The matriarch: Pablo Rivero

The matriarch It is a mystery novel and suspense written by Spanish actor and author Pablo Rivero, known for television series such as Remember when. The work that concerns this review was published for the first time on March 14, 2024. Since then, it has received positive reviews from the reading public, with an average of 3.72 and 3,9 stars. This, on platforms such as Goodreads and Amazon, respectively.

In fact, on Jeff Bezos's website, The text is ranked number fourteen in the collection of "Domestic Thrillers". Broadly speaking, The matriarch is a volume that seeks to raise social awareness about one of the most invisible problems of the modern era: abuse or neglect of the elderly.

Synopsis of The matriarchby Pablo Rivero

Is there anything more terrifying than a neighborhood community?

The matriarch tells the story of Felicidad, a woman of almost eighty years who has always been independent and decisive., and who has taken the reins of his family until the moment when everything collapses. The protagonist is dedicated to managing the rentals of the apartment block she owns, but her routine is interrupted when a catastrophic event occurs.

At the moment when Felicidad least expects it, Candela Rodríguez, the lieutenant of the Civil Guard, informs her that one of his tenants, an elderly woman, jumped off one of the balconies of the interior patio of the building. From that event, the police begin an investigation to rule out that it is not a murder. However, everything becomes complicated after a terrible discovery.

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A series of terrible connections

As the investigation progresses, Investigators discover gruesome video that could connect the tenant's death to other attacks on elderly women of the area. The fact not only puts Felicidad's family environment in check, but also the rest of the neighborhood community, who find themselves in an environment where many enter, but very few have an exit ticket.

Little by little, Feli, the matriarch, who has always been the pillar of her family, begins to be relegated to a simple spectator. The situation and the people in charge of solving it take away all the power that he had accumulated over the years, as well as the control he had over his own life and his leadership capacity, confidence and strength in his family.

Social exclusion of the elderly

Once again, Pablo Rivero dips his finger into the sore spot in order to highlight a social problem. On this occasion, The author touches on topics such as grandparents' pensions, social exclusion of these on the part of the children and the community in general, and the mortification of the elderly at losing their fundamental role in an environment that seems to no longer need them.

Is the world aware of the treatment that the elderly receive? For many years, the majority of these people were productive, raising entire families, even developing rental and construction projects that allowed a better quality of life for some sectors. However, Old age has left them in the shadows of oblivion and the vulnerability of loneliness.

Structure and narrative style of the work

There is no doubt that Pablo Rivero knows how to write a good thriller. Although The matriarch It could be the least surprising book to his credit; in it, the writer raises a series of topics that will leave more than one thinking. For a start, The chapters of the novel are short, agile, allowing for almost frenetic reading. despite the complex background and constantly revealing narration.

The work immerses the reader in two main spaces: Felicidad's house and the building where the rest of the neighbors live. It is a very simple environment, full of people who can be found anywhere. Even so, the form does not overshadow the substance, which is really brilliant, it is a matter of plot, development and resolution of the conflict. The matriarch It is a strong criticism.

The importance of women in Rivero's work

While it is true that the story revolves around several elderly people, it is also true that the author places very special emphasis on the figure of the matriarch—yes, the name of the novel leaves no room for the imagination. Through the voice of Happiness, It is possible to get to know a little about many ladies who have stood out for supporting society in times of crisis, because they give life, raise, care for and educate.

This is a role that has no parallel in the history of humanity, it is an indispensable role that cannot be lost. At the same time, Rivero highlights how new technologies affect older people, both due to overexposure to social networks and because of how complex it is for an elderly person to adapt to changes without having the help of those they cared for.

About the Author

Pablo José Rivero Rodrigo was born on October 11, 1980, in Madrid, Spain. He graduated in Audiovisual Communication, but has stood out more in his career as an actor, being known for the role of Toni Alcántara in the long-running television series Remember when, which he has performed regularly since its premiere in 2001. Thanks to that work he has received opportunities in the cinema.

Over the years, he has appeared in multiple films, including parrot's chocolate (2004), by Ernesto Martín, or Brother's night (2005), by Santiago García de Leániz. Regarding his literary career, he wrote his first novel in 2017, discovering success in letters which led him to create two other titles, which were released in 2020 and 2021.

Other books by Pablo Rivero

• I will never be afraid again (2017);
• Penitencia (2020);
• The girls who dreamed of being seen (2021);
• the brood (2022);
• Sweet Home (2023).