A virus that wipes out people’s memories before killing them. Angustias is a refugee who, along with her husband and two young children, is trying to outrun the virus. Another woman, Visitación, has made it her life’s purpose to bury the dead with dignity. Their paths collide, and Angustias decides to stay with Visitación (and her children) in the unnamed town.

The structure of the story was not what I am used to, but the translator explained the shorter sentences and why it was written the way it was, and that made sense to me. Even though this is speculative fiction, many parts of it read as true to life – towns with an influx of immigrants that they struggle to help, human trafficking, abuse, and a lack of basic resources. The trauma and fear was palpable in “No Place to Bury the Dead,” which made it immensely readable.

Thank you to Karina Sainz Borgo, HarperVia, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Author: Karina Sainz Borgo

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publication Date: December 10, 2024 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)