Antonio Hill Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Toni Hill

For English-speaking readers, the definitive starting point is The Summer of Dead Toys (2011), which introduces Inspector Héctor Salgado. It is his most widely translated book and sets the tone for his signature blend of atmospheric Barcelona settings, complex psychological depth, and dark investigations. If you are bilingual or reading in the original Spanish, you also have the option of starting with his highly popular Trilogía del Verdugo (The Executioner Trilogy) beginning with El último verdugo (2023), or one of his standalone psychological thrillers like Tigres de cristal.

Important Clarification: Do not confuse the Spanish author Toni Hill (often credited as Antonio Hill in early English translations) with the fictional clinical psychologist Tony Hill, who is the protagonist of the popular crime series by Scottish author Val McDermid. The two are completely unrelated.

The Inspector Héctor Salgado Trilogy

This series established Hill as a major voice in Spanish crime fiction. The books follow Héctor Salgado, an Argentine detective working for the Mossos d'Esquadra in Barcelona, who is dealing with his own personal demons while solving complex, dark cases. The series is best read in publication order to follow the overarching character development and the mystery surrounding Salgado's missing ex-wife.

• 1. The Summer of Dead Toys (Spanish: El verano de los juguetes muertos, 2011) – Salgado is assigned to investigate the apparent accidental death of a wealthy teenager, leading him into a web of human trafficking, class privilege, and secrets. (Available in English)
• 2. The Good Suicides (Spanish: Los buenos suicidas, 2012) – Salgado investigates a series of suspicious, cult-like suicides among employees at a major cosmetics company, while dealing with fallout from his past. (Available in English)
• 3. Los amantes de Hiroshima (English: The Lovers of Hiroshima, 2014) – The thrilling conclusion to the trilogy, which ties up the mystery of Salgado's missing ex-wife Ruth and involves a dark discovery in an abandoned house. (Currently only available in Spanish and other non-English translations)

Trilogía del Verdugo (The Executioner Trilogy)

In his latest series, Hill shifts focus to criminologist Lena Mayoral. The trilogy explores the darker corners of human psychology and justice, set against macabre crimes in Catalonia. This trilogy must be read in order due to character progression and recurring themes.

• 1. El último verdugo (2023) – Criminologist Lena Mayoral is called to help solve the case of a serial killer executing victims using a garrote vil (an ancient Spanish execution device) and leaving notes reading "Someone has to do it."
• 2. La hora del lobo (2024) – The second installment continues Lena Mayoral's investigations into the nature of evil and local criminal networks.
• 3. La muerte blanca (2025) – The final chapter of the trilogy, which brings the overarching storyline to a dramatic resolution.

Standalone Psychological Thrillers

When not writing series, Hill has penned standalone thrillers that showcase his versatility, ranging from gothic mysteries to gritty neighborhood dramas. These can be read in any order.

• Los ángeles de hielo (The Angels of Ice, 2016) – A gothic mystery set in a prestigious psychiatric sanatorium in the early 20th century, exploring psychological trauma and historical secrets.
• Tigres de cristal (Glass Tigers, 2018) – A contemporary psychological thriller that returns to the 1970s to examine school bullying, guilt, and a decades-old crime in a working-class neighborhood of Barcelona. Winner of the Novelpol and Tormo Negro-Masfarné awards in 2019.
• El oscuro adiós de Teresa Lanza (The Dark Goodbye of Teresa Lanza, 2021) – A choral mystery exploring social hypocrisy and privilege, sparked by the mysterious death and apparent suicide of a young immigrant woman who worked for five wealthy families.

Complete Publication Order of Books

For reference, here is the complete chronological list of Toni Hill's novels by their original Spanish publication date, along with their English translation titles where available:

1. El verano de los juguetes muertos (2011) – Published in English as The Summer of Dead Toys
2. Los buenos suicidas (2012) – Published in English as The Good Suicides
3. Los amantes de Hiroshima (2014)
4. Los ángeles de hielo (2016)
5. Tigres de cristal (2018)
6. El oscuro adiós de Teresa Lanza (2021)
7. El último verdugo (2023)
8. La hora del lobo (2024)
9. La muerte blanca (2025)

What to Know Before You Start

Toni Hill’s novels are deeply rooted in the geography of Barcelona and its surrounding municipalities. Rather than showcasing the sunny, tourist-friendly side of Catalonia, Hill exposes a dark, rain-soaked, and class-divided metropolitan area. Additionally, his background as a professional literary translator (translating authors like David Sedaris, Jonathan Safran Foer, and the Dexter series into Spanish) influences his style, which combines the page-turning pacing of American thrillers with the character-driven depth of European crime fiction.

Readers should note that while the first two Salgado books are easily accessible in English, the third book and all subsequent standalones and trilogies have not yet received official English translations, meaning reading them in Spanish is required to experience his full catalog.