Javier Cercas' mastery of the "non-fiction novel" is evident in that "Outlaws" reads like a true story. I came away believing that all of the characters, as well as their interweaving histories, could easily be 100% real. The author's first-hand knowledge of Barcelona helped frame the action in neighborhoods that evolved over the years, as if it were yet another character. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down until I finished.