by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Historia de Crimenes (Tale of Crimes) recounts the rise and fall (mostly fall) of prominent banker Narciso Ibanez Menta. Falling hopelessly in love with greedy chorus girl Zully Moreno, Menta is willing to do anything for his new paramour. He proves his ardor by committing two murders and plotting a third, the better to get his hands on some much-needed money. Menta is foiled when a disgruntled ex-employee spills his guts to the authorities. It's a nasty, vitriolic yarn, which even the ebullient Zully Moreno cannot make totally palatable -- or believable.
