Juan Gómez-Jurado
Juan Gómez-Jurado (born 16 December 1977) is a Spanish journalist and author. He is a columnist in "La Voz de Galicia" and "ABC", distributed in Spain, and he participates in multiple radio and TV programs. His books have been translated into 42 languages and he is one of the most successful living Spanish authors, along with Javier Sierra and Carlos Ruiz Zafón. His writing has been described by critics as "energetic and cinematographic". Born in Madrid, Spain, Gómez-Jurado worked in various Spanish media outlets, including 40 Principales, Cadena Ser, Cadena Cope, Radio España, Canal +  and ABC, before publishing his debut novel, "God's Spy" ("Espía de Dios"). "God's Spy" is a contemporary thriller set in the Vatican, where, in the aftermath of Pope John Paul II's death, the hunt for a serial killer reveals a conspiracy. On 27 September 2008, Gómez-Jurado won the Premio de Novela Ciudad de Torrevieja for his novel "The Traitor's Emblem". Kirkus Reviews praised the novel as a "riveting thriller with a redeeming love story". Gómez-Jurado's latest book is the middle-grade space opera saga "Alex Colt, Space Cadet". Controversies. Gómez-Jurado's novel  God's Spy generated controversy in Spain, as the book's antagonist, Viktor Karoski, is a serial killer and pedophile priest. The book contains a detailed portrait of Saint Matthew's Institute, a carbon copy of an American institution (based in Maryland) dedicated to the rehabilitation of sex-offender priests. This led some Catholic organizations in Spain and Poland to protest against the novel. Nevertheless, critics from both countries gave the book mostly positive reviews. American reviews were also positive; "Booklist", for example, praised it as a "first-rate thriller". Personal life and philanthropy. Juan Gómez-Jurado is divorced and  has two children. He lives in Madrid, Spain. After his ex-wife was diagnosed with cancer, Gómez-Jurado became an activist dedicated to fighting colon cancer. He is also an ambassador of Save The Children. He led campaigns as "1 libro 1 euro", a website where internet users can download books in exchange for a voluntary donation to Save the Children.