Zenda, La Colmena, Bitácora de vuelos (Mexico), and Carátula.