First published 1990
Isobel della Fortuna moves through Manila's elite circles in the mid-1980s, her status precarious despite her connections. Born outside marriage to an influential father, she searches for her place among the party circuits and social hierarchies that define her world. The Philippines under Marcos creates a backdrop of political tension and cultural decay, where brilliance and horror intertwine in the final years before collapse. Isobel's quest for security becomes more desperate as the society she knows begins to crumble around her. She must navigate the complex dynamics of power, legitimacy, and belonging while the very foundations of her world shift beneath her feet. Murray captures a woman caught between worlds, seeking acceptance in a system that both embraces and excludes her, all while the larger political order heads toward its inevitable end.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, contemporary, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, social-climbing
Setting: Manila
Period: 1980s
128 pages · Paperback · Ballantine Books