Named one of the top 100 Indie novels of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews“A vividly described journey through Peru’s underbelly as the narrative gains momentum, hurtling toward a dramatic climax.”…Kirkus ReviewsThe Truth Can Be DeadlyIn 1987, the dirty war that will last twelve years and kill thirty thousand Peruvians finally reaches up through the Andean cloud forest for Nina and her family. Nina’s … and her family. Nina’s father is shot by soldiers, her mother raped, and her brother lost to the shadowy ranks of Shining Path guerrillas. And when Agustín Malqui, the village pastor, files a legal complaint against the military, it’s no surprise when he disappears in the middle of the night—just another casualty of the military regime.
Twenty-odd years later, Nina, now an officer in Cuzco’s tourist police, comes across a familiar name on the police printer that she scans daily for any trace of her long-lost brother. Agustín Malqui is alive. After spending years in a political prison, the broken pastor has been wandering the country, saving souls and drowning his demons in pisco. Nina tracks him down, only to lose him yet again in a police sweep of political malcontents. But before Malqui disappears, he tells her a drunken tale she can scarcely believe: that her brother Miguel is still alive.
Despite warnings and threats from her chief and the pleadings of her lover, an officer in Peru’s anti-terrorist branch, Nina presses on to find Malqui. Her search takes her through Peru’s underworld, from remote villages high in the Andes to the steaming jungle haunts of the narcotraficantes, and ultimately to a secret political prison in the altiplano, where she learns the truth about Malqui and her own vanished brother.
more
Liked the book And the characters ..BUT it had no ending. Just stopped in the middle of situation. No way to find out what happens unless you buy the next book at $4.99. Left you hanging. Don’t read unless you’re prepared to buy the next 2 books. You will be disappointed.
Great story about Peru and its political battles that rivaled Nazi Germany. This book takes you alongside bandits and drug runners and other desperate people as if you were next to them while they fight their battles. Very moving book!
Difficult start, but once it got my attention I couldn’t put it down!
Did not finish it. I found it implausable and not very well written.
a fictional account of the post 12 year civil war in Peru. the tragedies told through realistic characters. things just don’t always work out the way you want them to. this is book one in the series and i shall be following up with the rest of the books
I was disappointed in the theme and later storyline. The native peoples in SA have been trampled on relentlessly, much as the native people in South Africa. I would have like to have seen less of the communists and more about survial among the native people.
I found the spanish challenging and for me it took away from enjoying the story but I recognize its use/need (I guess!) very thought provoking
Enjoyed it! Action.
If you happen to be interested in the political/rebel unrest that doesn’t normally make our 6:00 news, this is the read for you. It is well researched and provides great insight into the struggles in the southern parts of South America. At times the plot may be somewhat thin, but tends to drag you back in the more you read.
Meh
The characters, and plot, held my interest throughout the whole book. Tragic, and haunting ending.
First, I confess a bias: I have traveled to Peru a number of times and have always enjoyed the people there and their culture. So, I tend to have an interest in most works dealing with the history and politics of that country. If you enjoy that type of thing as well getting a different perspective relative to the “answers” and the “way” that most …
I didn’t know what to expect when I started to read this book. It proved to be about a subject that I didn’t know much about, Peru during the time of the Shining Path uprising, for lack of a better word. I found the book to be well written, but bleak in terms of the subject matter. Those must have been very hard times indeed. Anyway, it held …
Could not continue, too much description of surroundings.
Not my cup of tea
Interesting storyline. Definitely learned about the state of the Peruvians which I never knew about. Sad. Ending was simply the lead up to the next book so somewhat disappointed there.
This book gave a very insightful view of some of the issues for other countries! It also tackles issues around indigenous peoples moving into modern culture and embracing their cultural and spiritual roots. I really was intrigued by this book and remain thinking about after closing the cover!
Disjointed.unclear the premise was repetitive and predictable.
I worked in Peru during the years the Sendero Luminoso was fighting for the Peruvian people. I found the book realistic and very well researched and written. The characters and story were great. I really liked it and look forward to more books written about South America by the author.
A different kind of book. Kinda unbelievable that a 20 year old girl can travel around country and do all that.