You have to read this book in two halves, first is the love story and the other is the spy story. Javier Marias was able to weave them into an intricate, elegant and interesting story. His unique style of writing, delving into anything and everything from politics, literature to mundane marital problems casts a spell on you to turn the page to see what happens next. This is almost a study of being human with secrets, loyalty, love and devotion. He is almost asking us “ do you believe in destiny?” In this wonderful novel from one of Spain’s most accomplished contemporary writers.

Human beings are the strangest creatures on God's earth. Who else would be willing to wait and wait and wait for someone who doesn't stay? Who else would be willing to put up with someone who has chosen to wear an iron mask? Who would share a life with Judas? (not the actual one, obviously, but someone even worse?) Why is it that love makes us behave in ways that contradict our personality, our wishes, even our hard-forged principles? Is love the greatest and most fragile and irrational of alibis? Despite the endless repetition of themes, and the habit of interrupting the flow with a character's inner thoughts, Marias's novel holds a mirror to those who love unconditionally. Forget about espionage. Forget the historical context of the novel, the Cold War, the Falklands conflict, the Iron Curtain, the Northern Ireland issue. None of it matters. What this book is about is endurance. Endurance of spirit, endurance of love. And a generous dose of human stupidity and hypocrisy.