Book Summary – The Silence of the White City – White City – Book 1

Book summary by chapter of The Silence of the White City. Includes spoilers from the dolmen double murder to the end of the book. Vitoria bleeds not only for its dead, but for the buried memories: among crypts and eguzkilores, Unai finds the killer is not a ghost of the past but a hidden brother, born from a secret birth and fed on bitterness. The White City becomes an altar where family sins rise again in their cruelest form: the truth.

Unai and Tasio standing in a forest clearing surrounded by stones – Chapter-by-chapter Summary of The Silence of the White City

Introduction – The Silence of the White City

Vitoria is more than ancient stone and ancestral rituals—it’s a city where the dead whisper between eguzkilores and cathedrals. In The Silence of the White City, Eva García Sáenz de Urturi immerses us in a spiral of symbolic crimes, where every murder echoes the past and every street corner becomes a stage for mystery. This isn’t just a thriller—it’s an emotional map marked by wounds, legends, and buried secrets demanding to surface.

From the very first page, inspector Unai López de Ayala—nicknamed Kraken—leads us with an analytical mind and a soul marked by grief. Clues lie not just in the bodies, but in family ties, personal trauma, and the cracks of a city that seems to know more than it lets on. The bees, the pagan sculptures, and the double surnames aren’t mere details: they’re pieces of a dark web spun over decades.

To truly grasp this world where the ancient collides with the modern in precise violence, you need to begin at its source. If you want to discover the hidden order behind it all, don’t miss this essential step: Reading Order – White City Trilogy ➤

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Reading Order ➤

Chapter Navigation

• Prologue Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Dolmen Killer and the Final Victim

• Chapter 1 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Old Cathedral

• Chapter 10 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Path of Secrets

• Chapter 20 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Campillo Mural

• Chapter 30 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Migraine House

• Chapter 40 Summary – The Silence of the White City – 1 Dato Street

• Chapter 50 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Unai’s Awakening

Prologue Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Dolmen Killer and the Final Victim

Vitoria, August 2016. Cameras flooded the city in search of headlines after news broke that Inspector Unai López de Ayala had been shot in the head. His inner circle was hounded by the media, who gave them no respite, following them from their homes to the Saburdi on Dato Street, where they could hardly enjoy a glass of wine in peace. No one felt like speaking, but the reporters’ persistence broke the silence. Jota, one of the friends, voiced his disbelief and grief between sips. When Germán, Unai’s brother, appeared, his dwarfism gave him away and he was chased into the restroom, where he slammed the door and hurled a blunt insult. The entire city of Vitoria was in shock. Unai, narrating from his wounded mind, admits he never imagined becoming a victim of the serial killer he was pursuing, and that everything began with what they called the dolmen double murder—an act committed by an exceptional criminal mind.

Chapter 1 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Old Cathedral

Unai López de Ayala, an inspector specialized in Criminal Profiling, receives an urgent call from his colleague Estíbaliz Ruiz de Gauna during Vitoria’s Blusa Day celebration. She informs him about the discovery of two nude corpses—a boy and a girl—inside the crypt of the Old Cathedral. The crime scene eerily mirrors the murders committed twenty years earlier, which had led to the imprisonment of Tasio Ortiz de Zárate, a famous local archaeologist. Unai recalls those crimes that scarred his generation, where victims appeared in pairs, bore compound Basque surnames, and were killed in archaeological settings. In the current scene, the bodies rest with hands on each other’s cheeks, just like before, and show a puncture mark on the neck, possibly from a lethal injection. A bee escapes from the male victim’s mouth, suggesting it may have been used as a weapon. Unai begins to suspect that the killer has returned—or never left.

Chapter 2 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Los Arquillos

The morning after the discovery at the Cathedral, Unai tries to clear his mind by jogging through central Vitoria. Along his route, he encounters a mysterious runner, whom he later identifies as Blanca. After a brief conversation, she introduces herself with a name he instantly recognizes as false. Back at the precinct, he learns that Blanca is actually Alba Díaz de Salvatierra, his new deputy commissioner. The investigation now focuses on the killer’s profile: no fingerprints, no signs of sexual violence. Probable cause of death is asphyxiation from bee stings inside the throat, after the victims’ mouths were sealed with tape. The murders follow the same pattern as twenty years ago, with victims aged twenty and a likely ongoing chronological progression. Unai and Estíbaliz suspect a new victim aged twenty-five will be targeted next and debate whether to alert the public. The deputy commissioner rejects the idea to avoid mass panic.

Chapter 3 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Zaballa

Unai receives a disturbing email from an account named "Fromjail," signed by Tasio Ortiz de Zárate from prison. Ignoring security warnings, Unai decides to visit Zaballa prison, where he meets a now aged and unsettling Tasio, still as manipulative as ever. Tasio insists on his innocence in the decades-old murders and offers to help with the current investigation. He discusses the original case in detail, revealing information that never reached the press, such as the use of yew poison. He claims the murders follow a historical chronology of Álava and hints that more victims will come. Tasio aims to prove his innocence and reclaim his former status. Though skeptical, Unai notes Tasio’s uncontrollable anger, a trait that doesn’t match the meticulous killer’s profile. Despite his doubts, Unai doesn’t rule out using his help to catch the real culprit.

Chapter 4 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Villa Suso Palace

In a flashback to 1969, the narrative focuses on Blanca Díaz de Antoñana, a young woman engaged to the influential Javier Ortiz de Zárate. Walking alone through snowy Vitoria, Blanca attempts suicide by throwing herself down the stairs of Villa Suso Palace. Dr. Álvaro Urbina, a recently arrived gynecologist, follows her out of concern and saves her at the last second. Blanca confesses she has suffered abuse at the hands of her fiancé, who turned violent after discovering a scandal from her past. Urbina, unhappily married, feels deeply moved by her. Though she initially resists, Blanca leaves the door open for future trust. That night, overwhelmed by impotence and rage, the doctor silently resolves to kill Javier Ortiz de Zárate, convinced it’s the only way to save Blanca.

Chapter 5 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The House of the Cord

Unai meets Estíbaliz at the Toloño bar to review the case, but lunch is cut short by news of two more corpses found at the House of the Cord. The new victims—a young man and woman—are found in the same arrangement as before: nude, facing northwest, surrounded by eguzkilores, and showing signs of bee stings. The man is tattooed and fit, the woman appears ordinary, reinforcing the theory they didn’t know each other. Dr. Guevara confirms the same cause of death: asphyxiation from bee stings in the throat. Later, Unai meets with a trusted journalist, promising to leak information ahead of other media outlets. Back at the station, he informs the deputy commissioner about Tasio’s email and prison visit. Along with Estíbaliz, they propose three theories: Tasio is orchestrating the murders, Ignacio—his twin brother—is the killer, or there’s an outside copycat. All options are unsettling.

Chapter 6 Summary – The Silence of the White City – 2 Dato Street

Unai’s day begins with a provocative tweet from Tasio, but attention soon shifts to Ignacio, Tasio’s twin, who is in the spotlight due to a high-profile culinary event. Unai and Estíbaliz attend, intrigued by Ignacio’s charisma. After helping him dodge reporters, they accompany him to his flat on Dato Street. There, Ignacio shares details about his past as an inspector, his role in Tasio’s arrest, and his relationship with TV executive Inés Ochoa. The symmetrically decorated apartment reveals unresolved obsessions. Ignacio recalls Tasio’s pagan ritual obsessions and the influence of a radical young man. Though cooperative, Ignacio remains guarded. Unai detects emotional duality in him, planting seeds of suspicion about his mental stability and possible ties to the new murders.

Chapter 7 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Villaverde and Echoes of the Past

Unai retreats to Villaverde, his hometown, welcomed by his grandfather and brother Germán. Among hazelnut trees and farm tasks, he finds solace in family warmth. Germán and his girlfriend Martina offer the normalcy Unai longs for. Germán, ever perceptive, warns Unai against becoming consumed by the case and urges him to protect himself emotionally. Unai reflects on his past, why he chose this path, and the values instilled by his principled grandfather. The manual labor and rural setting provide mental respite, though his thoughts remain troubled. Through his family bonds, readers see a more human side of the inspector and how loss and guilt have shaped him. Villaverde is an emotional anchor—a pause before diving back into the darkness of the case.

Chapter 8 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Dinner at the Matxete

Unai attends a birthday dinner for his friend Xabi at the Matxete restaurant with his close circle. The atmosphere is tense due to the recent murders. Nerea, visibly distressed, confronts Unai, demanding answers and revealing the city’s growing panic. Despite his attempts at calm, Unai senses that even his friends now see him more as a cop than one of them. After dinner, a young chef secretly hands him a list of his family’s names, fearing they might be next. The gesture, though fear-driven, leaves Unai with a heavy sense of responsibility. Later, Lutxo reveals he has been spending time with Estíbaliz’s brother, nicknamed “the Eguzkilore”—a figure with a disturbing occult past. Unai realizes that this nickname ties directly to the symbols found at the crime scenes.

Chapter 9 Summary – The Silence of the White City – San Prudencio, 1970

In another time jump, we’re taken to the 1970 San Prudencio pilgrimage. Dr. Urbina, his wife, and children are enjoying the festival, but he is mentally elsewhere, obsessed with Blanca, his former patient abused by her husband. He discreetly approaches her in the crowd and gives her medication to ease her pain and help her drug her violent husband, Javier Ortiz de Zárate. Blanca accepts, revealing her situation has not improved since the wedding. Rain forces their separation, but it’s clear they share an intense emotional connection. Unbeknownst to them, Javier watches with simmering rage—a forewarning of coming tragedy. This chapter deepens the tragic backstory of the Ortiz de Zárate twins, showing that violence and family silence have haunted them for generations.

Chapter 10 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Path of Secrets

Unai goes for a run in La Florida park, where he runs into Blanca, his boss, and they decide to jog together. Stripping away their professional roles, they share personal confidences. Blanca reveals she lost her child shortly before birth and uses physical exercise to reclaim control of her life. This heartfelt moment allows Unai to better understand her and build empathy beyond work. Back at the station, new details emerge: the victims all had compound Basque surnames and were killed by poisoned bees after being sedated with Rohypnol. Estíbaliz and Unai interview Peio, boyfriend of one of the victims, who accuses her father of being unstable and controlling. The clues suggest the killer has apicultural knowledge and precise planning. The case grows more tangled, with increasingly dense ties to the past.

Chapter 11 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Optician and the Secret Boxes

Unai Ayala and Estíbaliz visit optician Antonio Fernández de Betoño, father of one of the victims, after noticing suspicious behavior. At the shop, an employee reveals that Antonio has been moving boxes from the storage area to his home. They access his apartment through an internal door and find him calm, wearing surgical gloves, surrounded by a macabre collection of eyes preserved in formalin. He shows them his daughter’s room, now emptied, explaining he intends to turn it into an exhibition space. His coldness and detachment raise Estíbaliz’s suspicions. They decide to follow him and spot him heading to the Gardelegi landfill in a white van. There, he burns his daughter’s personal belongings and newspaper clippings about the old murders. They arrest him on the spot, suspecting he is destroying incriminating evidence, and take him into custody for formal interrogation.

Chapter 12 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Interrogation and Kraken’s Mistake

Antonio Fernández de Betoño is interrogated in Lakua while Estíbaliz insists on his guilt. Unai chooses to question him alone, looking for cracks in his calm demeanor. Antonio explains he’s been collecting clippings since a friend’s son was murdered in a similar case two decades ago, denying any involvement. He provides an alibi: he was with his blusas group on the day of the murder. Commissioner Medina personally verifies the story and orders his discreet release. Deputy Commissioner Salvatierra reprimands Kraken for the error and reminds him they are under international scrutiny. Despite the setback, Unai maintains the key lies with the Ortiz de Zárate twins. Salvatierra admits that prison protects Tasio, and that social media is spinning out of control. Kraken requests permission to interview Tasio again, vowing not to be manipulated. Salvatierra agrees. Kraken contacts people from the twins' past to dig deeper into their history.

Chapter 13 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Dark Past of the Ortiz de Zárate Twins

In 1970, Blanca Díaz de Antoñana visits Dr. Urbina, her physician and secret lover, to thank him for the pills that have helped her endure her marriage to Javier Ortiz de Zárate. In a gesture of freedom and personal affirmation, the two engage in an intimate encounter in the doctor’s office—a violation of social norms that have long repressed them. Meanwhile, in the present, Kraken searches for clues about Tasio’s past by interviewing one of Ignacio’s ex-girlfriends. She describes the twins as manipulative, charismatic, and extremely close since childhood, even switching identities for fun. Ignacio, the more reserved of the two, was the one who turned Tasio in when the investigation began. Kraken then visits Tasio in prison, who confirms he receives letters from admirers. Kraken demands those letters, believing they may hold the key to identifying a copycat. Tasio agrees, fearing someone is setting him up again.

Chapter 14 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Secrets of the Past and the Shadow of the Dominant

Kraken travels to his family home in Villaverde and asks his grandfather for access to the attic to review old files on Tasio’s crimes. He dusts off clippings and recordings, revealing his long-standing obsession with the case. While reviewing videos, he spots a key detail in one episode involving Tasio: a hidden sculpture in the hermitage of San Vicentejo. At dawn, he goes to the site and confirms the existence of a carved figure of a reclining couple, previously overlooked. At the same time, Kraken investigates the Ortiz de Zárate family lineage, uncovering a colonial and slave-trading past from the twins’ great-great-grandfather. He also looks into a young hacker known as MatuSalem, a former inmate protected by Tasio and now free, suspected of running the Twitter account posting cryptic messages. Kraken contacts Golden Girl, a retired hacker, who offers to help off the official record.

Chapter 15 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Kraken’s Confessions and the Shadow of Pain

Kraken meets Alba Salvatierra at dawn for a jog, but the real purpose is to open up. He shares a tragic past: his best friend Sergio lost his wife and became obsessed with visiting every town in Álava. In the last one, Oyón, he crashed his car in a suicide attempt, killing his pregnant wife Paula. Kraken, the sole survivor, was left deeply scarred. He explains that this led him to specialize in criminal profiling, but left him unable to fully trust others. He also shares a supernatural experience: he believes his grandfather’s spirit was with him during the crash, evidenced by a beret that appeared inexplicably in the wreckage. Alba listens attentively and offers a fatalistic view: that while not everyone can be saved, past crimes can be solved. Kraken argues for prevention to avoid future deaths. Despite differing philosophies, both are fiercely determined to stop the killer before another murder occurs.

Chapter 16 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Angel of Santa Isabel

On a sweltering morning of August 2nd, Unai and Estíbaliz attend the funeral of Enara Betoño at Santa Isabel cemetery, looking for clues. A stone angel atop the Unzueta family mausoleum unsettles Unai with its eerie presence. A mutilated gravedigger shares a legend: the angel points at those who will soon die. The story unnerves Unai, but he is interrupted by Estíbaliz, who informs him that the newspaper has published photos of the Ortiz de Zárate twins engaged in sexual acts with Lidia, the young girl murdered years ago. Stunned, Unai realizes they both lied about knowing her. The images indicate direct involvement of both Tasio and Ignacio, exposing a new scandal and opening a fresh line of investigation. The revelation sparks tension among the investigators and raises new questions about the twins’ motivations and hidden past.

Chapter 17 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Tortilla Hill

In July 1970, Blanca maintains a passionate affair with Dr. Álvaro Urbina, far from her controlling husband Javier. The lovers meet in secret at Tortilla Hill, where they share intimate moments in Álvaro’s car, concealed behind towels. Blanca proposes they move their trysts to an inherited apartment in central Vitoria. They develop meticulous strategies and codes to avoid suspicion. Blanca fears the consequences if her husband discovers the affair but cannot give up her passion for Álvaro. He, overwhelmed by emotion, accepts the risks. Through their touches, fears, and hopes, their bond deepens. This flashback highlights the social repression and secrecy that have shaped generations involved in the present-day crimes, providing crucial context for the characters’ motivations.

Chapter 18 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Statue on Dato Street

Unai confronts Tasio in prison following the scandal involving Lidia. Tasio admits to the relationship, stating Lidia had first been involved with Ignacio. He claims their love was genuine and that both brothers cared deeply for her. According to Tasio, Ignacio lacks the personality to kill, though he doesn’t fully exonerate him either. He hints at a third party—a hidden enemy working to destroy them both. The leaked photos, he argues, were strategically released to damage them. The conversation shifts to the pagan hermitages in Treviño, where a mysterious stonemason, Tiburcio Sáenz de Urturi, incorporated medieval symbols into the crime scenes. Unai resolves to find him. Meanwhile, Ignacio disappears, and a judge delays issuing a warrant. Unai questions journalist Lutxo about the leaked photos but encounters a wall of silence from the newspaper’s editor. Suspicions, betrayals, and half-truths escalate the tension.

Chapter 19 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Txagorritxu

Unai visits Tiburcio Sáenz de Urturi, a retired stonemason living in a nursing home, who once worked on the restoration of San Vicentejo’s hermitage. Together, they travel to the temple, where Tiburcio explains the deep symbolism of its carvings: scenes of Adam and Eve, Original Sin, and the expulsion from Eden. Symbols like solar flowers, bees, and an ambiguous tree—possibly a yew—match those found in the murders. Tiburcio suggests the temple is a stone book for the initiated. He also mentions a red-haired apprentice, smart, reserved, and abused by his father. With no documentation, the young man’s identity remains a mystery. This revelation gives Unai a crucial clue: the killer has deep knowledge of alchemical symbolism. Although reluctant, Tiburcio makes it clear he intends to protect his former apprentice. Unai leaves knowing he’s finally closing in on the killer’s identity.

Chapter 20 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Campillo Mural

Thanks to Golden, the retired hacker, Unai locates MatuSalem, the young hacker linked to Tasio, among the volunteers painting the mural “The Triumph of Vitoria” in Campillo. He confronts the clever and elusive youth on the scaffolding. MatuSalem admits he doubts Tasio’s guilt, claiming the inmate once saved him from sexual abuse in prison. Though wary, he agrees to help Unai anonymously, promising to compile a list of suspicious followers on Tasio’s Twitter profile. He also reveals the mural’s symbolism: it’s about loyalty and betrayal, reflecting his own allegiance. Then he vanishes. Though frustrated, Unai is intrigued and more convinced than ever that the killer is building a symbolic, carefully planned narrative with each murder. The chapter ends with the chilling realization that their enemy is intelligent, patient, and terrifyingly precise.

Chapter 21 Summary – The Silence of the White City – 2 General Álava

In July 1970, Javier Ortiz de Zárate, a powerful businessman in Vitoria, becomes entangled in a web of distrust toward his partners and growing frustration with his wife Blanca, whom he blames for their infertility. Suspecting she is hiding a medical issue, Javier enlists his driver Ulises to investigate and even considers annulling the marriage. Tensions with Blanca escalate, but the most alarming development occurs when Javier begins to experience a strange physical illness. Alone in his room, he vomits blood and falls unconscious. Meanwhile, Dr. Urbina receives an urgent call from Blanca, informing him of her husband’s severe poisoning. Their conversation reveals a dark complicity: Blanca had been administering a substance provided by Urbina for months—one he assures is untraceable. News of Javier’s hospitalization barely makes it into the press, and the doctor, overwhelmed by fear and addiction, retreats into silence and morphine.

Chapter 22 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Gorbea Natural Park

On August 3rd, Estíbaliz alerts Unai about a suspicious fire on a property owned by Ignacio Ortiz de Zárate. Upon arrival, they discover the blaze was set intentionally in a specific area of land where Estíbaliz identifies burned remains that appear to be beehives. She deduces Ignacio tried to destroy evidence connected to the murders, as bees may have been used as the weapon. Although most traces have been erased by the fire, scorch patterns, accelerant use, and flame direction all indicate arson. Unai and Estíbaliz explore nearby trails in the natural park, eventually discovering a bag with beekeeping equipment, including a smoker and used suits. This confirms Ignacio had active hives. The connection between the bees and the killings becomes clear, opening new investigative paths and suggesting Ignacio is more than just a businessman involved in honey products.

Chapter 23 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Lantern Procession

On the eve of the Virgen Blanca Festival, Unai and Blanca, now emotionally closer, share a charged moment on the rooftop of his building, watching the traditional Lantern Procession. Amid the dreamlike atmosphere, their mutual attraction intensifies—until a scream breaks the spell. From their vantage point, they witness chaos in the square: two naked bodies have been discovered at the feet of the Virgen Blanca statue. Alba quickly resumes her professional role and rushes to the scene, while Unai, hiding their relationship, joins later. The crime scene confirms the killer’s methods are becoming increasingly symbolic and brutal. The bodies lie beneath a triangle of eguzkilores, with signs of bee venom. Unai repeats his inner prayer, realizing the killer’s message is now clearer—and more disturbing—than ever.

Chapter 24 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Dawn Rosary

In August 1970, Álvaro Urbina attends the rosary procession with his wife Emilia, still reeling from the failed overdose and Blanca’s absence. At the event, he unexpectedly encounters Blanca and Javier, who greet him as if nothing had happened. Álvaro notices symptoms in Blanca that suggest pregnancy—later confirmed by Javier with pride. Days later, Blanca visits his clinic and confirms the news. Though Álvaro doubts his paternity, they agree he will manage the pregnancy discreetly. Nurse Felisa overhears their conversation and promises silence but warns Álvaro of the dangerous nature of the businessman. At each monthly checkup, Blanca and Álvaro drift apart emotionally. In autumn, their relationship cools, focused only on the pregnancy. A silent phone call leads Blanca back to the General Álava flat, where they reunite physically for the last time, caught between fear, desire, and shared guilt.

Chapter 25 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Balcony of San Miguel

Following the murders during the procession, social media erupts, dubbing the events “The Virgen Blanca Crime” and turning Vitoria into an international focal point. Ignacio Ortiz de Zárate becomes a suspect due to his disappearance, prompting an emergency meeting led by Deputy Commissioner Salvatierra. The victims—Mateo Ruiz and Irene Martínez, both thirty with no criminal records—are quickly identified. The pattern remains: trusting individuals, easily deceived, killed without resistance. Unai proposes a symbolic link between the murders and Masonic iconography found in the San Vicentejo hermitage. He believes the killer is inspired by medieval symbols interpreted by a restorer and that the crime scenes are his personal worldview. Though Estíbaliz is skeptical, Alba agrees they must explore that lead. Meanwhile, the city is gripped by fear, and the killer always seems one step ahead.

Chapter 26 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Miraconcha Promenade

The day after the murders, Unai receives a video call from Ignacio’s lawyer, revealing that Ignacio has been in voluntary seclusion in San Sebastián since August 3rd. To prove his innocence, he presents footage showing him under constant surveillance, which clears him as the perpetrator of the recent crimes. Although the investigative team rules him out as the killer, they still consider him a possible instigator. During questioning, Ignacio refuses to discuss Lidia, while Unai accuses him of betraying Tasio and manipulating evidence. Ignacio snaps in anger, causing a brief interruption in the video call. The team debates whether to accept his alibi or continue pursuing him. Although he has gained legal ground, his coldness and evasiveness reinforce their doubts. After the meeting, Unai receives a cryptic message from Tasio in prison, claiming he has uncovered a crucial link and urgently requests a visit, suggesting time is of the essence.

Chapter 27 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Honduras Towers

In October 1970, Dr. Álvaro Urbina is attacked by three men outside his building. Though the incident is staged as a robbery, the beating and deep knife wound to his thigh make it clear it was a warning. He recognizes the figure of Javier Ortiz de Zárate’s driver among the attackers and realizes the message. Terrified, he changes his routine: avoids going out alone, restricts his family’s movements, and avoids central streets. During Blanca’s next checkup—now heavily pregnant—Javier attends and Álvaro, humiliated, confirms the twin pregnancy while hiding the true paternity. After Javier leaves, Blanca returns and sees Álvaro’s scar. He confesses his desire to flee to America after the birth, abandoning everything. They both understand their story is doomed but share one last confession amid fear, sorrow, and a city that never forgets.

Chapter 28 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Zugarramurdi

Unai visits Tasio in prison, who shows him old letters and shares key information about a potential suspect: Eneko Ruiz de Gauna, Estíbaliz’s brother. Tasio recounts a traumatic experience with Eneko in Zugarramurdi, where they participated in an esoteric ritual under the influence of hallucinogens. Eneko, obsessed with the occult and drugs, showed dangerous tendencies from a young age. The conversation takes a turn when Tasio reveals Eneko—nicknamed Eguzkilore or "El Hierbas"—uploaded images of the latest crimes online and was near the scene. Shocked by Estíbaliz’s personal connection to the suspect, Unai confronts her. She tries to defend her brother, but Unai presents multiple coincidences. The emotional tension between them intensifies. Though unsure of the hypothesis, Unai decides to question Eneko and continue the investigation despite the potential fallout.

Chapter 29 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Unzueta Palace

During a historic snowstorm in February 1971, Dr. Urbina is urgently called to the Ortiz de Zárate residence to assist Blanca’s labor. Unable to transport her due to blocked roads, he delivers the babies at home with nurse Felisa’s help. Two healthy twins are born—but unexpectedly, a third baby also arrives, a red-haired boy resembling the doctor. The child looks nothing like his brothers or Javier. Felisa, aware of the threat the child poses to the family’s reputation, proposes giving him away in secret to a family in Izarra. Exhausted, Blanca agrees to protect her other children. Fearing for their lives, Urbina consents. Felisa leaves through the back door with the child just as Javier enters to ensure everything appears “normal.” Thus begins a terrible family secret that will shape everyone’s fate.

Chapter 30 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Migraine House

Haunted by suspicions about Eneko and distanced from Estíbaliz, Unai spends an introspective weekend. He runs through Vitoria at dawn until he encounters Alba. Driven by a mix of tension and desire, they have intense sex in Unai’s doorway, fueled by a shared need for escape and release. Though they promise it won’t happen again, both are emotionally affected. Back home, Unai finally confronts the reality of his emotional stagnation. Still trapped in memories of his late wife Paula and their lost children, he packs all their belongings into a box labeled with their names—a first step toward moving on. He returns to the police station, trying to regain control, where Estíbaliz informs him that Tasio is being released. Unai sees him on TV, leaving prison in a dramatic display. That same day, he prepares to confront Eneko once and for all, determined to uncover his role in the murders.

Chapter 31 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Doña Otxanda Tower

Unai visits Eneko’s herbal shop, located in the historic Doña Otxanda Tower. He finds a space filled with esoteric objects and symbolism. Eneko greets him with a defiant attitude and irony. The two engage in a tense conversation about occultism, Zugarramurdi, and Eneko’s past with Tasio. Eneko denies having worked in San Vicentejo and downplays the trauma of the old ritual. But when Unai accuses him of manipulating Estíbaliz and brings up his troubled childhood, the situation escalates. The argument intensifies until Estíbaliz unexpectedly bursts in and hears them speaking about her. Feeling betrayed, she storms out in anger and pain. Unai tries to follow but cannot catch her. When he returns to the shop, Eneko has vanished, leaving the store wide open. His sudden disappearance raises even more suspicions and reinforces the urgency of finding answers, as the rift between Unai and Estíbaliz nears a breaking point.

Chapter 32 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Izarra

We return to the birth of the Ortiz de Zárate triplets. Blanca, weakened, gives birth to the third baby—a red-haired boy—under Dr. Urbina and nurse Felisa’s care. Both know Javier, her husband, would never accept a child who doesn’t resemble him. Fearing for their lives, Felisa suggests secretly giving the baby to a family in Izarra. Blanca, resigned, agrees. Urbina empties his medical bag, and Felisa takes the baby out unnoticed. When Javier enters, only the two blond twins are shown. Still shaken, Urbina leaves the house. Weeks later, his disappearance becomes a brief news story, and no one speaks of him again. A replacement arrives from Bilbao, and the incident is buried in silence by those who witnessed it. This chapter reveals the origin of the “hidden child” and confirms that the third Ortiz de Zárate brother grew up far from his biological family—adding a crucial piece to the mystery Unai is now investigating.

Chapter 33 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Walker

Unai and Alba secretly meet in the gardens of the Unzueta Palace. Their conversation is filled with tension and frustration, but they end up hugging and spending time together at Unai’s home, simply sleeping side by side. Later, while Unai is working, he receives a call from his brother Germán, worried about Martina, who hasn’t made contact. Estíbaliz and Unai attend the final parade of the festival, where they find two bodies covered by sheets in front of the statue of the Walker. Upon uncovering them, one is confirmed to be Eneko. The other, to Unai’s horror, is Martina. Devastated, he tries to comfort Estíbaliz and control the scene. He calls Germán and struggles to stay composed, but the pain overwhelms him. The emotional impact is crushing. Personal tragedy has collided with the case, and the killer has shown no limits. With Eneko dead, Unai’s theories are shaken, and the investigation takes a tragic, unexpected turn.

Chapter 34 Summary – The Silence of the White City – El Prado Park

Shattered by Martina’s death, Unai suffers an anxiety attack in the Justice Palace bathrooms. Alba finds him and offers comfort, but he slips away before being admitted. He wanders through Vitoria in anguish until he calls Germán to deliver the news. The conversation is heart-wrenching: Germán breaks down in tears, and Unai feels he has failed everyone. The rest of the day is consumed with funeral arrangements, notifying their friend group, and handling burial details. Their grandfather steps in to support Germán, once again showing his strength. Unai, unable to cope with more pain, tries to press on even as everything crumbles around him. He receives a call from journalist Mario Santos, who speaks to him with sincere kindness for the first time. Martina’s murder shocks the entire community, and Unai must face the cruel irony that the life she had reclaimed after beating cancer was taken in such a brutal way.

Chapter 35 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Gorbea’s Cross

In a moving pagan ceremony, Estíbaliz takes Eneko’s ashes to the cross atop Mount Gorbea. She is joined by a diverse group of Eguzkilore followers and friends. Despite the climb being forbidden, she and Iker ascend with determination. At the summit, they release the ashes into a swarm of ladybugs covering the structure, creating an eerie image. The ritual symbolizes Eneko’s mystical connection. On the way back, Estíbaliz and Unai finally confront each other. She directly blames him for her brother’s death. The argument is intense, both physically and emotionally, ending with Esti shouting her pain and unloading her anger on Unai. Later, they agree to continue the investigation: the killer has crossed every line. Tasio is once again a suspect. After Martina’s funeral, Germán, Unai, and their grandfather stand silently before her crypt. The loss is heavy. Yet in the midst of mourning, Unai reconnects with the value of family and the quiet support of those who remain.

Chapter 36 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Salburua

Deputy Commissioner Salvatierra brings Unai and Estíbaliz to Salburua to speak away from prying eyes. She reveals the institutional pressure caused by the recent deaths and questions whether they should remain on the case, doubting their emotional objectivity. Unai defends their involvement, arguing that the killer is watching them and has attacked their loved ones because they were close to uncovering the truth. Salvatierra grants them one more week. Back in Lakua, Unai and Estíbaliz visit Santa Isabel cemetery to interview the gravedigger, who recounts a brutal beating carried out by the Ortiz de Zárate twins against a red-haired youth during their mother’s burial in 1989. The boy was thrown into a mass grave and later rescued and hidden by the gravedigger for several days. With no name or police report, the only clue is that the boy later bought a bus ticket to Izarra, a small northern town.

Chapter 37 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Goblin’s Passage

Unai and Alba secretly meet at the Goblin’s Passage, a secluded tunnel in Vitoria. Alba fears the killer may be targeting Unai next, as his upcoming birthday would place him in the victims’ age pattern. Annoyed by her distrust and emotional detachment, Unai insists he’s ready to confront the killer. The emotional tension explodes, and Alba leaves, upset. Later, Unai vents through exercise and then meets with Aitana, Ignacio’s ex-girlfriend. Now pregnant and more open, she confesses that the twins beat a red-haired boy at the cemetery because he claimed to be their brother, an illegitimate son of their mother with another man. He was called Venancio and claimed to be a triplet. Though he didn’t resemble the twins, that day he touched a sacred place that triggered their violence.

Chapter 38 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Path of the Three Crosses

Unai and Estíbaliz unsuccessfully try to track “Venancio,” the supposed third son of Blanca Díaz de Antoñana, in Álava’s records. Frustrated, they decide to wait one more day to act against Tasio if he fails to return to prison. On his birthday, Unai chooses to spend the day with his grandfather in Villaverde, away from the tension in Vitoria. They share a night watching the Perseids on the Path of the Three Crosses. The next day, his grandfather takes him to visit their great-aunt Felisa, a retired nurse, who finally confirms Blanca gave birth to triplets. One was secretly given to a family in Izarra to protect him from her violent husband, Javier Ortiz de Zárate. The baby was given to the Lopidanas, a family of beekeepers. Though Felisa doesn’t know if they called him Venancio, she confirms he was red-haired and resembled Dr. Urbina.

Chapter 39 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Doña Lola’s Yew Tree

In March 1989, Blanca Díaz de Antoñana travels alone and ill to Izarra to find the son she gave away at birth. She meets Nancho, a red-haired youth living with the Lopidanas and working as a beekeeper. Upon seeing him, she immediately recognizes her son’s resemblance to Dr. Urbina. Nancho listens in silence as Blanca explains he is her biological child, hidden from birth to protect him from her abusive husband. She promises to bring him into her life, give him her surname, and share her inheritance. Nancho, stunned, says nothing. Days later, he sees Blanca’s obituary in the newspaper and rushes to her funeral in Vitoria. There, he finds his brothers at the grave and tries to speak with them—but is brutally beaten. Wounded and humiliated, he is rescued by the gravedigger and hides in his hut. He chooses not to report the assault. The world Blanca promised him collapsed in mere hours.

Chapter 40 Summary – The Silence of the White City – 1 Dato Street

Unai and Estíbaliz break into Tasio’s apartment on Dato Street after learning he failed to return to prison. They find his ankle monitor cut and bloodied, suggesting a possible forced escape. The apartment shows signs of recent activity, but no trace of the former inmate. Investigating the building, they discover a potential escape route through the Ítaca Galleries—a rarely monitored back entrance. While notifying the deputy commissioner, they receive a second alert: Ignacio Ortiz de Zárate has also disappeared after receiving a disturbing phone call. His lawyer confirms he left with his passport, pointing to either a premeditated escape or a trap. Authorities launch a manhunt for both brothers, but the uncertainty is overwhelming. Are they victims or accomplices? Media pressure and public confusion escalate. Police fear the killer is executing a perfectly planned revenge. Everything now seems to have changed hands.

Chapter 41 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Aiurdin Pass

Three days after the beating, Nancho returns to Izarra through the Aiurdin mountain pass, bruised and humiliated. Hoping for reconciliation, he is instead met with contempt. His father beats him savagely with a belt, accusing him of theft and disappearing. During the assault, Nancho recalls Blanca’s words: “it’s never your fault.” For the first time in his life, he laughs—as an act of rebellion. He decides to leave, but first follows his routine one last time: he puts his brothers to bed, brushes their teeth, and organizes their belongings. Then, he steals money from the farmhouse and prepares to disappear. He leaves behind abuse, disdain, and violence. With books hidden among the beehives and fuel in his backpack, he plans to burn his past to the ground. His mind fills with hatred and one clear goal: to become powerful, feared, and in control of his destiny. This is the birth of the monster that will change the course of history.

Chapter 42 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Izarra Fire and the Student’s Ghost

Unai and Estíbaliz uncover new clues while investigating the 1989 fire in Izarra, in which Venancio Lopidana, his wife Regina, and two young children died. Estíbaliz searches civil records and finds a possible link to an illegal adoption. Locals confirm that the family died in a suspicious fire. Reviewing the original report, they notice a chilling pattern matching the current killer’s M.O.: the victims were positioned with their hands resting on each other’s cheeks. This detail suggests the fire was the murderer’s first crime. They consult Txusa, the former fire chief, who always believed it was homicide, not an accident. She remembers pajamas thrown from the window and other overlooked details. They follow the trail of Nancho, a red-haired youth who lived with the Lopidanas and disappeared just before the blaze, pointing to him as a likely suspect.

Chapter 43 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Monument to the Battle of Vitoria

Unai and Alba agree to end their clandestine relationship, realizing they cannot continue seeing each other in secret without risking their careers and personal lives. Meanwhile, Unai contacts Golden to track Nancho Lopidana, who has vanished. Golden finds a record at a night school in Pamplona where someone named Nancho earned his GED. Estíbaliz uncovers newspaper clippings about the Ortiz de Zárate family and Dr. Urbina, linked to theories of revenge and disappearance, though Unai remains unconvinced. He shifts his focus to Inés Ochoa, a former TV executive, who reveals key information about the twins’ dynamic and especially Ignacio’s trauma. She also points to the manipulative influence of the local press, making Unai suspect his friend Lutxo. Armed with new suspicions, he decides to confront him directly to learn the origin of the leaked images.

Chapter 44 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Hemingway Academy

Unai and Estíbaliz travel to Pamplona and visit Hemingway Academy, where they confirm that Nancho Lopidana studied and earned his GED despite lacking official documentation. The elderly director says she made an exception because the boy was diligent and came from a difficult background. She describes him as a redhead, short, and initially shy but increasingly confident. They find his file—with no photo or ID—reinforcing their theory that he was undocumented. She gives them the address of the hostel where Nancho stayed. There, they discover the only available room is a shared one. After a relaxed dinner, Estíbaliz admits she knows about Unai’s relationship with Alba and confesses she has broken up with Iker. In an intimate moment, she offers him a drug to protect against a potential Rohypnol attack, but Unai angrily refuses it.

Chapter 45 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Arriaga Park

The next morning, the hostel owner tells Unai and Estíbaliz that Nancho died in an accidental fire in the same room they just stayed in, giving rise to the legend of the “student’s ghost.” Intrigued, they request the case file from the regional police. It’s vague: the body was identified by the hostel owner and had burns on the face and hands, making reliable ID impossible. Nancho’s roommate vanished that night but was never investigated. Unai suspects the dead man was actually the roommate—not Nancho. Back in Vitoria, Unai hears from Ignacio’s lawyer, who reveals Ignacio wore an advanced GPS tracker that was later disabled. To trace it, Unai contacts hacker MatuSalem. Shortly after, he hallucinates his deceased sister-in-law and confronts Estíbaliz in rage, discovering she drugged him without his consent. Their tense argument ends in a definitive rift.

Chapter 46 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Old Town

Unai receives a call from Saioa, the hostel receptionist, who connects him with her grandfather, the former owner. The old man reveals Nancho had a roommate: a journalism student who disappeared the night of the fire. The two were inseparable, and Nancho began mimicking his style. Reviewing old photos, Unai is alarmed to see Nancho gradually adopting the other boy’s appearance. The missing student was named Mario Santos—and Nancho assumed his identity. The ID number at the hostel matches that of the current journalist Mario Santos from El Correo Vitoriano. Unai confirms the real Mario is dead and Nancho took over his life, gaining access to media, historic buildings, and influencing public opinion by anonymously leaking evidence to the press. Estíbaliz confirms the ID match. They begin planning an operation to arrest him while Unai calls Alba, still unable to reveal the full truth. The hunt for the killer has begun.

Chapter 47 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The San Vicentejo Kidnapping

With help from MatuSalem, Unai receives GPS coordinates from Ignacio’s tracker and suspects the killer is holding the twins in San Vicentejo’s hermitage. He believes journalist Mario Santos—Alba’s husband—is the murderer. At the hermitage, Unai finds it empty, but his grandfather appears and points him toward Ochate. The grandfather recalls old rumors of lights in the area. Unai deduces Mario is using a remote cabin there. Armed with his gun and vest, he begins the search alone. The eerie, deserted setting heightens his anxiety, especially since Alba’s phone remains unanswered. Upon searching the hermitage and finding nothing, Unai realizes the victims must be held elsewhere. The chapter ends with certainty: Ochate holds the key.

Chapter 48 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Fox’s Den

Unai enters Ochate with his grandfather, who suggests the killer may be hiding in a cabin with water access and a generator. They find an old building with a modern door and spot a small window. Unai climbs in and finds damning evidence: victims’ clothes, detailed plans for future murders, phones of the missing, and eguzkilores. In the hayloft, he finds Ignacio and a dehydrated, unconscious Tasio. Ignacio reveals Mario planned to kill them as part of his age-pattern killings. Unai calls Estíbaliz for backup and prepares to free the twins. Just as he’s about to cut a chain, Mario appears, injects him with a drug, and disarms him. Disoriented and weak, Unai is forced to undress and face possible death beside Alba, who appears lifeless. The chapter ends in extreme suspense.

Chapter 49 Summary – The Silence of the White City – The Return from the Coma

While Unai lies in a coma, Vitoria responds with a silent protest that forms a human chain from the Cathedral to his home. Estíbaliz, Germán, and their grandfather remain by his side—especially the latter, who performs symbolic rituals. The grandfather digs a grave in the garden and buries apples after rubbing them on Unai’s body, making a pact with death. He whispers ancestral stories to his grandson each night, strengthening their bond. The hospital is sterile, but his family’s love fills the space with hope. Though doctors believe the damage is irreversible, the grandfather refuses to give up, believing Unai will return. The chapter blends rural symbolism and medical drama, setting the stage for a silent miracle and reinforcing the legacy between grandfather and grandson.

Chapter 50 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Unai’s Awakening

Unai awakens in the hospital, surrounded by loved ones. Though he cannot speak, he communicates through a tablet. His first concern is the fate of Alba, Mario, and the twins. Estíbaliz tells him Mario is dead, Tasio remains critical, and Ignacio is recovering. Alba survived by instinctively chewing the bees before suffocating, faking her death and saving herself. However, traumatized, she resigns and moves to Laguardia. Unai, emotionally broken, accepts the distance. Through his thoughts, he reveals the depth of his love and pain. Estíbaliz, in a gesture of solidarity, offers him emotional and physical support, reminding him of his strength. Recovery will be both physical and emotional. The chapter portrays a grateful city and a shattered protagonist who must rebuild himself from within—never forgetting those who helped him endure.

Chapter 51 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Echoes of Silence

During autumn, Unai isolates himself in Villaverde with his grandfather and Germán, dedicating his days to farming, homemade preserves, and quiet reflection. Still mute from his brain injury, he has no desire to speak or return to work. From the heights of San Tirso, he contemplates his aimless new life among the mountains of Álava. A call from Saioa, granddaughter of the key hostel owner in the investigation, reminds him of a forgotten promise. She informs him that her grandfather died grateful, having learned the case was solved. This gesture rekindles something within Unai. He decides to message Alba on WhatsApp. The conversation is painful but honest: they share reproaches, confessions, and a mutual desire to heal separately before considering any future together. Alba has been deeply wounded by the truth about her husband, the killer, but Unai insists what they shared was real. Despite the emotional distance, he makes it clear that when he’s ready, he will come for her.

Chapter 52 Summary – The Silence of the White City – Vitoria’s Tribute

While tending the garden, Unai is visited by Tasio, now free and transformed. The reunion reveals that he plans to move to Los Angeles with Ignacio to write a screenplay based on the crimes. The film will be titled The Silence of the White City. Unai quickly realizes they’re trying to deceive him by switching identities, but he sees through it easily. The twins hand him an invitation to a public tribute. Though reluctant, Unai is convinced to go by his loved ones. At the event in the Virgen Blanca square, he discovers a mural titled The City of Kraken—a tribute depicting iconic scenes of the city and a quote from his favorite song. In the crowd, he spots Alba. Her black braid stands out, and her gaze answers all his silent questions. It’s at that moment Unai decides it’s time to speak again. The chapter ends on a hopeful note, hinting at a future where pain no longer stands in the way of love.

Conclusion – The Silence of the White City

Among symbols carved in stone and memories that never fully heal, The Silence of the White City leaves us with the haunting truth that the past is never dead—it simply sleeps, waiting to be awakened by the perfect crime. Eva García Sáenz de Urturi weaves a narrative web where suspense clings like ivy to the ancient walls of Vitoria, and every character carries a shadow heavier than the last.

Kraken becomes more than just a detective—he’s a vulnerable witness to violence, fractured love, and inherited guilt. His pursuit of justice isn’t only about catching killers but confronting family myths, institutional secrets, and the kind of truth that’s too dangerous to speak aloud. With every twist, the story doesn’t close—it deepens.

Because what begins with ritual ends in the demand for redemption. If you're ready to follow the trail through water, death, and reckoning, the next chapter is waiting: The Water Rituals – Book Summary by Chapter ➤

FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Silence of the White City

What sets the case in motion, and how does it echo the 1996 murders?

It begins with two nude bodies in the Old Cathedral’s crypt, arranged face to face with hands on each other’s cheeks—an eerie replica of the decades-old killings that once put Tasio Ortiz de Zárate behind bars. The victims share compound Basque surnames, and a bee slips from a victim’s mouth, signaling both weapon and signature. From that moment, each new scene (House of the Cord, Virgen Blanca) escalates the ritual cadence, as if someone were reenacting a private liturgy written on the city’s stones. The past isn’t revisited; it’s rearmed.

Why do bees keep showing up—are they the weapon or a symbol?

Both. The victims are sedated and then asphyxiated by stings inside the throat, which points to apicultural know-how. But the bees also converse with other motifs: the yew’s poisonous aura and the eguzkilore’s protective folklore, all mirrored in San Vicentejo’s carvings about sin and expulsion. The killer hijacks those motifs to stage a theology of punishment. Each crime scene reads like a page torn from a stone bestiary, where nature’s order is twisted into a measured cruelty with a single objective: to make the city witness and accomplice.

Are the Ortiz de Zárate twins guilty—or being played?

Tasio, the celebrity archaeologist, claims innocence and drips privileged intel from prison. Ignacio dazzles in public, torches beehives in Gorbea, then produces a continuous-surveillance alibi from San Sebastián. The leaked photos with Lidia prove intimacy, not authorship. Legally, Ignacio slips the noose; morally, suspicion clings. Yet the pattern and the sophistication suggest a third mind—someone versed in symbols, patient, and bent on ruining them both. The twins are the perfect decoys in a family saga that weaponizes secrecy.

How do the 1969–1971 flashbacks tie into the present killer?

They map the original wound: Blanca’s abuse under Javier, the forbidden affair with Dr. Urbina, and a snowbound birth that produces not two sons but three. The red-haired baby—impossible to pass as Javier’s—is given away in secret to protect appearances. That abandoned child grows outside the name, inside resentment, and masters the city’s symbolic language. When the murders resume, they’re not a copycat homage; they’re a blood-written claim to lineage and truth.

Which Vitoria landmarks become “characters” in the novel?

The Old Cathedral’s crypt, the House of the Cord, the Virgen Blanca square, the Walker statue, Doña Otxanda Tower, and even Mount Gorbea. Each site isn’t a backdrop but a drumbeat in the ritual—chosen for history, geometry, and the way their stones hold echoes. The Campillo mural adds a sly chorus about loyalty and betrayal. By the end, Vitoria feels like an illuminated manuscript: every page illuminated by eguzkilores, bees, and the shadow of a family secret turning streets into sentences.