Katixa Agirre releases historical espionage novel ‘Servicio interior’

Author Katixa Agirre has released a new historical espionage novel titled ‘Servicio interior’ (Tusquets). The book is based on the true story of four women—Bittori Etxeberria, Itziar Mujika, Delia Laurobay, and Tere Verdes—who were members of the Red Álava.

During the Spanish Civil War, the Franco regime, and the Nazi occupation, these women operated a clandestine information network. They maintained the appearance of ordinary lives while transporting messages and assisting prisoners. The narrative begins in occupied Paris in 1940 and centers around documents abandoned by the Basque Government in exile, the discovery of which led to the network's persecution.

The setting of the novel is tied to a historic Haussmann-style mansion on Avenue Marceau in Paris, which served as the headquarters for the Basque Government between 1937 and 1940. The story highlights the roles of women in resistance movements who were often overlooked in traditional historical accounts.