This award-winning novel is an intense psychological thriller told in the first person by the protagonist, Raquel, a young literature professor in between assignments, who accepts a temporary post at an institution in Novariz, the town where her husband coincidentally hails. On her first day at work she learns that Elvira, her predecessor, committed suicide, and once class has ended, she finds in her bag a note that reads: “And you, how long will it be before you kill yourself?” Determined, Raquel will try to find out who is behind that threat and inevitably becomes obsessed with the old professor. What happened to her? Why was she depressed if her students adored her? Did she really commit suicide or did someone else end her life? Is the same pattern occurring to her? And above all, why do some clues point to her husband?