by Ben Fountain
First published 2006
An ornithologist finds himself captive in the Colombian rain forest, where his guerrilla captors initially earn his respect through their dedication to their cause. But as days pass, he discovers their revolution operates more like corporate enterprise than righteous rebellion. Meanwhile, a Special Forces wife confronts a Haitian voodoo goddess who has ensnared her husband in an affair that transcends the physical realm. Across the globe, a burned-out aid worker abandons his humanitarian mission to smuggle diamonds, convincing himself that corruption serves a noble purpose. Each protagonist enters their situation with good intentions, only to find themselves trapped in the gap between idealistic goals and messy reality. These Americans abroad discover that political upheaval creates a world where moral certainties dissolve and survival demands uncomfortable compromises.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, adventure, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, moral-ambiguity
Setting: Colombia, Haiti
Period: 20th-century
272 pages · Paperback · HARPERCOLLINS @ PUBLISHERS
Content warnings: violence